After Dark

About the Open Call

Introducing After Dark is a captivating art exhibition that delves into the quiet, mysterious, and evocative world that emerges when the sun goes down. Through a curated collection of paintings, photographs, installations, and mixed media works, After Dark invites viewers into a realm where light fades, shadows stretch, and the ordinary becomes infused with mood, ambiguity, and atmosphere. Drawing inspiration from the tradition of nocturne painting, the exhibition explores the nuanced beauty of nighttime, from city streets bathed in artificial glow to remote landscapes under the hush of moonlight. Each piece captures the emotional resonance of night: its solitude, its secrets, and the heightened sense of presence that darkness often brings. The artists in After Dark use limited palettes, subtle contrasts, and softened forms to express the stillness and introspection that twilight and night inspire. Whether it’s the gentle flicker of a single lamp in an open window or the vast, starlit silence of a rural field, After Dark reveals how night transforms the way we see, feel, and imagine. The exhibition invites visitors to slow down and attune to the subtleties of light and shadow, of sound and silence the work seeks offer a sensory experience that is both immersive and deeply reflective. This exhibition is a meditation on the nocturnal, a celebration of the unseen, and a tribute to the artistry that arises when the world grows quiet and the light begins to fade. Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) invites all artists internationally to enter our After Dark Show 2025. Any original 2D or 3D work will be considered. Works selected by the juror will be exhibited in MFA’s Virtual Gallery from October 15 – November 30, 2025. Juror: John Hrehov: Professor and Head of the Department of Art and Design at Purdue University Fort Wayne.

What is Offered

Awards designated by the juror total $500. MFA’s Online Sales Gallery is provided to artists to sell their work, with artists retaining 80% from sales (85% for MFA Members).

Requirements

Entry is open to all artists internationally. Any original 2D or 3D work will be considered. Work must meet exhibition guidelines and correspond with the images submitted. A maximum of 6 original works created within the past 3 years may be entered. Work previously exhibited in MFA’s Virtual Gallery is not eligible for re-entry. There is no size limit for online exhibitions.

How to Apply

To apply, click the 'Online Entry System' button on the exhibition page, which directs to ArtCall.org. You will need to create a free account. You will be asked to pay for the number of artworks you’ll be uploading in advance. The word “application” in ArtCall means artwork. Upload up to 2 images per artwork. For video submissions, put the link in the Linked Web Resource field and upload a still frame.