About the Open Call

Creating the right compositional balance is the challenge artists face with each work of art they create, regardless of the medium, style, or genre. The thoughtful use of negative space can be a powerful tool in shaping how we see and interpret the visual; it can provide either tension or serenity – sometimes evoking both in a single work of art. It adds meaning by showing us not only what is there, but what is not. The balance of spatial relationships between elements is a dance and can be expressed in countless ways: through stark contrast, geometrically, minimally, or using perspective to draw you to a single, central focal point. 3D artists demonstrate this dance by volume, and the space surrounding and through an object, or through activation between multiple objects. We invite artists to show us how they use spatial language in their art to get our attention in their own unique way.

What is Offered

Selected works will be exhibited in the Maryland Federation of Art’s (MFA) Spatial exhibition through our Virtual Gallery from June 15 – August 13, 2026. Cash awards total $500.

Requirements

Entries must be original, completed solely by the artist's hand, and created within the past 3 years. File size must be no more than 10 MB. Work must be for sale.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via ArtCall.org. Artists must create a free account to enter. A maximum of 6 original works created within the past 3 years may be entered.