BIG & SMALL Open Call for Art

About this call

BIG & SMALL is a special exhibition at Mainframe Studios in Des Moines, Iowa, United States, exploring size and scale, juried by Chris Vance. It brings together works that command a room and those that draw viewers in for a closer look, seeking artists who play with proportion and the relationship between size and subject matter. The call is open to all media and dimensions; preferred sizes for 2D works are 48 x 48 inches and 8 x 8 inches. Accepted works will be on display in multiple public gallery spaces at Mainframe Studios in February 2027, with a reception during First Friday on February 5, 2027. Mainframe does not take any portion of sales.

Who can apply

• Limited by country or region
• Medium: Painting / Drawing / Photography / Printmaking / Mixed Media / Sculpture / Textile / Installation / Video
• Free entry
• Open to artists aged 16+ who live and/or create in Iowa. All disciplines are welcome but must show a clear connection to the theme. AI generated or edited work is not eligible. Up to three pieces per artist, all original and created in the past 5 years, ready for installation (wire suggested for most 2D works). Artwork should not weigh more than 75 pounds or measure over 5 feet in any direction, although exceptions may be made; wet works are not accepted. Fragile work or work that requires special equipment (TVs, speakers, projectors) is the artist's responsibility to install and remove. Accepted artists must deliver their work to Mainframe Studios on January 28 or 29, 2027 and pick it up on February 25 or 26, 2027; artwork will not be shipped, late delivery is not accepted and pieces may not be swapped. All works must stay up for the whole exhibition. Application needs an artist bio (75 words max), an artist statement that aligns with the submission (100 words max), and up to 2 PNG or JPEG images per work (one full view required, one detail optional), file named with the artwork title only. Jurying is anonymous.