If you are a seasoned artist or an amateur, starting to learn the ins and outs of the profession, participating in open calls for artists can be a game-changer for you! Yes. These opportunities—ranging from art competition shows to museum open calls for artists—can help boost your profile, gain global exposure, and even fetch some rare opportunities of gallery representation. But before you hit the ‘submit’ button, there’s one crucial element you must enter: your artist portfolio.
In this post, we’ll guide you step-by-step through creating a polished, professional portfolio that captures your genuine aspirations, inspirations and skills that align with the open call's intent, and stand out to curators, jurors, and galleries—especially in competitive international call for artist opportunities. Have you joined open calls from contemporary art galleries like TERAVARNA ever? It is worth enrolling for their online shows and contests. Hang on here to explore more of the tips & suggestions!
1. Understand the Requirements
Every open call gallery or call for entries follow certain guidelines; each has its own specific submission rules. So, while you start for the calls, go through the description, eligibility criteria, accepted mediums, and formatting requirements thoroughly.
Pro Tip: A checklist for all the required things would come handy where you can include details like:
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Number of artworks you wish to submit
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File types and image resolution
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Your profile bio and artist statement word count
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Specific themes or curatorial directions
Take care of all these small details so that your entry is not disqualified, no matter how brilliant your work is.
2. Curate Your Portfolio with a Vision
Your portfolio is not just a collection of your best work—it's an experience and a platform where you share your consistent voice, concept, or style. Custom-make your selections to suit the tone and theme of the specific art competition shows or museum open call for artists you are applying to.
Check for Yourself:
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Does my work resonate with the open call’s theme?
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Do my artworks look coherent when viewed together?
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Do I have a clear narrative to share?
Always try to include your recent art pieces that show your evolution as an artist and represent your style or intention—focus on your most current, relevant pieces.
3. Focus on High-Quality Images
Jurors evaluate artworks through digital images in most of the call for entries. So, prioritize high-resolution images, avoid poor lighting, or badly cropped photos that can ruin can your curated application.
Best practices for artwork photography:
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Always use natural or even lighting
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Avoid glare or shadows
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Crop images properly for background distractions
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Aim for higher resolutions, at least 300 DPI
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Name the image files logically (e.g., lastname_title_medium_year.jpg)
Include a proper edited video link if you work on mediums such as performance art, videography, or installation. Also send relevant still images that convey the work’s essence.
4. Write a Strong Artist Statement
Now, the most important part is to write a compelling artist statement that shows your voice on the page. It is your chance to explain your work, ideas, and behind-the-scenes process without using jargon or being too academic in your approach! A compelling statement can elevate your submission and help the judges understand your vision.
Think of including these points:
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What is the motivation and inspiration behind your work?
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What materials or methods do you use and why?
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How can you connect your work with broader themes?
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Make it concise (between 300-500 words) and use simple language.
If you're applying to an international call for artist, consider if your statement needs translation to get across to a larger viewer base.
5. Include a Professional Bio and CV
It would help to include a brief, well-structured bio and updated artist CV that demonstrate your commitment to your craft. Include these key highlights -
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Exhibitions (solo or group) you have participated in.
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Awards or residencies you have joined.
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Your formal education or relevant training in this field.
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Press mentions or publications, if any.
Keep the formatting clean and consistent. For emerging artists with fewer credentials, focus on your artistic journey, education, and dreams to achieve.
6. Tailor Your Submission
There’s no fixed submission rule or protocol in the world of open calls for artists. If you’re applying to multiple open call galleries or art competition shows, take time to customize your submission to suit each opportunity.
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Highlight your conceptual depth and training for museum calls.
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Select the bold visuals and originality for contemporary art fairs like the ones organized by contemporary art galleries like TERAVARNA.
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Try to connect to a cultural context for international call for artist entries
Tweaking applications as per the needs will enhance your chances of selection and more likely to be remembered.
7. Stay Organized and Avoid Last-Minute Stress
Be organized as there would be too many art calls to attend to. Use a spreadsheet or project management tool for tracking -
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The various application deadlines
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Entry fees
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Submission status
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Notifications or follow-ups
Some contests have strict, non-negotiable deadlines. So, submit before time to avoid technical issues or last-minute stress.
In a Few Clicks, Share Your Vision with the World
It is no less exciting to submit to open calls for artists. It is more than just putting your art out there—it’s a valuable experience that can lead to better opportunities. A well-prepared, thoughtful portfolio shows jurors that you not only have talent but also are serious about your creative pursuits.
No matter if it’s a museum open call for artists, or an open call gallery, or competing in global art competition shows, take your time to build a portfolio that resonates and speaks for your dreams and aspirations as an artist. Start curating today as you have miles to go ….
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