Contemporary Visions of the West
August 12 – December 20, 2026
Entry deadline: June 29, 2026
Artists will be notified of selection for this exhibition on July 6, 2026
Work must arrive between July 27-29, 2026
Exhibition will run through: August 12-December 20, 2026
The Daum Museum of Contemporary Art invites submissions for Contemporary Visions of the West, a juried exhibition examining contemporary artistic responses to the idea, history, and mythology of the American West. This exhibition will feature artists living and working throughout the United States whose work engages Western themes through a contemporary lens.
Exhibition Overview
The American West occupies a complex space in the cultural imagination, shaped by frontier narratives, industry, land use, migration, resilience, and mythmaking. Contemporary Visions of the West seeks work that reclaims or reimagines Western identities and landscapes beyond nostalgia or stereotype. Artists are encouraged to consider how ideas of the West intersect with issues of place, labor, environment, power, belonging, and lived experience in the present moment.
Submissions may address historical references, personal or regional narratives, material culture, or symbolic interpretations of the West, emphasizing contemporary relevance.
Eligibility
- Open to professional and emerging artists, 18 years of age or older
- Open to artists residing anywhere in the United States
- All media will be considered, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, video, installation, and mixed media
- Works may be traditional, experimental, or interdisciplinary in approach
Key Dates
- Submission Deadline: June 29
- Notification of Acceptance: July 6
- Delivery of Accepted Works: July 27-29
- Exhibition Dates: August 12-December 20
- Artist Reception: October 23, 5-7 PM
Submission Requirements
- Up to [3] works may be submitted per artist
- All work must have been completed within the last [3] years
- Submit high-resolution digital images (JPEG/PNG, minimum 300 dpi)
- Include an artist statement (maximum 250 words) addressing how your practice and submitted works relate to contemporary interpretations of the American West
- No entry fee
- All work must be ready to display upon arrival (2d works should have d-rings or wire to hang and paper works should be properly framed)
Selection Process
A panel will review submissions. Works will be evaluated based on conceptual strength, technical execution, and the originality and depth of their engagement with Western themes in a contemporary context.
Awards
Work selected for the exhibition will be eligible for monetary awards.
How to Apply
Contact Information
For additional information, please contact:
Allison Martin at: allisonmartin@daummuseum.org or 660-596-7177