OPEN CALL FOR "Under Pressure: Contemporary Political Prints"

Exhibition Dates: June 4, 2026 - June 27, 2026

Deadline for all entries: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 11:59pm PDT

From June 4 - June 27, Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA), in partnership with Seattle Print Arts (SPA), will present Under Pressure: Contemporary Political Prints, a juried exhibition highlighting the continued relevance of printmaking as a tool for political expression and collective reflection.

This exhibition invites artists to reflect on the political realities of our time through the enduring medium of printmaking. In periods of turbulence, art becomes a vital space for expression, connection, and resilience. Under Pressure highlights artists engaging with themes of power, resistance, oppression, identity, and social change.Printmaking has long served as a tool to disseminate ideas and amplify marginalized voices.While digital media dominates political communication, physical prints retain a unique immediacy, offering a direct and tangible way to confront urgent issues.We invite submissions of work that speak boldly, critically, and thoughtfully to the pressures of our contemporary moment.

Our juror, Judy Lee, weBelong Seattle, will be selecting the work for the exhibition from among the submission.

MEDIUM REQUIREMENTS

Submissions must involve non-digital printmaking processes, including but not limited to:- Etching, Lithography, Relief, Screenprinting.

Purely digital prints or photography will not be accepted.

Accepted artwork to be dropped off at the gallery in person only, Saturday, May 30 and Sunday May 31.

Read the complete call at https://www.cocaseattle.org/calls-for-art

ELIGIBILITY:

This call is open to all current members of Seattle Print Arts (SPA) and Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA). Membership is open and accessible to all artists.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

A complete application consists of a bio, statement, up to 5 images, with descriptions, and any other information noted below.
Images can be of one piece, 5 pieces, or any combination.

Please prepare the following before beginning your submission. Here are the specific requirements:

  • An Artist’s statement specific to the theme of the exhibition (250 words): This will appear in the catalog (if any) if accepted.

  • An Artist’s biography (200 words), including year of birth, city of origin, awards, honors, shows, degrees. This will also appear in the catalog (if any) if accepted.

  • Up to 5 images of the artwork for consideration. Format is jpg file, minimum. dimension of 2400 pixels in at least one direction. If you are submitting video of your work, please include a link in the description, and make sure that access is open for review period (or include password in description).

  • Artwork is for sale at 60% Artist, 40% CoCA (70% Artist, 30% CoCA for members) and can also be "NFS".

  • 25 (USD) entry fee (PayPal) 15 CoCA Members). Make sure to note the applicant’s name in the payment.

EXHIBITION TIMELINE:

  • Deadline: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 11:59pm PDT
  • Notify By: May 15, 2026
  • Confirm By: May 18, 2026
  • Exhibition Start: June 4, 2026
  • Exhibition End: June 27, 2026
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please email us at info@cocaseattle.org
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