Call for Artists
CSI offers our members the opportunity to apply to public indoor and outdoor exhibitions via our numerous curators and venues AND offers exhibition opportunities through our Project Space gallery. Partnerships between CSI and various institutions allow members to apply for juried shows around the Chicago area. CSI members have exhibited at Midwest colleges and universities, Lincoln Park and Garfield Park Conservatories and Expo Chicago along with the Richard Wright Gallery of Art at The College of Lake County, Koehnline Art Museum, Ukranian Museum of Art, the Beverly Arts Center, Epiphany Center for the Arts, and Bridgeport Art Center among others. We support artists by giving them exceptional opportunities for exhibitions for professional advancement and growth.
Little, but BOLD! V - Annual Holiday Group Exhibition
Little, but BOLD! V
Hosted at
The Dragonfly Gallery
2436 W, Madison St.
Chicago, IL.
Submission Deadline: Friday, November 6, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, December 12, 6-9 pm
Exhibit Dates: December 12, 2026 - January 2, 2027
Little, but BOLD! is in celebration of all things unmonumental. Often flying under the radar, small things have the special ability to bridge private and public spaces. Within the sculpture field, there has been a projected narrative that bigger is better. We are here to assert that small things can hold the same importance as the largest monument.
Guidelines:
Applicants must be current CSI members.
If you are not a current member, Become a MemberContact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
Title, medium, size, price (with 30% donation added) or NFS
Submit up to 2 artwork images.
All submissions must be smaller than 12 in. x 12 in.
2D and 3D work accepted - Wall-mounted sculptures encouraged
Learn more about requirements and to submit click here
Momentum group exhibit
Momentum
CSI Member Juried Exhibition at Leslie Wolfe Gallery
Exhibition Dates: October 10 – November 5, 2026
Submission Deadline: August 9, 2026
Momentum refers to a call for works whose power for expression implies movement, direction, speed, or growth, transformation, or significantly, the “potential” for any of these ideas. The idea of momentum seems especially appropriate for sculpture because the viewer rarely experiences sculpture from a fixed viewpoint. All works of art or design convey visual elements that exist along a spectrum between static balance and dynamism, depending on the intent of the creator. For this exhibition, works are sought that lean strongly toward the dynamic end of that spectrum. Sculptures fully in the round and works in relief will be considered. Artists may submit three works for consideration.
About the Juror:
Beth Shadur is an artist who has exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions in the United States and abroad. She has created over 150 large public murals as public, private, and community art projects in the United States and Great Britain. She has taught and served as a visiting artist at many colleges and universities. From 2012-2024, Shadur served as Gallery Director at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL. She has been awarded numerous residencies and fellowships. Her work is owned in many private and public collections.
Guidelines for Application
• All artists are welcome to apply. If accepted, membership to CSI is required
• Submission for up to three artworks / total of six JPEG images
• Contact info: Name, address, phone, email, website
• Label information: Title, Artist Name, Medium, Size, Price/NFS
• Purchase price or NFS (Leslie Wolfe Gallery retains 25% of purchase price)
• Artists will be required to arrange for delivery and pickup with a prepaid return shipping label
Image upload specifications:
• JPEG files: 1800 x 1800 pixels, 300 dpi preferred
• Image file title: Smith,John_Title_1.jpg
Important Dates:
Exhibition: October 10 – November 4, 2026
Submission Deadline: August 9, 2026
Notification: August 24, 2026
Delivery of work: October 8, 10AM – 5PM or October 9, 10AM – 1PM
Reception to coincide with Lincoln Park Art Night, October 15, 5:30 – 8:30PM
Pick up of work: November 4, 3PM – 9 PM or November 5, 10AM – 5PM
Location:
Leslie Wolf Gallery
Old Town Art Center
1763 N. North Park Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 337-1938
Call for Artists: Whispers from the Unfamiliar
Call for Artists:
Whispers from the Unfamiliar
Submission Deadline: Friday, July 10, 2026
Artwork Dropoff: Sat/Sun, August 1-2
Opening Reception: Friday, August 7, from 6-9 pm
Exhibit Dates: August 7 – September 18, 2026Whispers from the Unfamiliar invites artists to explore their relationship with the unknown . . . the quiet, unfiltered thoughts that flutter internally before taking shape in the real world. Intuition perceives our surroundings and understanding of self long before our conscious mind constructs words to rationalize them. The unfamiliar whispers in silent moments, revealing hidden emotions, forgotten histories, and subtle echoes of understanding. It weaves narratives while we sleep and wakes us with instant clarity and purpose. By embracing this unconscious conversation, we uncover insight into our identities and the world we inhabit.
We encourage artists to reflect on the whispers they encounter in these quiet moments. What messages do they convey to you? What stories are waiting to be told?
Curator, Stephanie Sailor
Guidelines:
Applicants must be current CSI members.
If you are not a current member click here
Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
Include 1 to 3 jpeg images
Title, medium, size, price (with 30% donation added) or NFS
2D, 3D and 4D work accepted - Sculptural work encouraged
Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
The artist is responsible for all shipping costs related to the delivery and return of the sculpture.
A pre-paid return shipping label must be included inside the package in a clearly visible location for the installers.
Please note: We are requesting that exhibiting artists cover 1 or 2 gallery-sitting shifts during the duration of this show.The submission form can be completed here
CSI Project Space is located at 1912 N. Damen in Chicago.
Image credit: Stephanie Sailer
Voices in Form: Group Exhibition
Call for Artists:
Voices in Form
Group exhibition
Voices in Form – Personal, political, or social narratives expressed through sculpture.
Submission Deadline: Monday, June 1, 2026, 11:59pm
Exhibition Dates: October 1 – November 12, 2026
About the Exhibit:
The Indiana University Kokomo Art Gallery will host a special juried exhibition, Voices in Form, which features work by artist members of the Chicago Sculpture International group. CSI artists are invited to submit work for consideration for the upcoming exhibition, Voices in Form – Works from Chicago Sculpture International. The exhibition will be on display in the IUK Art Gallery, on the Indiana University Kokomo campus of Kokomo, Indiana.
Voices in Form invites sculptors to explore how three-dimensional works can carry, amplify, and embody personal, political, and social narratives. This exhibition seeks sculpture that functions as a form of visual language—expressing lived experience, cultural memory, identity, resistance, or reflection through material, process, and form. Artists are encouraged to consider how their work “speaks” in space, whether through symbolic imagery, abstract gesture, or the physical presence of the object itself. Submissions may address contemporary issues, historical perspectives, or deeply personal stories that resonate beyond the individual. All sculptural approaches and materials are welcome, including traditional, experimental, and mixed-media works. Voices in Form aims to create a compelling dialogue between diverse sculptural voices and the communities they engage.
2-D and 3-D work will be considered. Wall hung work must be ready to hang with a strong wire or hanging cleat, or appropriate hanging device. Artworks can be displayed on the wall, floor, or pedestals.
About the Juror:
Carrie Baxter, Art Gallery Director, and the IUK Art and NMAT Faculty will serve as the jurors.
Required:
Submission for up to 4 artworks / total of eight JPEG images
JPEG files: 1800 x 1800 pixels, 300 dpi preferred
Image file title: Smith,John_title_1a.jpg Smith,John_title_1b.jpg
Label information: Title, Artist Name, Medium, size, Price/NFS
Contact info: name, address, phone, email Website link / Instagram handle (if applicable)
Purchase price or NFS
Artists will be required to arrange for delivery and pickup or shipping with a prepaid return shipping label
Approximate weight of artwork Important
Important Dates:
Exhibition: October 1 – November 5, 2026
Submission Deadline: June 1, 2026
Notification Deadline: June 24, 2026
Delivery of work: September 14-17, 2026
Exhibition closes: November 5, 2026
Click Here to Apply
Location:
Indiana University Kokomo Art Gallery
IU Kokomo Campus,
Room KA-102
2300 S. Washington St.
Kokomo, Indiana
Phone: (765)-455-9523
Gallery hours: Monday–Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (EST); Friday-Sunday: CLOSED
Abstract Expressions
Call for Artists:
Abstract Expressions
Juried show for CSI artists at CSI Project Space Gallery
Submission Deadline: May 1, 2026
Exhibition Dates: June 5- July 31, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, June 5, from 6-9 pm
Artwork Dropoff: May 30th and May 31st, 2026
“Abstract Expressions” invites artists to explore the raw, unfiltered language of gesture, color, form, and movement—where emotion takes shape beyond representation and meaning emerges through instinct rather than depiction. Inspired by the bold innovations of artists such as Willem de Kooning, whose restless surfaces redefined the boundaries of abstraction, this exhibition seeks 2D, 3D, and 4D artworks that embrace tension, rhythm, spontaneity, and material presence.
We welcome submissions that embody expressive force, dynamic composition, and a fearless engagement with the medium. Works may investigate the dialogue between control and chaos, structure and gesture, density and void—reflecting the complexity of the human condition in all its vulnerability and power.
“Abstract Expressions” is not about what is seen, but what is felt - an immersive encounter with the energy of creation itself, emotion made visible.
Guidelines:
Applicants must be current CSI members.
If you are not a current member, click here https://www.chicagosculpture.org/join-csiContact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
Include 1 to 3 jpeg images
Title, medium, size, price (with 30% donation added) or NFS
2D, 3D and 4D work accepted - Sculptural work encouraged
Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
The artist is responsible for all shipping costs related to the delivery and return of the sculpture.
A pre-paid return shipping label must be included inside the package in a clearly visible location for the installers.
Please note: We are requesting exhibiting artists to cover 1 or 2 gallery sitting shifts during the duration of this show.
The submission form can be completed here.
CSI Project Space is located at 1912 N. Damen in Chicago.
Image credit: StockCake
Not Normal
Image credit: Happy Family by John Kurman
Not Normal; Challenging Societal Norms
Chicago Sculpture International
Group Exhibition
at Forum 301 Gallery
Exhibition dates: May 1 - June 5, 2026
Juried show for CSI artists at:
Forum 301 Gallery
301 W Ohio St.
Chicago, IL 60654
www.forum301.org
Submission deadline: Sunday, April 5th
2D and 3D Artwork Accepted
Artist may submit up to 3 entries
All artists selected for this exhibit must be current members of CSI or be required to join before the dropoff date
Artwork Dropoff: April 27th
Exhibition dates: May 1- June 5, 2026
Not Normal; Challenging Societal Norms
CSI Group Exhibition at Forum 301 Gallery
Exhibition dates: May 1 - June 5, 2026
About the Exhibit:
The theme for this juried exhibition is open ended in scope and allows for many possibilities. Many kinds of art may fit into this broad category.
"Not normal" refers to anything that goes against established norms, represents an unexpected change, or deviates from accepted collective reality. For the purposes of the exhibition, depictions of ‘not normal’ are those that depart from standard norms. For example, Dada and Surrealism depict fantastical, odd, or distorted realities that differ from our collective everyday experience. "Not normal" can also refer to atypical or unusual occurrences—a flamboyantly dressed person or someone dressed as a superhero on a commuter train full of people in business attire, or events that interrupt daily life, such as a train derailment or hacked cellphone service. In politics, a government perceived as failing to protect its citizens is not normal. Likewise, a government that threatens to invade an otherwise allied nation is also not normal.
What is considered normal in one society may not be recognized as normal in another. Norms include societal rules of established behavior; ways of being and expression; political, racial, social, gender, psychological, and physical norms; as well as conventions of etiquette. Beyond social norms, there are technological and global anomalies, climate anomalies (such as red rain or boiling lakes), biological abnormalities, and other bizarre natural or physical phenomena, including UAP sightings. In physics, a particle can also exist as a wave, further challenging our sense of reality.
Physical or cognitive disabilities may also be perceived as atypical, depending on societal expectations - a sensory crossover where a person might ‘feel’ sounds in specific parts of their body or see colors while playing music—is not normal.
Synesthesia: A sensory crossover where a person might "feel" sounds in specific parts of their body or sees colors while playing music is not normal. Schizophrenia, where a person hears voices and sees people who are not there, has been considered not normal, but as societal norms change it is now considered to be a neurobiological brain disorder that can be treatable and is seen as a neurominority rather than a "broken" state.
What is considered normal changes as society changes. Historical shifts over the past 80 years illustrate this: previous generations considered it normal for eight-year-olds to care for younger siblings for months without adult oversight. Smoking on airplanes was common in the late 20th century, but is now strictly prohibited. Homosexuality, once considered a disorder, and tattoos, jogging, and single parenthood—once deviant—are now common. Yet even today, some of these societal changes face sustained efforts by certain groups to challenge or reverse them—and that, too, is not normal.
Juried and curated by Victoria Fuller and Spencer Gale.
Important Dates: Artwork Dropoff: April 27th
Exhibition Dates: May 1 - June 5, 2026
Location:
Forum 301 Gallery
301 W Ohio St.
Chicago, IL 60654
2026-2028 Sculpture in the Parks exhibit season
Above (Left to Right): Spikes by Christopher Newman at South Shore Cultural Center; Healing HeArts by Michael Alfano at Berger Park; Moon Infinity by Plamen Yordanov at Mount Greenwood Park
Call for Artists:
2026-2028 Sculpture in the Parks Exhibition Season
Application Deadline: Sunday, April 5, 2026, 11:59PM CST
Chicago Sculpture International, in collaboration with the Chicago Park District and parks in the Chicagoland area, is inviting artists to submit proposals for the 2026-2028 Sculpture in the Parks (includes Chicago Park District Cultural Centers and Arts in the Parks initiatives, City of Evanston, Ronan Park, and possible other locations throughout the exhibition season).
The sculpture must be suitable for outdoor display in all weather conditions. They will be installed on hardscape or softscape (grass), so artists must be prepared for, and make provisions for, either type of installation. Only select sites have concrete pads; all other sites are softscape. Sculptures will be on view for two years, from October 2026 to October 2028 (exact dates to be determined). The sculpture must weight 3,000 lbs. or less. Works must be large-scale and suitable for outdoors and all weather conditions and weight under 3,000 lbs.. Submitted works must be transportable on a standard flatbed truck without requiring oversize or wide-load permits, escorts, or special routing. Each sculpture will receive a stipend of $4,200.
Little, but BOLD! 2025
Logo design: John Upchurch
Call for Art: Little, but Bold - 2025
at CSI Project Space Gallery
1912 N Damen Ave., Chicago, IL.
Deadline: Friday, November 21, 2025
Exhibit Dates: December 13, 2025 – January 30, 2026
Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) announces an open call for the Holiday Members Exhibit of small works at our member gallery space in Bucktown.
Little, but BOLD! is in celebration of all things unmonumental. Often flying under the radar, small things have the special ability to bridge private and public spaces. Within the sculpture field, there has been a projected narrative that bigger is better. We are here to assert that small things can hold the same importance as the largest monument.
Guidelines:
Applicants must be current CSI members.
If you are not a current member, click here to Become A MemberContact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
Title, medium, size, price (with 30% donation added) or NFS
Submit one image only
All submissions must be smaller than 12 in. x 12 in.
2D and 3D work accepted - Wall-mounted sculptures or sculptural work encouraged
The artist is responsible for all shipping costs related to the delivery and return of the sculpture. A pre-paid return shipping label must be included inside the package in a clearly visible location for the installers.
Please note: We are requesting exhibiting artists to cover 1 or 2 gallery sitting shifts during the duration of this show.
Learn more about requirements and submit your entry here,
https://forms.gle/f7HLTtXvne8g96Bn9
Sculpture & Film
Call for Entries:
Sculpture & Film
Fall Members Exhibition at CSI Project Space Gallery
Deadline: Monday, September 1, 2025
Drop off artwork: October 4 -5, from 1-5 pm
Opening Reception: Saturday, October 18, from 6-9 pm.
Exhibit Dates: October 18 – November 14, 2025
Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) members are invited to submit sculptural artwork in consideration for the upcoming “Sculpture AND Film” exhibition within the CSI Project Space located at 1912 N. Damen in Chicago, IL. It has often been said that the art of filmmaking is sculptural, with its use of sculptural skills needed to build sets, the spatial compositions and movements of actors in a scene, or even the construction of films in the editing process. This exhibition will feature a wide range of sculptural artwork that explores the interconnection of sculpture and film, whether it displays film imagery, stills, objects, or material within a singular form; presents film spatially through projection or video monitor display; or emerges as a collaborative endeavor between two or more individuals to explore the parallels of cinematic and sculptural space.
The goal of “Sculpture AND Film” is to provide an exhibition space that celebrates the use and inspiration of film within the world of sculpture, allowing for an expanse of traditional to experimental art-making processes, opening up diverse worlds of expression within CSI’s Project Space. Artists and artist teams are encouraged to submit work that can be displayed on the wall, floor, or pedestal. Installation proposals are encouraged, however space may be limited. Artists and artist teams may submit a maximum of three artworks per entry. “Sculpture AND Film” will be on view at the same time as the 61st Chicago International Film Festival, showcasing and celebrating filmmakers and sculptors during the months of October and November.
Curator – Chris Wubbena
Applicants must be current CSI members.
If you are not a current member, click here to Become A Member
- Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
- 1 to 3 Images (optional 2nd view/detail) JPEG, PNG, 1.5M - 2M
- Title, medium, size, price (with 30% donation added) or NFS
- 2D, 3D, 4D work accepted - Installation proposals are encouraged, however space may be limited.
Please Note: We are requesting exhibiting artists to cover one gallery sitting shift during the duration of this show.
For questions and more information: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org
By Degrees IV
Image credit: Sishi Wang - The price to Pay
Call for Art: By Degrees IV
Chicago Sculpture International’s Annual Student Exhibition
Deadline: Friday, August 15, 2025
Notification will be sent via email by August 24
Exhibit Dates: September 13 – October 3, 2025
Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) is calling for artists who are enrolled, or recently graduated from a degree-seeking program, to submit works of sculpture, installation, and media work to be featured in the juried group exhibition "By Degrees IV" at the CSI Project Space Gallery in Chicago.
Artists can submit up to 2 works for consideration. Other media work can be shared via URLs to a hosting site. Accepted artwork must be able to fit through a normal-sized single-door storefront. Cost for shipping work to the gallery, as well as return shipping of unsold work, is the responsibility of the artist. Applicants must be currently enrolled in or have recently (2024 or later) completed a degree-seeking program. Accepted artists who are not CSI members will be granted a one-year non-transferable student membership to CSI.
No submission fee. This call is not limited to students and graduates of Chicago-area institutions, but accepted artists will be required to gallery sit for at least one 4-hour shift during the run of the exhibition.
Learn more about requirements and submit your entry here:
https://forms.gle/Vk13tYjai812pa2Y9
Drop off artwork: Sat/Sun, September 6-7 from 1-5 pm
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 13, from 6-9 pm
Exhibit Dates: September 13 – October 3, 2025
2025 CSI Biennale at Evanston Art Center
Call for Entries:
Chicago Sculpture International 2025 Biennale
Materiality in Sculpture: A Dialogue Between Substance and Form
This exhibition explores the interplay of materials in the realm of sculpture, showcasing works that challenge, celebrate, and redefine our understanding of material substance.
To connect your own work to this theme, consider how your choice of medium and subject matter can simultaneously reflect the physical and conceptual aspects.
Formats include freestanding, wall hung, interactive, installation & video. Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
About the Juror
Debra Favre is an artist who has exhibited in the Washington, DC and the Chicago areas. She is the past Chair of the Board of the Evanston Art Center and has been a juror on the Evanston Art Center’s Exhibitions Committee for the last 14 years. She studied Fine Arts at McDaniel College in Maryland and at the Corcoran School of Art and Design in Washington, DC.
If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member
Submission Deadline: Sunday, August 3, 2025, 11:59pm
Required:
1 submission / 3 JPEG images
2D & 3D work accepted – sculptural installation work also encouraged
JPEG files 1800 x 1800 pixels, 300 dpi preferred
Image Label: ChrisSmith_title_image1.jpg
Brief Bio (100 words)
Artist statement (250 words)
Contact Info: name, address, phone, email
Website link / Instagram handle (optional)
Purchase price or NFS
Insurance value
35% of sales goes to Evanston Art Center
Artist required to add return postage if necessary
Important Dates:
Exhibition: September 27th, 2025 through November 9th, 2025
Opening Reception: Sunday, September 28th, 2025
Submission Deadline: Sunday, August 3rd, 2025, 11:59pm
Notification Date: Friday, August 29, 2025
Exhibition Location:
Evanston Art Center
1717 Central St.
Evanston, IL 60201
Questions? Contact info@chicagosculptors.com
Impressions: Works from Chicago Sculpture International
Call for Entries:
Impressions – Works from Chicago Sculpture International
July 11 – August 25, 2025
The Art Institute of Chicago’s summer exhibition, Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World features work of by Impressionist artist. CSI will present an exhibition with similar themes at the Fine Arts Building Gallery.
Artists are invited to submit work for consideration for the upcoming exhibition, Impressions – Works From Chicago Sculpture International. The exhibition will be installed in the gallery and courtyard of the historic Fine Arts Building, in downtown Chicago.
The exhibition will feature an array of “impressions” of the urban landscape and environment. For example, textures, industrial forms, machinery, architecture, historical influences or comparisons, or environment could be referenced.
Artworks can be displayed on the wall, floor, or pedestals. Smaller pedestal works will be under plexiglass vitrines. 2-D and 3-D work will be considered. Wall hung work must be wired for hanging. Sculptures exhibited in the courtyard area must be suitable for outdoor display.
About the Juror
Stanley Smith, Managing Director of Oakstreet Design, will serve as juror.
Submission Deadline: Sunday, June 1, 2025, 11:59pm
If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign up for membership.
Required:
Submission for up to two artworks / total of four JPEG images
JPEG files 1800 x 1800 pixels, 300 dpi preferred
Image label: ChrisSmith_title_image1.jpg
Contact info: name, address, phone, email
Website link / Instagram handle (optional)
Purchase price or NFS
Artist required to add return shipping if necessary
Click here to apply for this call.
Important Dates:
Exhibition: July 11- - August 25, 2025
Submission Deadline: June 1, 2025
Notification Deadline: June 13, 2025
Deadline for delivery of work: June 20, 2025
Opening reception (2nd Fridays) July 11, 2025, 5 to 9pm
2nd Friday reception: August 8, 2025, 5 to 9pm
Exhibition closes: August 25, 2025
Location:
Fine Arts Building Gallery and Courtyard
410 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, Illinois
Phone: (312) 753-3210
Hours:
Monday–Friday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
For additional information: info@chicagosculpture.org
Inclusion Fellowship for AALANA- or BIPOC-identifying Artists/Sculptors
Inclusion Fellowship for AALANA- or BIPOC-Identifying Artists/Sculptors
In an effort to expand and enrich our community, CSI Membership is offering three (3) AALANA or BIPOC fellowships in total. The fellowships will be offered to three (3) new AALANA-or BIPOC-identifying artists of exceptional promise and interest. Fellowships cover the cost of one year's membership dues, a range of perks, and opportunities to exhibit your work.
You will receive the CSI Newsletter with monthly news and Calls for Art, Participation in CSI exhibitions and events, and a Profile page in the Member Directory. We offer the opportunity to be a paid teaching artist through CSI and you can even volunteer to help us run more inclusively by being involved in our many committees and board.
If you're interested in applying for the AALANA/BIPOC fellowship, please click here.
2025-2026 Fellowship Year Timeline:
Applications Opens: April 1, 2025
Application Deadline: May 31, 2025
Selected Fellows Notified: June 21, 2025 Fellowship Year: July 1, 2025 - July 1, 2026
Application Guidelines:
Completed fellowship submissions must include:
1. Artist Resume - 2 pages max
2. Statement of interest stating why the fellowship is important to you in your career - 300 words
max
3. Artist Statement - 150 words max
4. Artist Website - if not available, link to 1 social media account
5. Work Samples - Jpgs 2MB or less Labeled (LastName_FirstName_1) Eg.
Dowager_Milfred_1
Learn more about past recipients
Image credit: Cherllye Booker
Chimera - Summer Group Exhibit
Above: Shencheng Xu, Patience
Call for Entries:
Chimera
Submission Deadline: Sunday, May 4, 2025
Chimeras are hybrid creatures combining different animals into one creature, some examples which are combined with humans are a centaur (half horse, half human), a mermaid (half human, half fish), Anubis (half human, half jackal). Ganesha (half elephant, half human). Then there are creatures combining different animal parts, like Akhekh - A creature from Egyptian mythology with the body of an oryx and the wings and snout of a bird, and Hieracosphinx – A type of Sphinx that had a hawk head.
We are expanding the definition of Chimera for this exhibition to include any hybrid combining two of more of inanimate or biological objects, such as household objects, machinery, animal, botanical, fungal, or microscopic organisms that normally do not go together, but when combined become a hybrid.
This also has a reference to Dada and Surrealism, described very well with the famous line from Les Chants de Maldoror by the Comte de Lautréamont/Isidore Ducasse: “beautiful as a chance encounter on a dissecting table of a sewing-machine and an umbrella." So, inanimate objects as well as the biological are encouraged as part of any submission to this call.
Curator - Victoria Fuller
Learn more about requirements and submit your entry HERE.
If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign-up for membership. Click HERE to become a member.
Important Dates:
Submission Deadline: Sunday, May 4, 2025
Drop off artwork: May 31 and June 1, from 1-5PM
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 7, from 6-9PM
Exhibition Dates: June 7 - July 18, 2025
Location:
CSI Project Space
1912 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL
(at the corner of Cortland and Damen avenues)
Gallery hours:
Fri. 2-6 pm*
Sat. 12–8 pm
Sun. 1-5 pm
or by appointment
*Open until 8pm on the 1st of every of every month for West Town’s First Fridays
For more info: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org
Sculpture in the Parks 2025-2027 exhibition season
Call for Entries:
2025-2027 Sculpture in the Parks
Chicago Sculpture International, in collaboration with the Chicago Park District and parks in the Chicagoland area, is inviting artists to submit proposals for the 2025-2027 Sculpture in the Parks exhibition season (Park Cultural Centers and Arts in the Parks initiatives).
Works must be large-scale and suitable for outdoors. They will be installed on hardscape or softscape (grass), so artists must be prepared for, and make provisions for, either type of installation. Only select sites have concrete pads; all other sites are softscape. Sculptures will be on view for two years, from October 2025 to October 2027 (exact dates to be determined).
Each sculpture will receive a stipend of $4,200.
Application Deadline: Thursday, March 20, 2025, 11:59PM CST
Eligibility:
This call is open to professional artists who are at least 18 years of age. Artists whose proposals are accepted will be asked to join CSI if they are already not a member. There are many membership benefits, including exhibition and networking opportunities, a presence on our website and access to valuable professional information. See what we’re all about at: chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member.
Requirements:
• Exhibitors must have Commercial General Liability Insurance (Primary and Umbrella) on an occurrence basis with limits not less than $1,000,000 single limit per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage.
• Artists will be required to make a brief recording discussing their sculpture for the Otocast app.
• Upon selection, Artists must be (or become) a member of CSI (see above)
• Upon installation, A written artist statement
• Upon installation, A brief mp3 recording discussing your sculpture for the Otocast app.
• Upon installation, At least 2 photos of the sculpture shown in situ and installed in its designated Chicago park.
How to Apply:
Artists can submit one or two sculptures for review. Your submission should consist of:
• Two digital images per sculpture. Please send .jpg images (1.5MB in size or less), and use the following filename convention: 1. Lastname_title.jpg (e.g., 1. Rodin_The Thinker, front view.jpg; 2. Rodin_The Thinker, backview.jpg).
• A Completed Application
Put images and application into a zip folder and send it to info@chicagosculpture.org. Your subject line will be “Submission: Sculpture in the Parks 2025-2027”.
Shadows: Group Exhibit
Photo credit: Australia by Darius K
Group exhibit at
CSI Project Space
March 1 - April 25, 2025
Submission Deadline: Friday, February 7, 2025
Shadows are more than just the absence of light—they are symbols of the hidden, the fleeting, and the ambiguous. Across psychology, literature, art, and philosophy, shadows have long served as metaphors for the complexities of human experience. They invite us to explore what lies beneath the surface, confront the unseen, and embrace the mystery of what we cannot fully grasp.
Carl Jung’s concept of the “shadow self” speaks to the parts of ourselves we often deny or suppress—the fears, flaws, and truths that challenge our ideal self-image. Yet, in engaging with this shadow, we embark on a journey of self-discovery, finding strength in vulnerability and balance in the dualities of our existence.
Shadows shift, stretch, and dissolve, echoing the impermanence of our world. They remind us to savor the fleeting beauty of the moment, to find wonder in the transient, and to reflect on life’s fragile brilliance.
If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member
Learn more about requirements and submit your entry HERE.
Location:
CSI Project Space
1912 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL
(at the corner of Cortland and Damen avenues)
Gallery hours:
Fri. 2-6 pm*
Sat. 12–8 pm
Sun. 1-5 pm
or by appointment
*Open until 8pm on the 1st of every of every month for West Town’s First Fridays
For more info: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org
Little, but BOLD! CSI Member Benefit Art Auction - Call for Entries
Little, but BOLD!
CSI Member Benefit Art Auction
Submission Deadline: Sunday Nov, 3, 2024
Opening Night Live & Silent Auction: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024
Exhibition Dates: Dec. 7, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025
CSI Project Space announces an open call for the CSI Member Benefit Art Auction of small works at our member gallery space in Bucktown. On opening night, we will offer 5 art works for sale at a live auction and the rest of the art works will all be on a silent auction. Buyers get to take art home that night!
Little, but BOLD! is in celebration of all things un-monumental. Often flying under the radar, small things have the special ability to bridge private and public spaces. Within the sculpture field, there has been a projected narrative that bigger is better. We are here to assert that small things can hold the same importance as the largest monument.
Guidelines:
Applicants must be CSI members
All submissions must be smaller than 12 in. x 12 in.
2D and 3D work accepted - open theme small works
Wall mounted sculptures or sculptural work encouraged
All work must be available for sale through the auction
Please note:
This is a fundraising benefit for CSI members. Each artist will receive a 50% commission of the sale price. But this is an auction, so please provide us with your minimum bid price. For example, if the piece is valued at $500 then the minimum bid could be $250 and the piece could sell for $250 and you the artist needs to be okay with that selling price, so please price accordingly. We are requesting exhibiting artists to help with Opening Auction Night and/or to cover 1 or 2 gallery sitting shifts during the duration of the exhibition.
Submission Instructions:
Please submit 1 image only and all information on this Google submission form here: tinyurl.com/littlebutbold2024
Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
One (1) jpeg ONLY: Title, size, medium, and priced for 50% to artist and 50% to CSI
Important Dates:
Submission Deadline: Sunday Nov, 3, 2024
Notification: Sunday, Nov 10, 2024
Drop off artwork: Sat. Nov. 30 and Sun, Dec 1
Opening Night Live & Silent Auction: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024
Exhibition Dates: Dec. 7, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025
If your artwork is Unsold. Pick up artwork Saturday, January 27th or Sunday, January 28th, 2025
We look forward to viewing your submissions!
Holiday Cheers.
CSI Project Space is located at 1912 N. Damen Avenue in Chicago.
CSI Project Space
1912 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL
(at the corner of Cortland and Damen Avenues, in the Bucktown neighborhood)
Gallery hours:
Fri. 2-6 pm
Sat. 12–8 pm
Sun. 1-5 pm
or by appointment
Wearing masks in the gallery is recommended
For more info: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org
Existing is Political - Call for Entries
Existing is Political
Group Exhibit at CSI Project Space
Entry Deadline: Friday, September 27, 2024Existing is Political
Chicago Sculpture International Project Space
Entry Deadline: Friday, September 27, 2024
“Existing is Political” explores the notion that simply "being" - existing in one’s body, culture, gender, or identity - carries political weight and significance. In an era marked by a two-party system with sharply defined platforms, this exhibition examines how the principles "equality and justice for all" fit into contemporary society. By showcasing diverse voices and perspectives, it aims to inspire dialogue and foster a deeper understanding of existence as a political act in order to inspire action towards a genuinely inclusive society.
Applicants must be current CSI members. Click here to sign-up for a membership.
2D-3D work accepted – Sculptural installation work encouraged.
Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
Short paragraph statement about the work.
Artists must install their work.
Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
1 to 3 jpg images (+ image details): Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation to CSI added
Submit on this Google form here: https://forms.gle/nhvWW3VKHjcGXZaGA
Exhibition Dates: October 19 – November 22, 2024
Notification: Saturday, October 5
Artwork Drop-off: Saturday & Sunday, October 12-13, from 1-5 pm.
Opening: Saturday, October 19, from 6-9 pm.
Artwork Pick-up: Saturday & Sunday, November 23-24, from 1-5 pm.
Please Note: We request exhibiting artists to cover 1 to 2 gallery-sitting shifts during the show.
Call for Entries: "Self | Portraits" group show
Self | Portraits
Chicago Sculpture International Project Space
Entry Deadline: Friday, May 3, 2024
Artists periodically ask themselves, “How am I doing?”. A closer look often inspires auto-biographical work. Objects are born of thoughts and feelings, then made from an examined life. Self | Portraits invites sculptors to check-in on their condition.
Curated by Thomas Plum
• Applicants must be current CSI members or If applicant is not a current member you will be required to join CSI if their work is accepted into the exhibit. To sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member
• 3D work accepted – Sculptural installation work encouraged.
• Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
• Artists must install their own work.
• An artist’s statement and short bio will be required for the accepted piece.
• Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
• 1 to 3 .jpg-formatted images (+ image details): Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation to CSI added
Submit on this Google form here: https://forms.gle/YaAdqMopfC4bhpUL7
Exhibition Dates: June 8 – July 12, 2024
Notification: Wednesday, May 29 & Thursday, May 30
Artwork Drop-off: Saturday, June 1 & Sunday, June 2, from 1-5 pm.
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 8, from 6-9 pm.
Artwork Pick-up: Saturday, July 13 & Sunday, July 14, from 1-5 pm.
Please Note: We request exhibiting artists to cover 1 to 2 gallery-sitting shifts during the show.
By Degrees III (2024)
Above (left to right): Fairy Ring by Greta Olson, Soil Samples by Kristina Rogers, Two-Headed Fawn by Ariana Hocking, and Rest Area by Stella Moon
By Degrees III (2024):
Call for Submissions
Often an artist’s most groundbreaking work comes from being immersed in a culture of study and intellectual pursuit. Chicago, home to some of the most globally revered academic arts institutions, could be considered a sort of proving ground for tomorrow’s most promising contemporary emerging artists.
Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) is calling for artists who are enrolled in, or recently (2023 or later) graduated from a degree-seeking program to submit works of sculpture, installation, and media work to be featured in the third annual juried group exhibition By Degrees, scheduled for September 14 - October 4, 2024, at CSI Project Space in Chicago.
Artists will be able to submit up to 3 works for consideration. There is no fee for entry.
Accepted artists will be granted a one-year non-transferrable student membership to CSI.
This call is not limited to students and graduates of Chicago-area institutions, but accepted artists will be required to gallery sit for at least one 4-hour shift during the exhibition run.
Application Requirements:
Applicants must be enrolled in, or recently (2023 or later) graduated from a degree-seeking program.
The artwork submitted must be able to fit within a normal-sized single-door storefront.
1-3 jpeg images, or links to media files. Image files should not be larger than 2MB. Each artist may submit up to 3 artwork entries.
Artwork information that corresponds with submitted images; including title of work, material, dimensions, year, and sale price, if offered for sale. CSI retains a 30% commission on sales.
Artist Statement.
Contact information including email, address and phone number along with optional inclusion of website and Instagram handle.
Accepted artists must commit to gallery sitting one 4-hour shift during the exhibition run.
Application Form:
Please complete the application form here; https://forms.gle/ewBWZx4UaLwVyj6Q8
Important Dates:
Application Deadline: Sunday, July 28, 2024 Midnight Central Standard Time
Notification by: Sunday, August 18, 2024
Artwork Drop-Off Date: Sunday, September 8, 2024, 1-5 pm.
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 14, 2024, 6-9 pm.
Pick-Up/Deinstall Artwork: Sat/Sun, October 5-6, 2024, 1-5 pm.
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, September 14 - Friday, October 4, 2024
For any questions contact projectspace@chicagosculpture.org
Unfavorable Conditions
Unfavorable Conditions
February 17 - April 19, 2024
Unfavorable Conditions prompts reflection on the human ability to navigate storms, both internal and external, and emerge on the other side transformed.
This exhibit examines the resilience inherent in the human spirit, encouraging a collective acknowledgment of the strength that arises when faced with life's challenges.
2D and 3D work accepted - Sculptural work encouraged
Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
1 to 3 .jpg images: Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation added
Entry Deadline: February 2nd, 2024
Notification: Weds, Feb. 7-8
Artwork Drop-off: Sat/Sun, Feb. 10-11, from 1-5 pm.
Opening: Saturday, Feb. 17, from 6-9 pm.
Exhibit Dates: Feb. 17 – April 19, 2024
Artwork Pick-up: Sat/Sun, April 20-21, from 1-5 pm.
Please Note: We request exhibiting artists to cover 1 or 2 gallery-sitting shifts during the show.
Click here to apply
Sculpture in the Parks 2024-2026 season
RFP: 2024-2026 Sculpture in the Parks
Chicago Sculpture International, in collaboration with the Chicago Park District and parks in the Chicagoland area, is inviting artists to submit proposals for the 2024-2026 Sculpture in the Parks exhibition season.
Works must be large-scale and suitable for outdoors. They will be installed on hardscape or softscape (grass), so artists must be prepared for either type of installation. Only select sites have concrete pads; all other sites are softscape. Sculptures will be on view for two years, from October 2024 to October 2026 (exact dates to be determined). Each sculpture will receive a stipend of $3000.
Application Deadline: Thursday, March 21, 2024, 11:59 PM CST
Eligibility: This call is open to professional artists who are at least 18 years of age. Artists whose proposals are accepted will be asked to join CSI if they are already not a member. There are many membership benefits, including exhibition and networking opportunities, a presence on our website and access to valuable professional information. See what we’re all about at: chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member.
Also, exhibitors must have Commercial General Liability Insurance (Primary and Umbrella) on an occurrence basis with limits not less than $1,000,000 single limit per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage.
How to apply:
Artists can submit one or two sculptures for review. Your submission should consist of:
· Two digital images per sculpture. Please send .jpg images (1.5MB in size or less), and use the following filename convention:
1. Lastname_title.jpg
(e.g., 1. Rodin_The Thinker, front view.jpg; 2. Rodin_The Thinker, back view.jpg).
· A completed application.
Put images and application into a zip folder and send it to info@chicagosculpture.org.
Your subject line will be “Sculpture in the Parks 2024-2026.”