Celebrating visual art of the human form / Célébrer l’art visuel de la forme humaine
Photo by Kristina Corre
2022
Submissions are closed for Figureworks 2022.
Figureworks is calling artists in all media to submit to the 11th annual juried Figureworks Prize and award show. The submission deadline is September 23, 2022.
Figureworks is an annual juried art prize and celebration of the art of the human form held in Ottawa, Ontario. We accept figurative works in all media. The show is open to all living artists working in all mediums who wish to submit recent works that represent the human form or parts thereof.
Small Works is the theme. This year, we are giving a great platform to smaller works in a new, smaller venue. Further, we made the scope of the competition more regional and are accepting artworks from the great pool of artists living in Canada.
Figureworks is more than an annual prize; it is a community of artists passionate about the human figure. Each year we come together to celebrate the figure through the Figureworks Prize. Artists will have their work reviewed by our professional jury and the opportunity to win cash prizes — In 2019, the last prize, $7500 was awarded to artists. Those in the show will have their work displayed in Ottawa and published on the Figureworks website. Artists may also sell their works at the show should they choose. Note that Figureworks takes no commission on sales – sales go directly to the artists.
Figureworks 2022 is encouraging the participation of Canadian artists by restricting submissions to those within Canada, whether resident or non-resident, including international students studying at a post-secondary institution.
We encourage submissions from all artists and recognize that there are many communities of artistic creation, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, Black, people of colour, immigrant, homeless, and 2SLGBTQ+ artists, as well as artists with disabilities.
At Figureworks we strive to be as inclusive as possible and accept figurative works in many media. The show is open to all living artists working in all mediums who wish to submit recent works that represent the human form or parts thereof.
(n.b.: We regret that the 2022 prize is in a smaller space cannot accommodate submissions of performance art or virtual reality)
Figureworks 2022 is focused on small works. The following are the size requirements not including framing:
Two-dimensional artworks
drawing, painting, prints, photographs, fibre
Maximum* width of 60cm (24 inches)
Maximum* height of 60cm (24 inches)
Three-dimensional artworks
sculpture and otherwise
Maximum* width of 30cm (12 inches)
Maximum* depth of 30cm (12 inches)
Maximum* height of 60cm (24 inches)
Video
Maximum* of 15 minutes
*If your work is very slightly over the listed maximum, please contact us to determine whether it can be accommodated.
If you have any questions, please contact submissions@figureworks.org
Electronic submission and online payment are primary means of submission for Figureworks.
Image submissions must include a high quality image (up to 15 MB in size), at a minimum of 1280 pixels wide. Poor quality photos do not generally get good grades from the jury. It is worth taking your time to do it properly or having your artwork professionally photographed.
Should electronic submission not be possible, you may contact submissions@figureworks.org to request an alternative.
By submitting to Figureworks, you agree to our submission guidelines.
Figureworks Submission Form
Submission Deadline
September 23, 2022
Artwork Drop-off
October 25, 2022
Late submissions. Submissions arriving after the deadline or without payment will not be accepted, without exception.
Late delivery. Accepted artworks dropped off or delivered late to the venue for hanging run the risk of being eliminated from the final jury review.
No substitutions; please ensure that your entries will be available during the dates of the exhibition.
Artists may submit a maximum of two pieces.
1 Submission
General: $45 CAD
Student rate: $30 CAD
2 Submissions
General: $65 CAD
Student rate: $45 CAD
Terms:
The Figureworks competition is evaluated by a jury of peer professional artists representing a broad range of media and forms of art. The jury selection is determined by the Figureworks Jury Committee.
Our Jury performs two levels of evaluation;
Electronic review : The jury will conduct several electronic reviews. The end result will be a shortlisted of Finalists that will move onto Round 2 and be presented in the Figureworks exhibition. Artists will be notified of the jury decision by email.
In person review: The Jury will convene together to view and rank all the artworks in person for the Figureworks prizes.
The decision of the jury is final.
Work must be exhibition ready in a professional manner.
If framed, the frame is clean, undamaged, and suitable to the artwork and has d-rings and a wire for hanging on the reverse. It is preferably archival and, if it is a work on paper, it is protected by glass or plexiglass. Mailed submissions may want to use conservation-grade plexiglass to avoid possible damage. All paper or embroidery works will be framed.
Overall dimensions of works including matting and frames can’t exceed the following dimensions:
Works that don't require a frame, such as gallery wrapped paintings, will come with d-rings and a wire on the back. Other media that are unsuitable to framing, such as wall hangings, will come ready to hang in a manner that does not require extra hardware and that can be hung with a hammer and nails – the tools that the Figureworks hanging team have available.
Should your work require an installation that does not include hanging on the wall or sitting on a plinth, you are expected to provide the necessary materials and be available to install the piece.
Figureworks will not pin works to the wall. We do not accept rolled up paper works, embroidery, or photos unless they are properly framed.
Artworks that do not comply with our hanging standards will be refused, and the submission fee will not be returned.
Figureworks will take all due care with all artworks received, but will not be responsible for any loss or damage to artworks whatsoever, however caused, while in its custody. Each entrant is responsible for maintaining their own insurance coverage, should they choose to, as Figureworks’ own insurance policy does not cover all situations that could affect artworks.
Works may, but do not have to, be for sale. Neither Figureworks nor Wallack Galleries charges a commission. Figureworks will reserve works for interested buyers, but all sales are to be conducted directly between artist and buyer.
Domestic shipments to be sent to:
Figureworks
Care of: Wallack Galleries
225 Bank Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 1W9
Canada
They must arrive no later than October 26, 2022.
Please indicate that a signature upon receipt is required, to ensure that the package either be delivered at the door or picked up at the depot and to avoid that any packages be left unattended at the delivery address.
Proforma Invoice. If the shipment origin is outside Canada it must include a proforma invoice stating the name, address, phone, and e-mail of both the sender and receiver, the title of the artwork, the year it was produced, the materials used, the size of the artwork, the gross and net weight of the package. The artist should state in which country the materials were bought and in which country the work was produced.
Return Shipment. Artists must pay for the return shipment and include the necessary documents to do so. The most convenient approach is to open an account with Fedex and include the return shipment documents with your Fedex account number and return address.
Labels should state that the artwork will be returned to the artist after the show and that the work is not for sale.
Failure to arrange for return shipping within 30 days of the last day of the Figureworks exhibition may result in the artist receiving a monthly bill for artwork storage.
Artists may submit a maximum of two pieces.
September 23, 2022 – Submission deadline
This is the last date for submissions. Submissions close at midnight EST.
October 13, 2022 – Public announcement
Public announcement of list of finalists selected for exhibition. Note: artists will be notified privately in advance of this date.
October 25, 2022, Shipping deadline
Deadline for shipment of artwork(s).
October 25, 2022, Drop off deadline
Artists may drop works off to Wallack Galleries during business hours, Sundays excluded, up to 1 week in advance of the deadline.
October 27, 2022 – Vernissage
Vernissage from 18:00 to 22:00, with prize winners announced at 19:30.
Pickup - Dates to be announced soon
Pick-up artworks at Wallack Galleries.
For PR and Communications, communications@figureworks.org
For technical issues, website@figureworks.org
For all other enquiries, submissions@figureworks.org