Compete Portals & Passages
Opportunity Description
U.S. National Deadline: January 31, 2026 – The MVA Gallery (Modern Visual Arts) invites artists, photographers and sculptors of all levels to submit original artwork to this exhibition.
Portals — including doors, entranceways and windows — function as physical, conceptual and psychological points of arrival and departure. Doors may be admired for their architectural features, but they also can be symbolic. Windows reveal perspective and atmospheric views, but window imagery can be rich with metaphorical meaning.
Portals and passages also are associated with corridors, streets, tunnels, bridges, trails and other natural and man-made structures. They can serve as symbolic entrances into other realms, real or imaginary. They can signify freedom, or present the concept of crossing over to a mysterious experience, or evoke settings for seeking a spiritual path. Portals are frequently referenced in literary and visual descriptions of life-cycle events, such as birth and death.
All these themes and subthemes are appropriate for your artwork for this exhibition. Whether you wish to submit a straightforward image of a portal or passageway, or whether you wish to offer an image layered with symbolic associations, we are excited to see your interpretations. Your artwork can de direct or complex, lucid or mysterious, restrained or dramatic.
Exhibition Dates: May 9 – June 6, 2026.
ELIGIBILITY
This is a National Call for Entries inviting artists, photographers and sculptors from all regions and states. Artists must be 18 years of age or older and current residents of the United States.
The MVA Gallery accepts painting, watercolor, printmaking, mixed media, digital, pastel, encaustic, sculpture, fiber, ink, drawing and photography.
AWARDS
Art of Distinction Award will be granted at most exhibitions. One artist, photographer or sculptor will be selected and featured in a special exhibit at the MVA Gallery, Exhibition Room 2, to be scheduled at a future date.
One New York City Exhibition: One artist, photographer or sculptor will be selected from all the individuals who were accepted and displayed in an MVA Gallery exhibit during the past calendar year. This artist will be offered an exhibition opportunity in New York City and will be notified in December.
Director’s Choice Award – $200 optional award may be granted at the discretion of the Executive Director of the MVA Gallery.
ENTRY FEE
Entry fee is $35.00 for 3 images. You may include additional files for $5.00 each up to a total of 9 maximum.
APPLY ONLINE
Visit us for complete details and easy online application.
Notification to Artists: On or about March 3, 2026 (Midnight). Notification by email.
SALES
Artists can determine whether they wish to sell their artwork. For sales, the artist must list a specific price and not indicate “Upon Request.”
Commission Fees:
70% of the final sale price to the Artist.
30% of the final sale price to the Gallery.
About:
The MVA Gallery (Modern Visual Arts) is located in historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Bethlehem, along with its neighboring cities Allentown and Easton, comprise the third largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). Bethlehem has a vibrant arts and cultural life — numerous active art galleries and nationally acclaimed festivals that attract tens of thousands of visitors each year. Located one hour from New York City, Bethlehem has become an art destination for informed collectors and prominent art professionals.
MVA Gallery
35 E. Elizabeth Avenue, Suite 35
Bethlehem, PA 18018
ph: 610-936-0737
