Art Calls Let Nature In
Opportunity Description
International Deadline: June 26, 2025 – The Painting Center is seeking submissions for the juried group exhibition ‘Let Nature In’ curated by Kathleen Beausoleil and Shazzi Thomas.
The exhibition will be held in person and on Artsy from July 22 – August 16, 2025, with an opening reception on July 24.
Let Nature In will feature contemporary artists who continue to engage with the natural world by offering fresh perspectives on our ever-evolving relationship with its environment. From the earliest cave paintings of trees and plants to the intricate floral motifs of 10th-century Eastern art, nature has been a constant source of creativity – an open invitation to reflect and create. In Western art, landscape painting did not emerge as a central subject until the 16th century, which led to rich traditions of pastoral scenes and florals. Throughout history, depictions of nature have served both artistic and functional purposes—vast landscapes were once used to strategize battles, while the detailed botanical illustrations of the 18th and 19th centuries documented plant species for scientific study. Artists have let nature influence their work by bringing the outside in. Claude Monet immersed himself in his water lilies, transforming the play of light on the water into a dreamlike experience. Georgia O’Keeffe magnified the beauty of flowers, pushing them toward abstraction. Andy Goldsworthy works with natural materials, creating ephemeral sculptures that unfold with the elements.
For Let Nature In, we invite artists to join this timeless conversation—to reinterpret, challenge, and deepen our connection to the natural world through works that don’t just depict nature but breathe with it literally and sometimes metaphorically, letting the outside seep into our consciousness.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to artist worldwide. All visual art styles and mediums will be considered for this exhibition. There is no size limit for works submitted. Please note that all works must be wired and ready to hang or be able to be secured on a pedestal. If the works cannot be wired or secured on a pedestal, please provide installation instructions.
ENTRY FEE
Application Fee: $40 for up to three images.
SALES
All works submitted must be for sale. (The gallery takes a 35% commission on any works sold).
DATES
- Exhibition Dates: July 22 – August 16, 2025
- Artwork Shipping / Delivery Dates: Wednesday, July 16 through Saturday, July 19 between 11 am and 6 pm.
- Reception Date: July 24, 2025
- Deadline Date: June 26, 2025
- Notification Date: July 3, 2025
About:
The Painting Center is a non-profit art gallery in New York City with strong roots in the art community and a reputation for integrity in its programming. The gallery provides exhibition opportunities for emerging, mid-career and established artists.
Over the past twenty-eight years, The Painting Center has mounted over 700 exhibitions organized by guest curators and its curatorial program is central to its mission. These innovative exhibitions have displayed the work of diverse artists and have received continuous support that could only be recognized in the community as presenting an alternative voice.
In addition to mounting a year round schedule of exhibitions, The Painting Center hosts lectures, educational events, panel discussions, poetry readings and performances which are open to the public, free of charge. These events regularly attract large audiences, furthering our goal of engaging artists and visitors as participants. The Painting Center maintains an online curated art file on its website, which is available to curators.
The Painting Center
547 West 27th Street, Suite 500
New York, NY, 10001
Phone: (212) 343-1060
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