Internet A Smith Gallery : Photographic Mysticism / An Instant Film
Opportunity Description
International Deadline: December 29, 2025 – Photographic Mysticism seeks artists who approach instant photography not as nostalgia, but as an invocation of mystery through chemistry, a meditation enacted in light and time, creating a contemporary practice of mysticism that resists the mechanization of vision. Whether through the faded hues of expired Polaroids, the splotchy emulsion of never-cleaned rollers, or the creations and collages of multiple images on the Polaroid Lab, we want to see how the sacred persists in material through your imagery.
This call is open exclusively to instant film: Polaroid, Fuji Instax, or discontinued formats such as Impossible Project and New55. Subject matter is unrestricted; what matters is the spirit of inquiry, the tension between control and surrender, the evidence of touch and transcendence.
Exhibition dates: February 1 to March 31, 2026.
ELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to all photographers both professional and amateur working in all photographic mediums and styles. International entries are welcomed. Work that has been previously exhibited in an A Smith Gallery competition is not eligible. We prefer not to accept images created with Artificial Intelligence at the present time due to the lack of clarity concerning copyright issues and the ongoing litigation associated with them.
JUROR
Michael Behlen will be the juror for photographic mysticism. Michael is an instant film addict and the founder and publisher of Analog Forever Magazine. He has self-published two Polaroid photobooks – Searching for Stillness, Vol. 1 and I Was a Pioneer, literally a boxed set of his instant film work. His latest book, Searching for Stillness Vol II was published in 2020 by Static Age.
Behlen’s Polaroid photography can be found in various publications including Diffusion Magazine, Fraction Magazine, Seities Magazine, and Polaroid Now (Chronicle Books, 2021). He loves the magic sensuality of instant film: its saturated, surreal colors; the unpredictability of the medium; its addictive qualities as you watch it develop… see more
ONLINE EXHIBITION and CATALOGUE
Jurors will be selecting up to 47 images in total. All artist included in the final selection of images will receive the following:
- The gallery will be featuring each of the final selection of images on both Facebook and Instagram over the span of the exhibition.
- Gallery Directors will be hosting a GalleryTalk and will discuss all selected images. The GalleryTalk will be posted in the blog section of the website.
- The gallery online store will include all selected images listed for sale.
- An exhibition catalogue including all selected images will be published and available for purchase.
- The online exhibition as well as the GalleryTalk will be permanently archived after the end of the exhibition period.
“THE 27” HARDBOUND EXHIBITION BOOK
27 images from the total selected images will be selected for “The 27”, a hardbound fine art book of the exhibition. “The 27” will be available for purchase. Both the Juror and Director Award recipients will receive the hardbound exhibition book.
AWARDS
The awards are as follows:
- Jurors Award – an online solo exhibition, “The 27” exhibition book and GalleryTalk on the gallery blog
- Directors Award – “The 27” exhibition book and a GalleryTalk on the gallery blog
- Visitors Award (most Instagram likes) – $100
The solo exhibition awarded as the Juror and Director Awards will be scheduled at a mutually agreed time for the duration of a month.
ENTRY FEE
$40 for the first 5 images, $5 per each additional image. There is no limit to the number of images you may submit.
Photographers submitting 13 or more images are entitled to receive a complimentary review by the gallery directors.
APPLY ONLINE
Visit us for complete details and easy online Application.
SALES
The gallery has an online store and will include all images from the exhibition. The gallery will retain 30% of the sales price.
DATES
- Entries due: December 29, 2025
- Results emailed: January 12, 2026
- Exhibition dates: February 1 to March 31, 2026
- Reception: February 28, 2026 3pmCST YouTube video posted in ASG Conversations
About:
Established in May, 2010, A Smith Gallery is located in Johnson City, Texas in the Nugent Avenue Arts District. The gallery exhibits the work of both amateur and professional photographers through juried and invitational exhibitions. Amanda Smith and Kevin Tully are the Gallery Directors. Izzie and WeeGee are the gallery cats.
A Smith Gallery
103 N Nugent Ave
Johnson City, TX
