Personal History
Art Saint Louis presents “Personal History,” an all media juried visual art exhibition featuring self-portraits as well as other personal history imagery that depicts and defines one’s artistic version of their self and sense of self. We invite all explorations & interpretations of this theme and encourage all media, all themes & subjects styles and techniques.
 

ELIGIBILITY

• Open to artists 18 years of age and older living in the St. Louis, Missouri region and surrounding 200-mile radius*.
• Artist must be resident of the St. Louis region/200-mile radius when show begins (January 7, 2023) in order to submit work & participate, if selected for exhibition.
  *ONLY artists from the St. Louis region may enter and participate in exhibit--if you live further than 200 miles, we appreciate your interest, but you are not eligible.
• If you are not sure of the distance from where you live to our location (1223 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103), you can use this handy online distance calculator.

ALL MEDIA

• We welcome, encourage and consider artworks made of/using any & all media, including but definitely not limited to: airbrush, ceramics, collage, drawing (graphite, pen & ink, etc), glass (blown glass, kilnformed, etc), illustration, jewelry, metalsmithing, mixed media, mosaics, painting (acrylic, gouache, oil, watercolor, etc), photography (analog or digital), printmaking (silkscreen & serigraph, monotypes, collagraph, etching, linocut, etc), sculpture, textiles (beading, basketry, weaving, tapestry, embroidery, stitching, quilts, wearables, etc.), video, woodworking, and more.
• If you call/consider what you make an artwork and want it to be considered for our show, then it is art. Not all media fits in a category or can be specifically described. Art is art.
• We are not able to exhibit ceiling installed artworks or floor-installed* works. *All 3-d work is displayed on platforms, pedestals or otherwise off-the-ground.

NEW ENTRY DEADLINE

• The new deadline to submit artwork for this exhibit is October 19, 2022, 11:59 p.m. MST.

OUR JURORS 

• Nancy Palmeri, artist, Chairperson, Professor of Art & Design, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO. Nancy received her MFA from the University of Nebraska (1993). Palmeri is the recipient of the Frans Masereel Graphic Arts Center Fellowship, Belgium (2001) and a Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship, Italy(1998). Her work is included in public collections in the U.S., Belgium, Italy, and Japan.
• Naomi Lear, artist, Professor, Columbia College, Columbia, MO. Naomi Sugino was born in Ishioka, Japan and came to the United States in 1986. She received dual Bachelor degrees in Arts and Music from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Wichita State University, Kansas. As Professor of Art at Columbia College in Columbia, MO, Naomi teaches drawing and painting courses. Her work has been exhibited in regional and national exhibitions.

AWARDS

• Awards of Excellence will be selected by the Jurors for this exhibit and include (1) $250 Best of Show Award of Excellence and (4) non-cash Awards of Excellence.
• We also offer up to 3 Honorable Mentions.
• Award of Excellence recipients will be eligible for our “Honor Awards 2025” ten-artist curated exhibit presented at Art Saint Louis Summer of 2025.

EXHIBITION SPACE & DATES

• “Personal History” is presented at Art Saint Louis, 1223 Pine Street in downtown St. Louis, MO 63103.
• Exhibition dates: January 7-February 15, 2023.
• The Gallery is open six days a week, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed Sundays, holidays and between exhibits. Closed January 16 for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Hours subject to change.
• Free reception* on Saturday, January 14, 2023, 5-7 p.m. *Reception subject to change.
• Artists Gallery Talk & related programming tbd.

WHAT IS A JURIED EXHIBIT? 

• A juried exhibition is a competitive exhibit process.
• The artworks that you submit will be in competition against all of the other artworks submitted for consideration for this exhibit.
• Some artworks will be juried in/selected for the final show, while others will not be selected.
• If you do not wish to compete to have your work considered, then please do not submit your artworks for this juried exhibition.

THE JURYING PROCESS

• The Jurors will not view any artworks submitted for this exhibit until after the entry deadline--so, after October 19, 2022—after which the jurying process will begin.
• The method by which all exhibitions are juried at Art Saint Louis is designed to be as absolutely fair as possible. We strictly maintain a blind/anonymous process, meaning that at NO time before or during the jurying process are the Jurors shown the names of any entrants. In fact, our jurors often do not see names for selected artists until they arrive at Art Saint Louis to view the final exhibit on Gallery walls, months after the exhibit has been juried.
• Exhibit Jurors are presented all entrants' artworks in an anonymous ‘blind’ digital image presentation and the only information provided to them pertains to the artwork & includes: artwork title, year, media, dimensions, method of display (wall or pedestal), artist's statement (optional).
• From the jurying presentation and information provided about the artworks, the jurors make their selections for the final exhibit.
• Artwork selection decisions are in part based on a set of specific jurying instructions & criteria relating to the specific exhibit as well as established conditions & rules of the ASL Gallery.
• Art Saint Louis does not censor artwork. We respect artistic freedom & freedom of speech. All imagery, themes and concepts are considered. That said, we discourage imagery that includes hate speech, racism, anti-human rights, or anything that attacks or marginalizes any individual or people groups.
• We take pride in ensuring that all Art Saint Louis exhibits are juried with open eyes & open minds in the most fair and unbiased manner possible.
• The Jurors will not view any artworks submitted or jury this exhibit until after the entry deadline.
• At no time should an artist-entrant contact the Jurors about your entry or artwork--your work will be removed from consideration if this occurs.
• No entries accepted after October 19, 2022 entry deadline.

ARTWORK AVAILABILITY

• Please only submit artworks for jurying that are available for exhibition.
• Do not double-book your artwork, submit it or commit it for other exhibits that overlap with our exhibit dates.
• If you sell work that you've submitted for our show, either notify us that it is no longer available and we will remove it from jurying or make sure that the buyer is agreeable to loan it to you for exhibition, if selected by the Jurors for our show.
• Please only submit work for jurying if you are able to follow through with the rules of entry/art & exhibit guidelines.

ABOUT ART SAINT LOUIS

• Located on the ground floor of the historic and beautifully renovated Park Pacific building at 1223 Pine Street in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, Art Saint Louis is home to one of the most popular and frequently visited exhibition spaces in the entire St. Louis region.
• Our current space was created in 2013 and builds upon the organization’s 38+ year success in connecting St. Louis regional artists and audiences, the 2,700 square foot space Gallery boasts a year-round series of professionally juried group exhibitions showcasing the best of the region’s contemporary visual art.
• Highlighting each exhibition, Art Saint Louis opening receptions are a cultural mainstay in St. Louis and are followed throughout the run of each exhibit with extensive viewing hours Monday through Saturday and an average of over 500 visitors per week.
• Uniquely designed as a gallery/café hybrid, the space is also the one and only café home of Catalyst Coffee Bar, making it a cultural and social destination like no other in the St. Louis region—we own the Coffee Bar & all sales benefit Art Saint Louis.
• Find Art Saint Louis on Facebook and view highlights from our previous exhibits in our photo albums.

PLEASE NOTE that this is an online entry process. The entry & upload process does require time, depending on your advance preparedness and image sizes, so please allow yourself adequate time when applying for & submitting your work to this exhibit. Advance registration (prior to October 19!)--with image uploads to a Portfolio-- is highly recommended.

SPECIFICATIONS-ALL ARTWORKS

• Limit 3 original artworks in all media, styles, and techniques that respond to the theme of the exhibit, “Personal History.” Theme described at top of this call for entry.
• Artworks created/completed between 2018—2022. Works from prior to 2018 are not eligible.
• Works not previously exhibited in any exhibit in the Art Saint Louis Gallery or in any Art Saint Louis virtual gallery exhibit.
• NO ceiling installed work, this includes installation works.
• NO artworks that sit directly on Gallery floor. Anything intended to be displayed directly on the floor would need to be presented on a plinth, platform or pedestal.
• 2-d works must be framed OR, if not framed, pre-approved alternate professional presentation.
• Works on canvas may be gallery-wrapped, strip-framed or framed. No unstretched canvas.
• Textiles & quilts must have accompanying pre-drilled hanging bars or similar installation apparatus provided by artist for display/presentation of artwork. NO shower rods or curtain rods accepted for display.
• Wearables or garments: artist to provide mannequin or similar mode of display.
• Size limits -- Final installation size on all 2-d and wall-displayed/hung work not to exceed 72"wx72"h, including frame. No exceptions.
• Weight limit: 2-d wall-installed works may not exceed 30 lbs.
• NO works that are pinned, tacked, taped, velcroed, painted on, glued, adhered, nailed, or affixed directly to/on Gallery walls. Art Saint Louis uses traditional hanging hardware (hooks/nails) to hang wall-installed artworks from their wires on the back of the pieces— however, we will not nail or tack an artwork directly to a wall, nor will we velcro, glue or use any other substance to directly apply an artwork to the wall. ALL wall-installed works must hang from standard picture hanging hardware.
• No loose plexi that is clipped or nailed to wall.
• Video work: Artist must provide all equipment necessary to present video, time-based media or any artwork requiring electricity, incl. cords, adapters, DVD player, monitor (min. 9"), etc.—if you choose this option, the monitor would be presented as a freestanding monitor displayed on a pedestal, so NOT mounted on a wall; OR Art Saint Louis has one 20" monitor permanently mounted on gallery wall on which selected video artworks can be presented during exhibition. If artist selects this presentation method, it must be noted that multiple artworks could be presented on same monitor by different artists, if selected for show. Headphones are provided if audio is integral to artwork. If accepted, artist is to provide MP3 or MP4 file on thumbdrive.
• If your artwork utilizes organic matter, we probably will not be able to exhibit it as it could be harmful to other works in the Gallery as well as in violation of our health dept. permit for our Coffee Bar. To inquire, please contact us and specify the organic materials being used before entering our exhibit.
• We have the right to refuse any entry that does not meet our exhibition standards.

3-D WORK/SCULPTURE

• ALL rules/specifications incl. size limits as listed above pertaining to 2-D work also apply to 3-D work.
• Larger sculptures, oversized 2-d work, complicated pieces, and/or installation works must be installed by artist under direction of Art Saint Louis Artistic Director.
• We are only able to exhibit pedestal-displayed or wall-hung sculpture.
• Gallery owns a limited number of standard sized pedestals & will provide for display of 3-d work. If your 3-d artwork is odd-sized, excessively heavy, or requires a very specific sized pedestal, artist needs to provide pedestal or platform that raises piece at least 16" up off of the ground.
• 3-d works that are extremely fragile, very small, that have a very small bottom/base, are unstable, or do not sit flat on a pedestal are not considered.
• Do not submit any 3-d artwork that will not fully sit flat/level on pedestal or other display surface.
• NO ceiling installed work, this includes installation works.
• NO artworks that sit directly on Gallery floor.

JURYING & IMAGE REQUIREMENTS

• Judging is done by JPEGs online only at CallForEntry.org
• Artwork entry limit: 3 artworks per entry.
• Do not exceed 3 artworks total or you risk being disqualified.
• Image limit: 6 images max. of 3 artworks total. Image limit is not the same as artwork limit. The image limit is 6--this allows for 2 images max. per artwork, including one required full view and either one detail or one alternate view per artwork. If you submit more than 2 images per artwork, your work will be declined. Max. # of artworks you may submit is 3.
• Multi-paneled artworks (triptychs, diptychs, etc.) count as one artwork as long as they are presented as one unit and the total size of the artwork does not exceed our size limit. Please photograph the full artwork and submit that as one image. If you wish to include a detail view, remember that you are limited to one extra image per artwork.
• Additional images that exceed the 2 image per artwork limit will be removed from jurying.
• Submissions that do not comply with rules of entry will not be presented to the Jurors.
• Artworks selected for exhibition that are not accurately depicted by JPEGs will not be exhibited.

Please make sure that the digital images of your artworks are:

• In focus;
• Cropped to feature only your artwork;
• NO watermarks or name imprints/signatures;
• Free of a time-date stamp;
• Photograph your 2-d work before you have it professionally framed. If the only image you have of your artwork is of the work framed, please use image editing software to crop the frame out of the image. Your artwork is what will be juried, not the frame.

Upload options for image files:

• File format: JPEG only.
• File dimensions: 1200 pixels or greater on the longest dimension.
• File resolution: 72 ppi/dpi (standard web resolution).
• File size: up to 5MB maximum.

Video entries:
Please refer to CaFÉ's site for requirements on video files.

NEED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE?

• Need assistance? Visit CaFÉ's help page here.
• If you are unclear about how to apply for a Call for Entry using CaFÉ, please view their handy document here.

SALES & INSURANCE

• If you are accepted for this exhibit and sell your accepted artwork prior to the show, we recommend that you please sell it with the condition that it will be available for this exhibit. If that condition isn't possible, please do not enter that artwork for our show. Entry fee is non-refundable.
• All works submitted for this exhibit must be available for the show dates.
• We will not exhibit substitutes.
• All artworks must either have a sale price or be marked Not for Sale (NFS). If NFS, please provide an insurance value (50% retail).
• Works marked POR (Price on Request) are not accepted.
• Artwork prices are final once work is submitted for jurying.
• All sales are through Art Saint Louis with 30% donation on work sold to ASL with 70% to artist. Artist is sent within 45 days of exhibit conclusion.
• Your sale price should factor in/include Art Saint Louis' 30% donation/ commission.
• All sold works remain in the exhibit until show ends. It is artist’s responsibility to deliver or ship sold artwork to buyer after the show closes. Art Saint Louis will provide buyer’s contact information to Artist. If shipment to buyer is required, those arrangements are to be made by the artist with the buyer. Artist is to handle all shipping responsibilities on sold works with ALL related shipping costs being the responsibility of/at the expense of buyer. Art Saint Louis does not handle delivery or shipping of artwork.
• Artworks are insured at 50% of retail value during exhibit. Artist responsible for work in transit to/from ASL.

FRAMING & PRESENTATION for EXHIBITION

• All rules listed in above "SPECIFICATIONS" section apply.
• All work selected for exhibit must be delivered to Gallery ready to install.
• 2-d works must be framed or, if not framed, pre-approved presentation.
• 2-d work must be equipped with hanging wire stretched across back of artwork.
• NO sawtooth hangers, clip-style frames, poster frames, or keyhole mounts.
• Pre-drilled French Cleat mounts okay.
• Works on canvas may be framed, strip-framed or gallery-wrapped.
• NO works that are pinned, tacked, taped, velcroed, painted on, glued, adhered, nailed, or affixed directly to/on Gallery walls. We use traditional hanging hardware (hooks/nails) to hang wall-installed artworks from the wire on the back of the artwork. We will not nail or tack an artwork directly to a wall, nor will we velcro, glue or use any other substance to directly apply an artwork to the wall. Wall-installed work must hang from standard picture hanging hardware.
• No loose plexi that is clipped or nailed to wall.
• Oversized, heavy, or installation work must be installed by artist under direction of Artistic Director.
• Textiles must have accompanying pre-drilled hanging bars or similar installation apparatus provided by artist for display/presentation of artwork. NO shower rods or curtain rods accepted for display. Artist to provide mannequin for wearable textile.
• Time-based media/video must be presented on min. 9” freestanding monitor displayed on a pedestal; monitor weight not to exceed 20 lbs. Equipment provided by artist; OR Art Saint Louis has 2 monitors permanently mounted on gallery walls on which accepted time-based media can be presented during exhibition. Headphones provided for viewers if audio is integral to artwork. Gallery video monitors may be shared for presentation of multiple works. Specific installation requirements must be resolved in advance with directions/devices provided by artist.
• Art Saint Louis reserves the right to install accepted works in a manner deemed necessary for a well-designed exhibition or for security purposes.

ENTRY FEE

• Entry fee is non-refundable.
• Artist entrant may submit up to 3 artworks for the entry fee.
• $25/Non-member entry; OR
• $10/Art Saint Louis Member* entry; OR
• 100% Scholarship fee available (see below).
• Fee payable by credit card or PayPal through CallforEntry.org or by check to Art Saint Louis, 1223 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103.

ENTRY FEE SCHOLARSHIP UNDERWRITING

• To provide as much opportunity as possible for artists at work in our region, Art Saint Louis is pleased to offer scholarship underwriting of entry fees for individuals for whom such entry fees might otherwise be a financial barrier to participation.
• To be considered for scholarship underwriting, please submit a written request to info@artstlouis.org relaying your request, including the title of the exhibition. No explanation required of applicant.
• A limited number of scholarships are available and are awarded at the sole discretion of Art Saint Louis.
• Requests for scholarship funds do not guarantee approval or scholarship underwriting.

MEMBERSHIP IN ART SAINT LOUIS

• Membership in Art Saint Louis is open to all and is not required to have your work considered for or juried into this exhibit. However, membership does have its benefits, including discounts on entry fees--the reduced Art Saint Louis member entry fee for this show is $10 and the non-member fee is $25.
• Benefits of membership include discounts on entry fees to juried exhibits, a weekly e-newsletter, a Membership & Resource Directory, access to a Members Only area of our website, 10% discount on all art purchases in the Gallery, 10% on all coffee bar purchases, and additional opportunities.
• To download a Membership brochure and join Art Saint Louis today, visit our website.

VOLUNTEERING FOR EXHIBIT

• As a non-profit artists' organization, Art Saint Louis relies on volunteer support to help present our exhibitions.
• All exhibiting artists are required to volunteer 2 hours time to the production of this exhibit OR may contribute goods for the opening reception valued at $10, help out in the Gallery, OR may buy-out volunteer time at $10/per artist.
• Volunteering, donating goods or buying out volunteer time is required.
• Volunteer sign-up upon delivery of artworks for exhibit.
• Cash, contributions of goods, or in-kind services are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. Artist is responsible for any record-keeping of donated items.

PUBLICITY

• Art Saint Louis reserves the right to photograph all exhibited works for web use and publicity purposes.
• Art Saint Louis reserves the right to use digital images submitted for jurying for publicity of exhibition including but not limited to email, web use and social media.
• Accepted artists are required to email high resolution JPEGs of accepted artworks to Art Saint Louis for exhibition records/paperwork and publicity.
• We promote the exhibit and featured artworks on our website, press releases, and social media, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.
   

DELIVERY of ACCEPTED WORKS FOR EXHIBIT 

• Artworks juried into exhibit are to be hand-delivered by appointment only to Art Saint Louis Gallery on Friday, December 16, 2022, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. or Saturday, December 17, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. These are our only delivery dates/times.
• CLOSED Sundays & holidays.
• Shipped artworks accepted delivered to Art Saint Louis December 12-16, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. only. Pre-paid return shipping label must be included.
• We cannot pick-up your shipped work from a shipper.
• All costs to ship & return ship are pre-paid and are artist's responsibility.
• Artwork returned to artist in box in which it was shipped to us.

PICK-UP of EXHIBITED WORKS at END OF EXHIBIT

• Exhibited works may not be removed from ASL prior to 8 a.m. Thursday, February 16, 2023.
• Exhibited artworks are to be picked-up at the end of the show by appointment only on Thursday, February 16 or Friday, February 17, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. or Saturday, February 18, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. These are our only pick-up dates/times.
• ALL exhibited works must be removed from Gallery by 3 p.m. Saturday, February 18.
• Shipped artworks to be picked up by shipper at Art Saint Louis February 20-22, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. only.
• We cannot deliver your work to a shipper.

LEGAL

• Having submitted artworks for jurying & having paid the entry fee, artist (1) accepts all conditions listed in the aforementioned rules of entry/exhibit prospectus; (2) represents, warrants and covenants that artist is not infringing on any proprietary right, copyright, patent right or any other right of any third party, and artist will indemnify Art Saint Louis and its agents, employees, affiliates, licensors, and business partners harmless from and against any and all costs, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in relation to, arising from, or for the purpose of avoiding, any claim or demand from a third party that the submission, ownership, display, sale or the presentation of your artworks violate any applicable law or regulation, or the rights of any third party. This is legal & binding. Accepted artworks may not be substituted and prices may not be changed once submitted for jurying.

COMMUNICATIONS RE: EXHIBIT

• All communications to artists in regards to this exhibition are made by email.
• Please be sure that you have a working email address.
• To help assure receipt of email communications from us, please add our emails to your email address book: robin@artstlouis.org and info@artstlouis.org.
• Please check all email folders (Promotions, All Mail, Spam, Trash, Primary) for communications from Art Saint Louis, as sometimes our email ends up there.

EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION

• By submitting artwork to an Art Saint Louis juried exhibit, artist-entrants acknowledges that they will be subscribed to our email list which includes notices about our exhibit opportunities, receptions, and special events. Artist can opt out of/unsubscribe from mailing list at any time.

C A L E N D A R

• NEW DEADLINE to ENTER: October 19, 2022, 11:59 p.m. MST. Late entries not accepted.
• Jury notifications will be e-mailed to ALL entrants by November 11, 2022.
• Artist confirmation of participation, incl. jpeg & artist’s statement due by November 18.
• Deliver accepted artworks to Art Saint Louis Friday, December 16, 2022, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. or Saturday, December 17, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Shipped artworks accepted December 11-16, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Install exhibit at Art Saint Louis in late December.
• "Personal History” exhibit dates: January 7-February 15, 2023
• Free Reception on Saturday, January 14, 5-7 p.m. *subject to change
• Free Artists Gallery Talk tbd.
• Art Saint Louis Gallery hours*: M—F 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed Sundays, holidays, and between exhibits. Gallery free & open to the public. *Hours subject to change.
• Closed January 16 for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
• No artworks may be removed from the Gallery prior to 8 a.m., Thursday, February 16.
• Pick-up exhibited works Thursday, February 16 & Friday, February 17, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., or Saturday, February 18, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• All work must be picked up by 3 p.m., October 22.
• Shipped artworks to be picked up by shipper from Art Saint Louis February 20-22, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. only.
• We cannot deliver your work to a shipper.

QUESTIONS about Art Saint Louis or this exhibit? Contact Robin Hirsch-Steinhoff, Artistic Director of Art Saint Louis robin@artstlouis.org. Office hours: M-F 8 a.m.-4 p.m. www.ArtStLouis.org

QUESTIONS about the online application or other technical issues?


• If you are unclear about how to apply for a Call for Entry using CaFÉ, please view their handy document here.
• If you require assistance and are having technical challenges with the online application process, uploading images or any other issue, visit CaFÉ’s Help Page here.
• Or, the good people at CallforEntry.org (also referred to as CaFÉ) are available Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. MST and can be reached by email at cafe@westaf.org or 303/629-1166. You can also contact CaFÉ here.

Application Requirements

Limit 3 original artworks created 2018-2022. No ceiling installed work, no work that sits directly on the floor. 3-d work is displayed on pedestal or platform. Work must respond to the theme of "Personal History" as described in our call for entry. ALL rules listed in our call for entry apply and are legal & binding. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to artists 18 years of age and older living in the St. Louis, Missouri region and surrounding 200-mile radius*.
• Artist must be resident of the St. Louis region/200-mile radius when show begins (January 7, 2023) in order to submit work & participate, if selected for exhibition.
*ONLY artists from the St. Louis region may enter and participate in exhibit--if you live further than 200 miles, we appreciate your interest, but you are not eligible.
• If you are not sure of the distance from where you live to our location: 1223 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103. Use this handy online distance calculator.
ALL rules listed in our call for entry apply and are legal & binding.