Firelands Association for the Visual Arts invites photographers nationwide to submit their best work for entry into FAVA’s 2025 Juried Biennial Photography Show, opening Saturday, May 24 - August 10, 2025. All photographic processes are considered including but not limited to: digital prints, film photographs, photograms, alternative processes, etc., however we do not accept video submissions for this exhibition. 

FAVA’s Juried Biennial Photography Show is a biennial juried exhibition held in odd-numbered years. The exhibition alternates with a curated invitational photography exhibition held in even-numbered years, in order to present in greater depth the work of individual artists creating in the photographic medium.
 

Timeline:

Entry Deadline: Friday, March 7, 2025 (11:59, MDT) 
Notice of Acceptance: Friday, April 4, 2025
Work must be received to gallery by: Friday, May 2, 2025
Exhibition Dates: May 24 - August 10, 2025
Reception: Saturday, June 21st 1 PM - 3PM EST

Jurying Info and Prizes:

• Juror: Gina Osterloh
• Jurying Type: Blind
• Available Awards: $1,100 offered in total awards distributed over three to five awards at the Juror's discretion.

About the Juror: 

Gina Osterloh, Associate Professor of Art at The Ohio State University, Guggenheim Fellow 2024

Learn more about Osterloh: ginaosterloh.com

Gina Osterloh (b.1973) is an artist, Associate Professor of Art at The Ohio State University, and a 2024 Guggenheim Fellow. Photography is the conceptual ground of Osterloh’s work– a place to refute assumed notions of identity and activate questions of perception and desire. She is known for photo tableaux of paper rooms with camouflaged figures. Osterloh also works with collage, performance, text, and sculpture. Solo exhibitions and performances include “Gina Osterloh: Mirror Shadow Shape” at the Columbus Museum of Art, her first museum survey with accompanying book featuring work from 2005-2020. Her “Demilitarized Zone / Image Without Weapon” at MOCA Detroit; “Gina Osterloh” at Higher Pictures Generation (NY); “ZONES” at Silverlens (Manila, Philippines); “Shadow Woman” as part of the performance series En Cuatro Patas at The Broad (Los Angeles); and Anonymous Front at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (San Francisco). Group exhibitions include “Multiply Identify Her” at the International Center of Photography Museum (NY); “Not Visual Noise” at Ateneo University (Quezon City, Philippines); and “Energy Charge: Connecting with Ana Mendieta” at Arizona State University Art Museum. Gina Osterloh has an MFA in Studio Art from the University of California, Irvine (2007). Her work is represented by Silverlens Galleries and Higher Pictures Generation.

Entry Fees:
Juried entries are limited to 6 pieces per artist with a minimum of 3 submissions. Cost is $40 for the first 3 images and $5 for each additional entry up to 6 total works. Payment can be made through CaFE by credit, PayPal or check. Credit and PayPal payments will be processed by CaFE.
If writing a check, make checks payable to “FAVA” and mail to:
 

FAVA 
1st Floor Offices
39 South Main Street
Oberlin, Ohio 44074 

Sales:
Sales will be conducted through the gallery, gallery keeps 40% commission.

Presentation and Framing Guidelines:
Presentation is critical to both viewing and potential sales of photographs. Works must be wired with standard multi-strand picture wire if frame lacks build in hanging cleat or other comparable hanging mechanism. All works must be framed with plexiglass using either white, black, or metal frames; white mats only. Frames should be clean and dust-free. Plexiglass or glass must be clean and free of scratches and cracks. Metallic prints will be considered; no prints on canvas will be accepted unless the image submitted for jurying is of the canvas print. No works should be larger than 36" on the longest side.

Eligibility:

Entry is open to US artists 18 and older.

Entry Guidelines:

Please use the Call for Entry Media Prep. Guidelines for image upload:

• File Type: JPEG or JPG only.
• File Dimensions: 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side.
• File Size: Under 5 MB.
• Color Profile: sRGB

Artwork Drop-Off and Delivery:
Artwork must be received by the gallery by: Friday, May 2, 2025

Work can be dropped off by scheduling with our Gallery Director, Tirzah Legg (tirzah@fava.org) Please make sure you have the back clearly labeled with your name, medium and size of the work. 
 

Shipping:
Shipped works must arrive in a sturdy, reusable shipping carton and include a return shipping label, or account information for UPS / USPS / Fedex. Delivery should be scheduled during our business hours. We hold regular business hours Tuesday - Friday 11am - 5 pm. For additional questions, please contact our Gallery Director by email at tirzah@fava.org.

ABOUT THE FIRELANDS ASSOCIATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS (FAVA):

FAVA is located in the New Union Center for the Arts, 39 S. Main Street, Oberlin, OH 44074

Founded in 1979, The Firelands Association for the Visual Arts is an independent, non-profit arts organization in Oberlin, Ohio dedicated to enhancing public appreciation of and participation in the visual arts through exhibitions and related educational and community activities. FAVA presents challenging exhibitions of high-quality artwork in a variety of styles and media.

Support for FAVA comes from memberships, contributions by individuals and businesses, friends of the arts, commissions on sales, and fundraising events. FAVA also receives support from the Nord Family Foundation, the Community Foundation of Lorain County, the Eric and Jane Nord Family Fund, the Nordson Corporation Foundation, the Bill Long Foundation, and the Ohio Arts Council. In 1994, the board of FAVA established an endowment fund for the organization at the Community Foundation of Lorain County to provide future support for exhibitions and education outreach programs. 

Membership is open to all. Members receive discounts on purchases, class tuition, and show registration fees, as well as information about upcoming exhibitions, class offerings and invitations to members-only special events.

Entrants to FAVA’s Juried Biennial Photography Show who would like to be considered for an invitational exhibition are encouraged to submit a proposal and examples of work here: https://exhibitions.favagallery.org/exhibition-proposal-submission, or by mail: FAVA Exhibitions Committee, 39 S. Main Street, Oberlin, Ohio 44074

Application Requirements

• Short Artist Statement
• Short Biography
• Images of works and Image list
• Delivery and Pick-up or shipment of work to and from the gallery

If you need assistance applying please contact us during our regular business hours Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 5 pm. For the quickest response, please contact our Gallery Director by email at tirzah@fava.org, or call and leave us a message at 440.774.7158.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility:

Entry is open to US artists 18 and older.