We present the best in national art in an all-media competition. Hosted by the Valdosta State University (VSU) Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery in Valdosta, Georgia, the 37th Annual Exhibition.

We are seeking the work of dynamic and energetic creatives who are making art that challenges, questions, encourages, and supports new thinking, and new directions. The specifics of this call rely on you the artist presenting works that you feel push the viewer to think differently, see things with new perspectives, and question not traditions, but expectations.

The Valdosta National is open to all artists ages 18 and over, who make art in all media and who are pushing forward concepts and contexts that derive from wanting to see change, feel growth, and share the feeling of new beginnings.

Awards: 1st place - $300.00, 2nd place, $200.00 and 3rd place, $100.00. There will be Honorable Mentions with no cash rewards.

Exhibition Dates: January 16th – Feb 7th

About the Juror:

Michael C. McFalls

Mike McFalls is a practicing artist, professor of art, and director of the Bartlett Center and visionary art environment, Pasaquan. He holds a BFA from the Columbus College of Art and Design and an MFA from the University of California, Davis. Prior to his current role at Columbus State University, McFalls served as the Art Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor at The University of Maine at Farmington. A former Fulbright Scholar at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, McFalls has garnered numerous accolades for his artistic research, including the Pritzker Foundation Endowed Fellowship and the CCAD Distinguished Alumni Award. McFalls’ creative practice is typically characterized by interdisciplinary collaborations with artists, poets, and musicians. He has completed residencies at prestigious institutions such as Sculpture Space, Djerassi Resident Artists Program, and the Australia National University. As a visiting artist, McFalls has shared his expertise at various universities and art institutions, including the University of Georgia, Dartmouth College, and Furman University. His work and collaborations have been widely exhibited in solo and group shows at national and international galleries and museums. McFalls’ artworks can be found in various private and public collections across the country.

https://michael-mcfalls.com/home.html

Application Requirements

Entry Fee: Open to all artists over 18 living in the United States. All work must have been completed in the last 5 years. All work must be original (no giclée’s or reproductions). Work previously shown at the Dedo Maranville Gallery will not be considered. Valdosta State University faculty/ staff and students are ineligible to apply to the Valdosta National 2025.

Images submitted must accurately represent the artwork or the artwork will not be exhibited. Artwork will be insured while in the gallery (deductible may apply). Artwork will not be insured while in transit. Artwork may be for sale, with no gallery sales commission. Artists are responsible for shipping costs to and from the exhibition.

Presentation: All work must be professionally presented. 2-D work must be framed with plexiglass and a hanging wire. No saw-tooth hangers or glass allowed. Paintings must be gallery-ready with professionally considered finishes and hanging materials. Artwork that is complicated to install must be installed by the artist or accompanied by clear instructions. No size limitation. Please contact the gallery director at mterrol@valdosta.edu for questions about installation/presentation.

Eligibility Criteria

No Faculty/staff/students from VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY are eligible to apply. Open to all over the age of 18.