Our Gallery Space:

The Ploch Art Gallery of the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts is a nontraditional gallery space featuring Wisconsin art and artists. Approximately 87 linear feet of wall space with professional lighting is available to display art along the outer wall of our theater balcony seating. This second floor space is open to the public and accessible by both stairs and elevator. Limited storage for art available in advance of installation. Upon selection as a Ploch exhibiting artist, art delivery, installation, and takedown times will need to be scheduled with the Education Manager.

Our Call for 2025–2026:

Submitted artwork will be considered for the 2025–2026 Ploch Gallery season which runs June 1, 2025–August 31 2026. Exhibitions are up for 2–3 months and may vary in length to accommodate our busy theater schedule. Individual artist, two-person/collaborative group, and curated exhibitions proposals accepted. All artists must reside in WI, be a native of WI, or be a graduate of a WI college- or university-level post-secondary program. All submitted artwork must be family friendly. Exhibiting artists deliver, install, and take down their own artwork.

Our Jurors:

• Annemarie Sawkins: Milwaukee-based-curator, art historian, and recent co-author of A Creative Place: The History of Wisconsin Art (2021) and In the Park with Olmsted: A Vision for Milwaukee (2022).
• Frank Juárez: Award-winning art educator, artist, publisher, and former gallery director.
• Nina Ghanbarzadeh: Visual artist, occasional curator, juror and critic. She holds a BFA with a double major in painting, drawing and graphic design from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and completed a two-year AIR Program with Redline Milwaukee.

Artist Promotion

The Wilson Center shall use its best efforts to promote the exhibition of the Artwork. Wilson Center agrees to provide adequate display of the Artwork, and to undertake other promotional activities on Artist’s behalf. Approval and placement of signage within the Ploch Art Gallery will be at Wilson Center’s discretion. Wilson Center may videotape and/or photograph Artist, Exhibition and Artist Reception, with video/images intended for archival purposes, as well as promotion of Exhibition in marketing materials, to include social media, website, and email communications. Artist agrees to make a reasonable effort to be available for interviews (to include in-person, video, phone, and email/written interviews) from media and/or Wilson Center as requested.

Artists will be expected to give an 30 minute educational Artist Talk at a gallery reception that will be scheduled for each exhibition on a weeknight evening.  The Wilson Center will promote the exhibition and reception with marketing materials, email, and social media announcements, and possible inclusion in the Wilson Center publications.

Consignment Fee

Unless approved otherwise by the Wilson Center, a vast majority of the artwork exhibited in the Ploch Art Gallery must be available for sale. The Wilson Center has a 30% consignment fee pre-tax of the sale price of any artwork sold during the exhibition.

Application Requirements

●       8–10 .jpg images

●       Image List

●       Artist Statement  - description of work, medium, process, concepts

●       Artist Bio - 250 words or less- description of background, training, current life

●       Artist Resume or CV with exhibition history - 2 pages maximum

●       Social Media/ Website Links (if applicable):

●       Non-refundable submission fee of $20.00

●       Optional additions:

-                  Exhibition Proposal - 250 words or less

-                  Title or Working Title of Exhibit

Eligibility Criteria

Submitted images must be representative of the artwork proposed for exhibit in the Ploch Art Gallery unless the new work has been submitted for approval to the Wilson Center no later than 4 weeks prior to the Delivery Date.

As an all-ages nonprofit educational institution that regularly hosts school groups, artwork submitted for exhibition at the Wilson Center must be suitable for viewing by all ages including school groups, youth, and children.

Open to artists 18 and older who reside in WI, are a native of WI, or are a graduate of a WI college- or university-level post-secondary program.

Eligible media includes painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, fiber arts, installation, and mixed media. 3D work should not weigh more than 70 lbs. Time-based media not accepted. Original artwork only; no reproductions or giclée prints accepted.

Works submitted must have been completed within the previous ten years, with a preference for newer and never before exhibited work.  A vast majority of works must be for sale.

All accepted work MUST BE HAND-DELIVERED to and RETRIEVED from The Wilson Center for the Arts. NO shipped work will be accepted. NO exceptions.

Artwork must remain on display throughout the duration of the exhibition.

Designate your type of exhibition proposal: INDIVIDUAL, GROUP or CURATED from the list below.

INDIVIDUAL: You are an individual artist looking to show your own work. You may be curated by Wilson Center staff into a show with other artists.

TWO-PERSON, COLLABORATIVE, OR ARTIST GROUP: You are an artist with a fellow artist, collaborative, or existing artist group that is looking to show your work together. Only one artist per group needs to complete a submission for the entire group, though the images submitted must include the work of both artists, all of the collaborative, or nearly all of the group. All artists must reside in WI, be a native of WI, or be a graduate of a WI college- or university-level post-secondary program.

CURATED: You are a curator looking to show the work of a collection of artists under a specific theme. A minimum of 50% of artists exhibited must reside in WI, be a native of WI, or be a graduate of a WI college- or university-level post-secondary program.

2D ARTWORK

All artwork must be professionally presented.

SCULPTURE/3D ARTWORK

Artwork must be professionally presented. Three (3) pedestals and two (2) acrylic vitrines are available for sculpture/3D art. All sculpture/3D art must be displayed flush to the wall; no artwork may be viewed in the round. No more than twenty-five percent of the floor space, or 192 square feet, may be obstructed.

INSTALLATION/NON-TRADITIONAL DISPLAY

Must be approved by Wilson Center Staff.