Call Detail
Life in Ink 2025
Visit Organization Website
Contact Email: info@bluelinearts.org

Entry Deadline: 6/7/25
Days remaining to deadline: 195

Entry Fee (Life in Ink Submission): $25.00
Media Fee(Additional Submission): $5.00
Work Sample Requirements
Images | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 10
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 10
Call Type: Competitions
Eligibility: International
State: California
Event Dates: 8/16/25 - 9/27/25

Description

 

Now taking submissions to our juried exhibition, Life in Ink, themed around the history and artistry of tattoo.

Tattoo is one of the oldest, most personal art forms, blending bodily ornamentation with a deep-rooted expression of identity and community. From the traditions of Polynesia (our word “tattoo” deriving from the Samoan word Tatau) celebrating ancestry and life events, to symbols of gang affiliation or naval service, tattoos carry shared meanings and stories that are taken with a person for the rest of their lives. In the Circumpolar regions of North America, tattoos are a female rite of passage that marks important events in a woman’s life, such as the transition from girlhood to womanhood, or the birth of a child. Socially, tattoo art has undergone an incredible shift in the West, evolving from the countercultural taboo to a common form of self-expression you’d find on anyone you might know, be it punk biker or youth pastor. Many indigenous cultures are making efforts to destigmatize tattoos in colonized regions of the world, as in New Zealand, as a way for Māori to reclaim their cultural identity.

For Life in Ink, we invite artists to submit work that embodies the look, feel, and spirit of tattoo. Whether it’s a piece inspired by traditional tattoo aesthetics or a work that could translate directly onto the skin, we seek to showcase creations that celebrate tattoo art’s creativity, diversity, and depth. From the bold lines and iconic imagery of American Traditional and the intricate, cultural grey-scale West Coast Chicano styles, and even the rawness of “ignorant style”, we want to display art that honors tattoo as an art form, showcasing the technical skill, personal meaning, and stylistic variety that make tattoo compelling to so many. We especially encourage tattoo artists, working and retired, to submit their original artwork. 

Artists should approach traditional practices with respect and cultural sensitivity for their submissions. Please show respect for the origins and meanings of designs by refraining from appropriating sacred symbols or traditions that are not yours to claim.

Any medium is welcome. 

FREE for current Blue Line Arts Artist Members ($75) or above. Please contact the Gallery Coordinator for your discount code.  
$25 fee for Non-Members to submit one work of art. $5 each additional image up to 10.  

Important Dates 

Show dates: 8/16/2025 to 9/27/2025

Application deadline: Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm PST on June 7th, 2025

Notifications: Results will be sent by 5:00pm PST June 21st, 2025

Shipping deadline of work to Blue Line Arts: August 3rd. If artwork arrives later than this date, it risks not being shown. Artists are financially responsible for shipping their artwork. 

Hand deliver work to Blue Line Arts: Sunday and Monday the 10th and 11th of August, 2025

Opening Reception: 8/16/2025 August 16th, 2025

Pick up any unsold work from Blue Line Arts:

Questions:
If you have questions about submissions, please contact Elaina Swanson during gallery hours at (916) 783-4117 or at gallery@bluelinearts.org

Note about Shipping/Delivery: If you ship your artwork to us, we’ll return it with the prepaid shipping label after the show. However, if you drop off your artwork in person, please plan to pick it up, as we cannot ship items that were hand-delivered. You’re welcome to send someone in your place with an email confirmation. Thank you for your understanding!


 

Application Requirements

Application Requirements: You must be 18 years or older to apply. 

$25 fee for Non-Members, non-refundable

FREE for current Blue Line Arts Artist Members

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility

  • Open to artists everywhere!
  • All artwork must be original and completed within the last two years
  • Artwork cannot have been previously exhibited at Blue Line Arts
  • All 2-D works must be ready to hang
  • All artwork must be for sale
  • Accepted artwork that differs significantly from image in online submission will be disqualified
  • No accepted entry may be withdrawn or sold outside of the exhibition prior to the closing date
  • Blue Line Arts handles all sales transactions. Non-member artists receive a 50% commission from all gallery sales and members receive a 60% commission.
  • Size limitations
    • Art must be able to enter through the doors with a clearance of 94”h x 91”w
    • Ceilings in the gallery are 10 feet high
    • Nothing over 60 lbs will be accepted
  • All artwork images must be renamed in the following format:
    • ArtistName-ArtworkTitle.jpeg
  • The artist is responsible to pay for all shipping and should have a prepaid label from FedEx or UPS (No US Mail)  for return of artwork.
  • All shipping of art must be packed as in this link!