Days remaining to deadline: 37
Entry Fee (Off Center: An International Ceramic Competition): $35.00
Media Fee(Additional entry): $5.00
Images | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 5
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 5
Eligibility: International
State: California
Blue Line Arts Presents: Off Center 2025 - An International Ceramic Competition
Blue Line Arts invites you to participate in our annual ceramics exhibition, Off Center. Ceramics is one of the world’s oldest art forms, but we believe there’s always room to explore and reinvent. We’re looking for works that are “off center” in every sense—art that challenges, surprises, and reframes the role of ceramics in contemporary art. Whether it’s a sprawling installation, a bold multi-part sculpture, or an unconventional ceramic piece that reshapes traditional expectations, we encourage you to think beyond the typical vessel.
Our focus is on highlighting ceramic works that are monumental in scale or concept, welcoming submissions that redefine the potential of clay. This includes large installations, mixed-media combinations, wall-mounted pieces, wearable objects, and any form of ceramic expression that dares to explore new territory. While we eagerly welcome submissions of all kinds—functional and non-functional pottery, sculptural works, jewelry, abstract forms, and mixed media—this year’s Off Center seeks to champion the ambitious and the avant-garde. True to its name, Off Center is all about breaking the mold. We’re searching for highly original works that challenge traditional perceptions and expand the possibilities of ceramic art on an international stage.
Guest Juror: Nancy Servis
Nancy Servis is a distinguished curator, writer, and lecturer with deep expertise in the ceramic arts, particularly focused on California’s influence in the medium. Known for her thoughtful approach to curation, she explores both the tangible and intangible qualities of ceramic art, often referencing the “higher third”—a concept inspired by abstract expressionist Hans Hofmann that speaks to the ineffable resonance that certain artworks carry.
With an extensive background that includes curating pivotal exhibitions, such as those for celebrated artists like Stephen De Staebler, and contributing to influential publications like Ceramics: Art and Perception, Servis brings a nuanced eye to the field. She also champions ceramic artistry as an intersection of the material and the spiritual, embodying beauty through the lens of California’s rich craft traditions. Servis’s insightful approach has made her a respected figure in the art community, sought after for her ability to connect audiences with the deeper meanings behind ceramic works
Prizes:
1st: $500
2nd: $300
3rd: $100
Important Dates:
Exhibition Dates: March 22nd - May 3rd, 2025
Application Deadline: January 17th, 2025
Artist Notification: February 14th 2025
Shipping deadline of work to Blue Line Arts: March 8th, 2025
Hand deliver work to Blue Line Arts: March 16th, 2025
Opening Reception: April 19th, 2025
Pick up unsold work from Blue Line Arts: May 19th & 20th from 10am-3pm
Questions:
If you have questions about submissions, please contact Blue Line Arts staff during gallery hours at (916) 783-4117 or at gallery@bluelinearts.org
Free for Blue Line Artist Members to submit up to 5 works to Off Center.
Non-members: $35 submission fee for 1 artwork submission. $5 each additional submission up to 5.
Application Requirements
Application Requirements: You must be 18 years or older to apply.
Free for Blue Line Artist Members to submit up to 5 works to Off Center.
Non-members: $35 submission fee for 1 artwork submission. $5 each additional submission up to 5.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility
- Open to artists everywhere!
- All artwork must be original and completed within the last 2 years.
- Artwork cannot have been previously exhibited at Blue Line Arts.
- All wall hung artworks must be ready to hang with appropriate hardware. All frames must have a wire installed prior to delivery.
- All artwork must be individually for sale.
- No accepted entry may be withdrawn or sold outside of the exhibition prior to the closing date.
- Accepted artwork that differs significantly from image in online submission will be disqualified.
- No packing peanuts
- 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
- Artworks over 75lbs must be installed by the artist.
- Artwork must be able to enter through the doors with a clearance of 94” h x 91” w. Ceilings in the gallery are 10 feet tall. We do have the capacity to feature installation artworks. Please note there is no heavy machinery present on site.
- 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. 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!