Call Description

Lost & Found: Art with Found Objects
Show Dates: July 16-Sept. 21, 2025 (9.5 weeks)
Submission Deadline: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Notification Date: Friday, May 30, 2025
Artwork Drop Off: Monday, July 14, 4-6pm 
or Tuesday, July 15, 9am–noon
Exhibit Reception: Friday, July 18, 6-8pm
Artwork Pick Up: Monday, Sept. 22, 9am-5pm
Eligibility: Colorado based artists

The City of Lafayette Arts & Cultural Resources Department is hosting a Call for Entry for Lost & Found: Art with Found Objects exhibit.  The exhibit will hang at The Collective Community Arts Center July 16-Sept. 21, 2025. This group exhibition will feature artwork made by Colorado artists from found and/or recycled, repurposed materials.

Aligning with the City of Lafayette’s mission of sustainability and waste reduction, we seek artists who are skilled in the use of varied, somewhat unexpected materials. Artwork should demonstrate the importance of conserving our limited natural resources.  We are looking at how the artist’s intention or concept is presented and realized using media relating to the upcycle and recycle movement. 

Entries must incorporate at least 50% recycled, repurposed, or reused materials.  Any repurposed substrate should be counted in the calculation of the percentage of material that is recycled. The theme of each artwork is open.  2D and 3D works will be considered. Artists’ implementation, skill, and over-all artistic merit will be considered when selecting pieces for exhibition.

The Lost & Found: Art with Found Objects exhibit will feature approximately 30 pieces of 2D wall-hung works and 10 – 12 sculptures or 3D works.  Freestanding works will be considered.  Safety and stability of the pieces are priorities.  We may take more risks with smaller pieces that fit into our display cases.  The Collective is a City of Lafayette public space visited by people of all ages.  All works must be appropriate for all ages viewing. 

Jury: The exhibit will be juried by a panel of City of Lafayette Arts and Sustainability Departments staff.

Fees: No entry fee required. Sales must be processed directly with the artist. Artists are responsible for filing their own sales tax.

Sculpture and wall-hung 3D media will be reviewed on a case by case, and space available basis. 

The artist must be able to deliver or ship their artwork by Monday, July 14 and Tuesday, July 15. (Any shipped work must include prepaid return label.)

The work will be hung at The Collective Community Arts Center for the duration of the exhibition. Artists should complete the application form and submit photographs of their work. The jury reserves the right to limit the number of works per artist. Artistic merit and suitability for all ages will be taken into consideration when selecting artwork.

How to submit:
Submit artwork and information via CaFE. You will be asked to submit the following:

• Artist’s contact information
• JPG images (at least 3 and no more than 5 artworks per artist)
• Artwork information (title, size, date, media, etc.)
• List of recycled, repurposed materials used
• Artist’s statement (focus on the work submitted, not an overall statement of the artist’s philosophy/body of work)

Guidelines for Artwork Delivery

• All artwork for display on a wall must have sturdy hanging wire or D-rings to be compatible with the city gallery hanging system.
• Hanging works must not exceed 40 pounds.
• 3D, sculptural works must be sturdy and stand on their own or have a display stand, limited pedestal and display case availability in gallery.

Application Requirements

Follow Guidelines for Call.

Eligibility Criteria

Colorado artists ONLY.