ON EDGE is an annual juried exhibition of contemporary work by artists residing in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region who are pushing the boundaries of material and concept. EDGE Gallery has exhibited groundbreaking contemporary art for more than 30 years and has been instrumental in presenting important experimental work in our region.

All artists working in any media and residing in the Rocky Mountain region are invited to submit their work. This show is open to contemporary art of any medium, with an emphasis on work that challenges the margins of material, content, artistic process, and technology. The merits and definition of “contemporary” will be defined by the juror. IMPORTANT! Accepted artwork must be hand delivered. Edge Gallery does not have storage or facilities to handle shipped artwork 

Edge Gallery's On Edge 2025 Honorary Juror: Jane Sook Burke (she/her) is currently the Executive Director of Union Hall, a non-profit art gallery located in downtown Denver, which serves as an experimental incubator for emerging artists and curators. Just prior, from 2022–2024, she was the curator at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, where she organized over a dozen exhibitions featuring predominantly multidisciplinary, local artists. Additionally, she has previously held curatorial and collections positions at the Denver Art Museum, Honolulu Museum of Art, The Contemporary Museum, and The East West Center Gallery in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Her ongoing research interest focuses on the cross-cultural construction of identity through material and visual culture.

Prizes: $250 Juror's Choice Award

Blind Jury Process
On Edge exhibitions are evaluated without without artist statements, or artist names visible to the juror in order to ensure that the quality and content of the artwork is the primary guiding factor for selection. The juror is encouraged to select works that demonstrate the best contemporary art, as defined by the perspective and expertise of the juror.  In addition, Edge Gallery co-op member artists will not submit their work for this exhibition do avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.

Guidelines: 

Artists must be able to drop off and pick up their work in-person (hand-delivered) to Edge Gallery. We cannot receive shipped artwork. 

Application fee is non-refundable.

No Artwork Substitutions: Delivered artwork from the invited artists must be the specific art pieces selected in the jury process. No substitutions for other art pieces is allowed. Images and information provided in the CAFE application must be representative of the work. Accepted work may be refused if the quality or information does not meet standards.

Installation Requirements

All artwork must be ready to hang or  install in a professional manner. Frames, mats, and wiring must be of professional quality, in good condition and substantial enough for the weight of the artwork. Saw-tooth hangers are not accepted because they are not stable and difficult to level. Maximum weight of any 2D art work or relief is 70 lbs. Fragile work must be labeled and include protective materials as needed. Work may be refused if Edge Gallery is unable to install, hang professionally, or properly protect the artwork from standard wear and movement.

Work that needs set up for installation or has multiple components must be accompanied by a diagram and/or instructions, or the artist may be asked to personally install more complicated pieces. 

For 4-D and other time-based media, if your audio or video is publicly available online, please enter a URL link to embed the audio in your CaFE portfolio, such as Youtube or Vimeo  

Important note for 4D or time-based artists: Accepted artists must provide equipment to display their work (video monitors are preferred; projectors are difficult to hang from the ceiling in the gallery and artists will have to install themselves on installation day; however projectors may be easily placed on a pedestal that we provide). Headphones are required--works cannot disrupt viewing of other artist's works. Please provide video or computer monitors and/or other playback equipment at the time of drop off. Questions? Please email edgethegallery@gmail.com 

IMPORTANT DATES:

Application deadline: Friday, June 27, 2025

Exhibition dates: August 1 – August 17, 2025

Artists Notified: Week of July 8-11, 2025

Artwork Drop Off Times: Sunday, July 27, 6:00pm-8:00pm and Monday July 28 6:00 pm-8:00pm.

6501 W. Colfax, Lakewood, CO 80214 (Our gallery is located on the east side of the 40West Art Hub building, next to Burger King.)

Opening Reception: Friday, August 1, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Meet-the-Juror artist reception and Juror's Choice Award announcements: August 17, 3:30-5:00 pm. (Artists may pick up their work after event.)

Artwork Pick Up Times after the show closes: Sunday, August 17 - 5:00-7:00pm (After Meet-the-Juror Artist Reception) and Monday, August 18 - 6:00-8:00pm

Important note: Edge Gallery does not have art storage facilities. Artwork not picked up on the exhibition pick-up dates after 5 days will be considered abandoned and deemed the property of Edge Gallery--unless artists make arrangements beforehand.  Contact edgethegallery@gmail.com 

Sales

EDGE Gallery takes a 30% commission on anything sold through the show. Price provided on the CAFE application cannot be changed  Edge Gallery will pay local and state sales taxes.

Questions? Please email edgethegallery@gmail.com

Application Requirements

1-3 total images/media of artist's artwork. Submissions can be of 3 different artworks or fewer if detail  shots are needed. This event is accepting:
Images - Minimum: 0, Maximum: 3

Video - Minimum: 0, Maximum: 3 
Audio - Minimum: 0, Maximum: 3

Total Media - Minimum: 1, Maximum: 3

Eligibility Criteria

All artists of all ages are welcome to apply. We encourage participation from all artists, no matter their background, identity, neurodiversity, physical ability, appearance, or who they love. We believe art is at its best when it is representing the whole of humanity.