Call Description

PrintAustin is excited to announce the open call for its newest exhibition in collaboration with the Art Center of Corpus Christi, ORIGINAL PRINTS: A National Printmaking Showcase. Presented in collaboration with The Art Center of Corpus Christi, this exhibition will be juried by Rigoberto Luna, independent curator, founder/director of Presa House Gallery and current curatoral fellow at Next Haven.

ORIGINAL PRINTS: A National Printmaking Showcase, is an exhibition of traditional printmaking techniques and innovative approaches in contemporary printmaking. These include lithography, relief, intaglio, silkscreen, photopolymer plate (i.e. SolarPlates), and monotype. Solely digital and photographic prints are not eligible. For questions regarding eligible media, please contact info@printaustin.org. 

Please visit printaustin.org or email munoz@printaustin.org for more information.

EXHIBITION DATES:  August 1 - August 30, 2025
OPENING RECEPTION:  TBD
VENUE: Art Center of Corpus Christi

ABOUT PRINTAUSTIN  
PrintAustin is an artist-led nonprofit organization working with organizations and individuals throughout the Austin visual arts community to showcase traditional and contemporary approaches in printmaking during its annual festival, held January 15 through February 15. Visit printaustin.org to learn more about our open calls, and other exhibition and collaboration opportunities. You may also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. 

ABOUT THE JUROR  
Rigoberto Luna is an independent curator and the current NXTHVN Curatorial Fellow, Cohort 06, based in San Antonio, Texas, where he co-founded Presa House Gallery. Most recently, he opened All at Once: Reflected Through Glass at NXTVN in New Haven, Connecticut, and is organizing a forthcoming culminating exhibition at the James Cohan Gallery in New York City.

Luna served as Curatorial Assistant and Exhibitions Coordinator for the 2021 Texas Biennial and opened the traveling exhibition Soy de Tejas: A Statewide Survey of Latinx Art at Centro de Artes in San Antonio in 2023. He has co-organized exhibitions at the Blaffer Art Museum at the University of Houston and the Chicano Park Museum in San Diego. In 2024, he curated José Villalobos: Diseñando Masculinidades / Designing Masculinities at ArtYard in Frenchtown, New Jersey, and he is currently organizing Ya Hecho: Readymade in the Borderlands, scheduled to open in July 2025 at the Tucson Art Museum. 

In addition to his curatorial work, Luna has served as a guest juror for several prominent Texas-based institutions, including the Rockport Center for the Arts, K Space Contemporary in Corpus Christi, Art League Houston, Houston Arts Alliance, and the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC).

ELIGIBILITY 
Open to local and national artists 18 years or older. Any 2-D or 3-D work including ceramics, sculpture, mixed media, and artist books that uses printmaking as the sole or primary technique in its execution are eligible. Unless an installation, work cannot exceed 72 inches (183 cm) in any direction. Artists may enter multiple images/detail images for entries consisting of installations or 3-D works by sending attachments to info@printaustin.org.

IMPORTANT DATES

APRIL 14     Call opens!
MAY 31        Registration Deadline! 11:59 PM (MT)
JUNE          Jury begins selection
JULY 1      Email notifications sent
JULY 20         Artwork due

Refer to direct correspondence from PrintAustin for updated info. Hand-delivery arranged upon request only. 
AUG 1 - AUG 30, 2025  Exhibition dates. 

COMMISSIONS & FEES
We encourage artwork sales. For the exhibit, artist receives 70% commission, while PrintAustin retains a 30% commission. Commissions on sales will help support PrintAustin's programming. 

SALES & COPYRIGHTS  
Your entry grants PrintAustin and The Art Center of Corpus Christi permission to use artist statements, artist biography, and image(s) of your work in catalogs, websites, and any marketing or public relations materials. PrintAustin will provide image credit with information you provide on your application.

FEES AND DISCOUNTS
PrintAustin Members: $20 entry fee, includes 3 submissions. Each additional submission will have a fee of $10. Visit printaustin.org/membership to become a member. Be sure to register using the same name as your membership or your entry will be automatically deleted on the date the call closes.

Fee for non-members: $35 entry fee, includes 3 submissions. Each additional submission will have a fee of $10. We understand that tough economic times have affected artists disproportionately. If you are unable to pay the application fee, please contact us at info@printaustin.org as we have a limited number of reduced entries for this reason. For those able to pay and help support our organization, the entry fee is due at the time of submission.

FILE FORMAT: JPEG (“Quality” set to Maximum). Audio and video files may be submitted if essential to represent the work (i.e. time-based works, etc.). MP3 files may be submitted for audio. MP4 files may be submitted for video. All submissions must include at least one JPEG.

File Name: First Name_Last Name_Image # (e.g.: Albrecht_Durer_1.jpg.)

CATALOG: Once selected, artists will be required to submit hi-res images of their work along with an artist statement. 

FRAMING REQUIREMENTS  Once accepted, all work must be presented professionally as a cohesive group show. For this purpose, we require the following:
o    Prints should be professionally matted/floated and framed, and be installation ready
o    No sawtooth hangers
o    Plexiglass only
o    White or off-white mats
o    Artists with exceptionally large work have the option to ship prints rolled or flat, and unframed (to be hung with a magnet system provided by PrintAustin). This must be cleared by the gallery before shipping. 
Exceptions to above requirements include only works larger than 40 inches, 3-D works, and artist books.

For any special installation requirements, artist must provide a visual and detailed instructions included in the packaging or via email. We strongly encourage artists to contact info@printaustin.org to discuss special installation prior to shipping.

To ensure the quality of the exhibition, PrintAustin reserves the right to exclude any entry that presents complex hanging/exhibition problems or is not professionally framed.

PrintAustin may also reject any work that is not accurately represented in the digital file. The decision is final.

NOTIFICATIONS
Email notifications will be sent to all artists by July 1, 2025.

SHIPPING AND INSURANCE
o    Selected artists will receive a shipping stipend, courtesy of PrintAustin. Stipend amount minimum will be $50, exact amount TBD.
o    Artists are responsible for return shipping, and must include a prepaid return label. Your work will not be installed without it. What we suggest doing is creating an account with Fed Ex or UPS so your return shipping can be from Corpus. The bar code should allow for the amount to be deducted regardless of where it's being shipped from. **IMPORTANT: While selected artists will receive a shipping stipend, artists are responsible for arranging shipping. You MUST include an easily located prepaid return shipping label with artwork. If you do not, your work will not be included in exhibit.
o    Shipped work must be packaged in a reusable carton, box, or crate.
o    NO PACKING PEANUTS.
o    PrintAustin will insure all works while in the gallery.
o    Artists are responsible for any damage or loss during transit.
o    Shipped works must be delivered to the gallery according to our schedule (see direct email from PrintAustin)
o    Hand-delivery arranged upon request ONLY.

An artist statement and a high resolution jpeg of selected work will be required and requested once accepted for catalogue and promotional media use. Loan agreement will be provided by PrintAustin and The Art Center of Corpus Christi, if applicable, and will be emailed with your acceptance. Signed agreement must accompany the artwork when shipping.

Shipping address will be provided upon acceptance.  

Application Requirements

ORIGINAL PRINTS: A National Printmaking Showcase is an exhibition of traditional printmaking techniques and innovative approaches in contemporary printmaking. While non-traditional or digital output is accepted as a print element, submissions must utilize traditional print media as their primary technique. These include lithography, relief, intaglio, silkscreen, photo polymer plate (i.e. SolarPlates), and monotype.

Solely digital and photographic prints are not eligible. For questions regarding eligible media, please contact info@printaustin.org.

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY Open to local, national, and international artists 18 years or older. Any 2-D or 3-D work including ceramics, sculpture, mixed media, and artist books that uses printmaking as the sole or primary technique in its execution are eligible. Unless an installation, work cannot exceed 72 inches (183 cm) in any direction. Artists may enter multiple images/detail images for entries consisting of installations or 3-D works by sending attachments to info@printaustin.org.