Call Description

Exhibition Concept

Taos Abstract Artist Collective (TAAC) invites artists living and working across Northern New Mexico to participate in its 4th Annual Group Exhibitions, which will be held at the Stables Gallery at the Taos Center for the Arts from November 1st – 9th, 2025 and May 8th - 16th, 2026. Abstract works across disciplines are encouraged. The board will choose one (1) work per applicant to enter into the exhibition.

Due to gallery space limitations, this exhibition call will automatically turn off when 140 applications have been submitted. All applications received will have one (1) work accepted into the exhibitions; however, TAAC reserves the right to choose which exhibition (fall or spring) each artist will exhibit in. Once 140 applications have been submitted, no further submissions will be accepted. We recommend submitting your application as soon as possible.

Proceeds from the submission fees will be applied toward the operational costs of mounting the exhibition, including press materials, event-related fees, and insurance. Any additional funds raised will be applied towards community programming benefiting all members of TAAC. Should you wish to contribute additional funds to sponsor another artist’s application, please reach out to us at info@taosabstractartistcollective.org

Eligibility: Artists must live and work in Northern New Mexico. Artists not living and working in Northern New Mexico will not be accepted for this show.

Chosen Artwork: TAAC reserves the right to select which artworks to include in the exhibition. The artist may submit up to three (3) artworks for consideration. TAAC will curate one (1) of the artists submitted artworks for the exhibitions. The artist may not swap out artwork. If a situation arises where the artist no longer has access to the artwork, please get in touch with TAAC immediately. Artwork may only be swapped with approval from TAAC. Swap-outs will only be accepted three (3) weeks before either exhibition. If you know the submitted artwork will not be available for exhibition, please do not submit it.

About TAAC: TAAC is an artist-run volunteer 501(c)(3) organization. Our 6 board members are volunteers who donate their time to ensure the smooth organization and running of exhibitions that benefit the community. If you have questions regarding volunteer opportunities, board openings, or structural inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us at info@taosabstractartistcollective.org 

Art Sales: TAAC is an artist-operated 501(c)(3). All proceeds from art sales will go directly to the artists. All sales will be handled by the artist through an agreed-upon payment method. No transactions will be made by TAAC. TAAC volunteers will connect buyers to the artists directly. We encourage artists to donate a small percentage of their sales to TAAC. All work sold during the show will remain in the exhibition until after the closing.

Artwork Drop-off and Pickup: All work must be delivered and picked up according to the TAAC Schedule. We will not store work before or after the show. Each artist is responsible for drop-off and pickup at the designated times.  

Media Accepted (art must be abstract)

• Visual Arts: Any abstract 2D / 3D media including but not limited to: Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Mixed Media, Photography, Found Object, Conceptual Art, Installation, Ceramics, Pottery, Fiber, Wearable Art, etc.
• Video, Projection, & Performance Arts: We ask that it is abstract either in content, visual presentation, or both. Artists exhibiting video or sound work must provide the corresponding media player.
• Music, & Sound Composition Arts: We ask that it is abstract either in content, visual presentation, or both. Artists exhibiting video or sound work must provide the corresponding media player.
• You can apply to more than one category and with a variety of file types, the total number of file types is 3 per submission
• Please use the following format for image files: Lastname_Title.jpg
• 2D/3D work (in its final installed format) must not exceed 4' x 4'

Exhibition Venue & Info

• Stables Gallery at the Taos Center for the Arts
  133 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM 87571
• This is all-volunteer run, annual event.

Schedule

• Call Dates: Open July 1st - Deadline July 31st, 2025 (11:59pm MT - or until 140 submissions are reached)
• Curatorial Review: August 1st -  20th
• Artist Notification: late August

FALL 2025 EXHIBITION DATES

• Artwork Drop off: October 30th
• Installation: October 31st
• Opening Reception: November 1st
• Exhibition: November 1st - November 9th
• Closing Reception: November 9th

SPRING 2026 EXHIBITION DATES

• Artwork Drop off: May 6th
• Installation: May 7th
• Opening Reception: May 8th
• Exhibition: May 9th - 16th
• Closing Reception: May 16th

Curatorial Team

Review and selection of submitted artworks for the 4th Annual Taos Abstract Artist Collective Exhibitions will be conducted by the TAAC volunteer leadership team:

Lauren Dana Smith 
bianca goyette 
Lynette O'Kane 
Sidney Barrett
Dani Kamas
Brian Barreto
 

About TAAC

About TAAC: TAAC is an artist-run volunteer 501(c)(3) organization. Our 6 board members are volunteers who donate their time to ensure the smooth organization and running of exhibitions that benefit the community. If you have questions regarding volunteer opportunities, board openings, or structural inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us at info@taosabstractartistcollective.org

Mission:
Taos Abstract Artist Collective (TAAC) Established and founded in Taos in 2020, TAAC promotes abstract artists living or working in Northern New Mexico, toward the exchange of ideas, new aesthetics and creative concepts. Taos is synonymous with abstract thinking, with origins in indigenous geometries, transcendental and modernist movements, and conceptual and land art installation. Once the nexus for westward bound artists, Taos unleashes expansive, abstract thinkers. Represented amongst the TAAC artist group are established, mid-career and emerging artists who show in Taos or Northern New Mexico, nationally and internationally. 

Conceptualized in 2020 TAAC offers curated and juried exhibitions, artist talks, studio visits and collaborative community concepts. TAAC is an inclusive group that amplifies self-identifying abstract artists living and working in Northern New Mexico, honoring our intersecting identities across race, national origin, ethnicity, culture, size, gender identity and expression, disability, sexuality, age, socioeconomic status, neurotype, religion and/or spiritual practice. All abstract artists are welcome in their pursuit of provocative expression.

Application Requirements

• Portfolio: Submit at least 1 portfolio sample and up to 3, requirements listed below
• Artist Statement: 150 words or less
• Artist Bio: 150 words or less
• Dimensions of work: You must include the dimensions of your work in its final, installed state. (e.g. include total dimensions of framed artwork, or square footage for installation/performance works)

Visual Artist Portfolio Requirements: 

• Visual Arts applies to any abstract 2D / 3D media including but not limited to: Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Mixed Media, Digital, Photography, Found Object, Conceptual Art, Installation, Ceramics, Pottery, Fiber Arts, Wearable Art, etc.
• Submit 1 to 3 samples of completed work (Installation Artists: we understand it's not "complete" until the exhibition, give us a visual example or mockup). If there is a visual presentation aspect to the work that we can not see in the images (jpgs), describe it in your artist statement
• File Type: JPEG or JPG only
• File Name: Please use the following format for image files: Lastname_Title.jpg
• File Dimensions: 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side
• File Size: Under 5 MB
• Color Profile: sRGB
• Resources for resizing your images: https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/helpful-digital-resources/ or send us an email if this is challenging and you need help

Video, Projection, & Performance Artists Portfolio Requirements:

• Submit 1 to 3 samples of completed work (Projection and Performance Artists should provide a video, however we understand it's not "complete" until the exhibition or after the live performance). If there is a visual presentation aspect to the work that we can not see in the video, describe it in your artist statement, and also let us know if this is intended to be a live performance or shown on a screen or projection of some kind. We ask that it is abstract either in content, visual presentation, or both
• File Type: MOV, MP4, WMV, 3GP, AVI, ASF, MPG, M2T, MKV, M2TS
• File Name: Please use the following format: Lastname_Title.jpg
• File Size: under 100 MB (if work is larger than 10MB, please provide us with a corresponding link to YouTube or other platform to view work)
• Resolution: minimum 640 x 480, maximum 1920 x 1080
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3 or 16:9
• Bit Rate: recommended above 240 kbps
• Frame rate: minimum 12 fps, recommended 30 fps

Audio, Music, & Sound Composition Artists Portfolio Requirements:

• Submit 1 to 3 samples of completed work. If there is a visual presentation aspect to the work as well, describe it in your artist statement, and also let us know if this is intended to be a live performance or shown on a screen or with use of speakers, etc. We ask that it is abstract either in content, visual presentation, or both
• File Type: AIFF, WAV, XMF, MP3
• File Name: Please use the following format: Lastname_Title.jpg
• File Size: Under 10 MB (if work is larger than 10MB, please provide us with a corresponding link to YouTube or other platform to view work)
• Bit rate: minimum 96 kpbs–maximum 320 kbps
• Codec: aiff, wav, au

For Help Using CaFÉ or to Contact CaFÉ:

https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/

To Contact Taos Abstract Artist Collective:

info@taosabstractartistcollective.org 

Please Note the Rules & Terms to Apply: 

• Artists must live or work within Northern New Mexico to apply to this show. Please do not apply if you live/work elsewhere.
• Submitted work must be abstract.
• Emerging, mid-career, and established artists or collaborative teams are welcome to apply.
• Artists must be at least 18 years old to apply.
• Artists are responsible for the sales of their artwork. As TAAC is an artist-operated group, all proceeds from art sales will go directly to the artists themselves. As New Mexico collects sales tax on artwork sold, we suggest setting your prices to cover it. It is up to each individual artist to understand the taxes that they may or may not owe. Consult with whomever advises you on your taxes.
• All work sold during the show will remain in the show until after the closing.
• Work featured in the exhibition may also appear in promotional materials for the show.
• Work featured in the exhibition will appear in a printed and digital exhibition catalog.
• Artists must complete the application on CaFÉ, please do not email us a submission.
• The $35 entry fee is nonrefundable.
• Accepted work MUST be in presentable condition and ready to hang/install. No sawtooth hangers on framed work.
• Please include price of work or indicate if it is not for sale (NFS)
• This is a curated exhibition, and the selection of work is up to the curatorial team.
• Not all pieces submitted are guaranteed to be selected for this exhibition at the Stables Gallery. Works will be accepted based on exhibition space parameters and consistency with exhibition theme.
• In the spirit of TAAC's commitment to artist safety and inclusivity, work that depicts violence or hateful rhetoric towards any individuals or groups will not be considered.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility:

Open to artists or collaborative teams, 18 years old and above living and/or working in Northern New Mexico. Artists not living and working in Northern New Mexico will not be accepted for this show.

Chosen Artwork:

Chosen Artwork: TAAC reserves the right to select which artworks to include in the exhibition. The artist may submit up to three (3) artworks for consideration. TAAC will curate one (1) of the artists submitted artworks for the exhibitions. The artist may not swap out artwork. If a situation arises where the artist no longer has access to the artwork, please get in touch with TAAC immediately. Artwork may only be swapped with approval from TAAC. Swap-outs will only be accepted three (3) weeks before either exhibition. If you know the submitted artwork will not be available for exhibition, please do not submit it.