Call Description

2026 North American Print Biennial

Exhibition dates: September 8 – November 21, 2026

About the Boston Printmakers 2026 North American Print Biennial

Presenting the best in contemporary and traditional printmaking, the North American Print Biennial has long been recognized as one of the most prestigious events in printmaking. Founded in 1947, the mission of the Boston Printmakers is to promote public knowledge of printmaking, encourage and support artists working in printmaking, and promote excellence and innovation within the field of printmaking.

Juror

Esther Adler is Curator in the Department of Drawings and Prints at The Museum of Modern Art. Most recently she organized the final presentation of Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction (2025) in New York, and New Ground: Jacob Samuel and Contemporary Etching (2023). Past exhibitions include Joseph E. Yoakum: What I Saw (2021), Betye Saar: The Legends of Black Girl’s Window (with Christophe Cherix, 2019), Charles White: A Retrospective (2018), Charles White—Leonardo da Vinci. Curated by David Hammons (2017) and Dorothea Rockburne: Drawing Which Makes Itself (2013). Her publications include New Ground: Jacob Samuel and Contemporary Etching (New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 2024); Romare Bearden: Patchwork Quilt (New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 2022);  Joseph E. Yoakum: What I Saw (with Mark Pascale and Édouard Kopp; Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago, 2021); Betye Saar: Black Girl’s Window (with Christophe Cherix; New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 2019), Charles White: A Retrospective (Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago, 2018), Charles White: Black Pope (New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 2017) and American Modern: Hopper to O’Keeffe (New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 2013).

Ms. Adler joined the museum staff in 2005, and worked as a Research Assistant, Curatorial Assistant, and Assistant Curator in the former Drawings Department. She has also worked at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden as a graduate fellow, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She has a BA from Brandeis University, and an MA from the University of Maryland.

Biennial Venue

808 Gallery, Boston University, 808 Commonwealth Ave., Boston Massachusetts

Prizes

Over $10,000 is available in juror-designated purchase prizes and materials awards. The Boston Printmakers’ purchase prizes are placed into permanent collections at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA; the Boston Athenaeum, and the Boston Printmakers Collection at the Boston Public Library. Additionally, this show generates a large number of sales through patron and public purchases.

Calendar 2025-26

July 29, 2025  Application process opens at www.bostonprintmakers.org

Feb. 15, 2026  Application process closes

April 1, 2026, or before  Notifications emailed

April 27 – May 12, 2026   Period to receive all shipped work

June 6, 2026  Hand delivered work received at 808 Gallery, Boston University

Saturday, September 19, 2026  Public Reception and Juror’s Talk

Saturday November 21, 2026  Exhibition closes

November 21, 2026  Pickup of hand delivered work at 808 Gallery

November 30, 2026  Return of shipped work

Eligibility

North American artists 18 years and older are eligible to enter. Original, innovative works in all printmaking media are eligible. Photographs, offset reproductions, or reproductions of artwork originally produced in another medium will not be considered. Submitted work may not have been exhibited in any other Boston Printmakers exhibition. Artists may submit up to three digital images of original prints completed within the timeframe of 2023-2026.

Specifications

All delivered work must match the juried image; substitutions of accepted works will not be allowed. All work must be framed in simple (e.g. Nielsen) black metal or black wooden frames no more than ½” wide on the front edge. All frames should have Plexiglas, and a standard white or off-white window mat, minimum 3 inches wide. Your print must be securely mounted to the backing board. Frames must be ready to hang with wire or D-rings. Place your framed print into a clear plastic bag before boxing. Where appropriate, due to size or aesthetics, alternative presentation may be requested and must be fully described in your entry on the CaFE site. A list of acceptable presentation methods is at this LINK. Also, please include in your submission a clearly defined description of any special hanging or installation instructions. With your acceptance letter, you will receive labeling forms, detailed packing and shipping instructions, and a loan agreement to complete and sign.  Note: Work not protected by a frame is considered at risk, and may not be covered by gallery insurance.

Shipping

All shipped work must be sent in sturdy, re-usable packaging. It must be sent pre-paid via UPS. It must include a UPS pre- paid return-shipping label held in a clearly marked envelope taped to the back of the foam core backing of the art. Work will not be exhibited without a UPS pre-paid return packing slip, which includes shipping insurance.

Artists from outside of the U.S. who are unable to provide a return UPS label will be billed the cost of return ground shipping (including insurance) via a carrier chosen by the Boston Printmakers. These artists agree to pay these charges promptly on receipt of the invoice.

Sales

A 35% commission will be charged on all sales. Artists must assume the expense and responsibility of supplying to purchasers any additional prints in the edition that may be sold. The Boston Printmakers is a non-profit organization that uses proceeds from commissions for exhibition expenses.

Liability

Every precaution will be taken in handling the prints accepted for the Biennial. Boston University will assume responsibility for those works chosen for exhibition from the time they are delivered to Boston University until they are picked up by the artist or shipper. Artwork in the gallery will be insured for 35% less than the selling price. Artists must insure their work while in transit to and from the exhibition. The Boston Printmakers assumes no responsibility in case of loss or damage to submitted or accepted works. Works not covered by a suitable frame are welcomed, and the 808 Gallery will take appropriate care with such works. However they are not covered by Boston University’s insurance.

Agreement

Filing of the entry form constitutes an agreement on the part of the entrant to all conditions set forth in the prospectus, including permission to use images of the exhibited work in print or online media for promotional, educational, or archival purposes and for the creation of a catalog of the exhibit.

Entry Procedure

All entries must be submitted online at www.callforentry.org. Entries must be submitted on or before February 15, 2026. Review all entry information carefully before submitting. No changes can be made once submitted, including price revisions. Should you need to view your entry after submission, you can see your submission at www.callforentry.org.

Upload requirements for image files:

File format: JPEG only

File dimensions: No smaller than 1920 pixels on the longer side

File resolution: 72/ppi/dpi

File size: 5 MB maximum

Entry Fee

$35 USD for members of the Boston Printmakers with coupon code (sent after receipt of 2025 or 2026 membership dues)

$50 USD for non-members. The non-refundable entry fee entitles the artist to submit up to 3 works.

The entry fee is payable by credit card at www.callforentry.org.

Notification

Results of the jurying will be emailed before April 1, 2026, at which time the list of the accepted artists will be posted on our website at

www.bostonprintmakers.org.

Further Information

www.bostonprintmakers.org  •  email: biennial2026@bostonprintmakers.org

This prospectus may be downloaded at www.bostonprintmakers.org/biennial and reproduced as needed.

Application Requirements

Entry Procedure

All entries must be submitted online at www.callforentry.org. Entries must be submitted on or before February 15, 2026. Review all entry information carefully before submitting. No changes can be made once submitted, including price revisions. Should you need to view your entry after submission, you can see your submission at www.callforentry.org.

Upload requirements for image files:

File format: JPEG only

File dimensions: No smaller than 1920 pixels on the longer side

File resolution: 72/ppi/dpi

File size: 5 MB maximum

Entry Fee

$35 USD for members of the Boston Printmakers with coupon code (sent after receipt of 2025 or 2026 membership dues)

$50 USD for non-members. The non-refundable entry fee entitles the artist to submit up to 3 works.

The entry fee is payable by credit card at www.callforentry.org.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility

North American artists 18 years and older are eligible to enter. Original, innovative works in all printmaking media are eligible. Photographs, offset reproductions, or reproductions of artwork originally produced in another medium will not be considered. Submitted work may not have been exhibited in any other Boston Printmakers exhibition. Artists may submit up to three digital images of original prints completed within the timeframe of 2023-2026.