Call Description

Rise and Shine 2026: Stories of Rising, Visions of Hope

Share the work that lifts the day.

Exhibizone proudly presents Rise and Shine 2026, an international annual juried exhibition, promotion, and sales opportunity celebrating light, resilience, and the courage to begin again. Art is needed, and artists are needed. 

In a world that can feel heavy with headlines, your work becomes a lifeline. You help us remember the beauty of this planet, the goodness in people, and the small daily acts that keep hope alive. This exhibition gathers stories of rising and visions of hope from around the world.

What helps you rise, and what makes you shine? 

A first step after doubt, a quiet morning ritual, a community lifting one another, the sun breaking a horizon, a memory that turns pain into wisdom. This call welcomes artworks that carry warmth, courage, clarity, and care.

Why Rise and Shine 2026 Matters?

This opportunity is about more than awards or exposure. It is a collective affirmation that art changes the atmosphere of a room, and that images can lift a day, calm a heart, and steady a future. We will gather works that become beacons, honoring resilience, recovery, healing, joy, and stewardship of our shared home.

Now More Than Ever

This is a call to artists to lift the horizon line. We need images that carry light into difficult rooms, that honor the earth and its living textures, that trust in the quiet kindness of strangers and the resilience of communities. Art cannot fix everything, but it can steady a heart, open a conversation, and point us toward what is worth saving. By submitting, you are not simply entering a show. You are adding your voice to a chorus of hope.

Theme and Topics to Explore 

Choose one path or weave many together. Figurative, abstract, conceptual, and documentary approaches are welcome.

A) Morning and Sunrise — the literal light

Sky at Dawn: Pastels to vivid oranges, reds, and yellows, the chroma of first light over sea, city, and mountain.

Light and Shadow: Chiaroscuro at daybreak, silhouettes, windows glowing, reflective surfaces beginning to shine.

Awakening World: Birds and morning glories, dew on leaves, streets coming alive, kitchens and workbenches warming with light.

Mists and Thresholds: Valleys and skylines in morning haze, the sun burning through fog, open doors and drawn curtains.

Everyday Radiance: Tea steaming, first brushstroke, the studio’s hush, a handwritten list for the day ahead.

Nature’s Daybreak: Sunlit landscapes and cityscapes, seasonal beginnings, migratory return.

B) New Beginnings and Hope — the symbolic arc

Hope and Optimism: The promise of a new day and better hours ahead.

Overcoming Struggle: Light breaking through darkness, recovery and repair, figures rising after hardship, objects restored.

Empowerment: Confidence, self-acceptance, portraits lit with resolve, mentors and moments that ignite courage.

Transformation and Awakening: Shedding the old, crossing thresholds, personal or spiritual renewal.

Cycle of Life and Time: Endings that seed beginnings, circadian rhythms, clocks and shadows, temporal flow from night to day.

Shadows and Contrast: The meeting of light and dark, silhouettes, the moment before clarity.

C) Conceptual and Abstract — the inner light

Inner Light: Sparks within, auras, halos, energy fields, the felt sense of “shine.”

Abstract Energy of Morning: Lines, gradients, and color fields that lift, brighten, and move.

Surreal Daybreak: Dream logic at sunrise, improbable juxtapositions, portals and floating forms.

Contrast and Luster: Matte beside gloss, rough beside smooth, shimmering textures that play with radiance.

Color Stories of Morning: Luminous palettes, reflective surfaces, chromatic optimism.

D) Artists as Beacons — why art is needed now

Hope Against the Headline: Images that answer fear with tenderness, clarity, and moral imagination.

Goodness in People: Hands that help, everyday heroism, neighborliness, rebuilding together.

Guardians of Beauty and Planet: Earthcare, waters and forests, urban green, honoring what is worth protecting.

Lightworkers: Portraits of healers, teachers, caregivers, volunteers, and artists who carry a lamp for others.

Letters to the Future: Visual manifestos, promises to tomorrow, reasons to keep going.

Community Uplift: Shared celebrations, music and dance, the strength of belonging.

Why Submit to Rise and Shine?

• Share the story of how you overcame, healed, grew, or simply kept going.
• Connect with a global audience that seeks art with heart and meaning.
• Strengthen your portfolio with a juried exhibition and professional publication credits.
• Benefit from ongoing promotion during the show, including curated features.
• Contribute to a hopeful creative record that may encourage someone you will never meet.
• Because your art is a beacon. Together we remind audiences that there is still wonder, still dignity, still something worth getting up for.

How to Share Your Light

Prepare your strongest works that speak to rising, shining, clarity, stewardship, and hope. A short artist or artwork statement can deepen the viewer’s experience. Submit your entries and let your art meet the morning.

When your work lifts others, it shines twice. Protect what is beautiful, testify to the good that persists, and help the world begin again.

Rise. Shine. Repeat.

If selected by jury, you will:

✅ Be showcased in a smart online international group exhibition, visited by thousands of art lovers, experts, and collectors
✅ Be featured on Artsy.net, reaching a wide network of collectors and curators
✅ Be published in the official exhibition catalog, archived, and promoted for extended visibility
✅ Receive promotion across social media and art media
✅ Be eligible for editorial reviews, interviews, and audience feedback

Submission Details

All 2D and 3D media are welcome.
Submission is free, with a small selection fee applying only to selected artists.

Browse our global exhibitions that attracted more than 11 million art lovers worldwide here: https://www.exhibizone.com/exhibitions

AWARDS

■ Group Exhibition
Selected artworks will be exhibited in an online smart group exhibition globally for two months from May 14, to July 14, 2026.

■ Artwork Sales
Selected artworks will be promoted for sale via the online exhibition link. Both artworks available for sale and those that are not for sale are welcome, allowing artists to participate regardless of their intent to sell.

■ Artsy Shop
Your selected artwork will be exhibited and featured on ARTSY, the largest global community of art collectors, enhancing your exposure and increasing potential sales opportunities with a wider international audience.

■ Curated Reviews
Selected artists will have the opportunity to receive professionally curated reviews, designed to enhance their artistic profile and broaden their impact. 

■ Focused Interviews
A group of selected artists will be invited to participate in personalized interviews that strengthen their exhibition presence and deepen their connection with a global audience.

■ Audience Feedback
A select number of participating artists will be chosen to receive this award, which features curated and insightful feedback about their artworks, gathered through audience surveys and direct engagement with a trusted network of art enthusiasts. These reflections reveal how the artwork resonates with viewers, offering meaningful perspectives that enhance visibility, connection, and artistic growth.

■ Exhibition Catalogue
All selected artworks and artists will be published in a stylish, colorful exhibition catalogue available online and via print-on-demand. Artists can order a printed catalogue via a print-on-demand service from one of our partner platforms. The catalogue will be promoted and circulated internationally, reaching millions of viewers, including art experts, galleries, curators, businesses, and enthusiasts, through popular publication gateways.

■ Honorable Mention Award
Up to 10 artists will be selected to receive an Honorable Mention personalized digital award certificate as a testament to their artistic achievement. This recognition will be awarded to those whose exceptional creativity, technique, and artistic vision stood out among the submissions, showcasing remarkable talent and contributing to the overall excellence of the exhibition. Artists selected for this award will be featured on social media channels.

■ Life-long Links
Exhibition links and artist pages within the exhibition will remain active for life, boosting the selected artists' online visibility and SEO. The Buy button will be removed after the exhibition ends, but the page will continue to promote the artist's profile and achievements.

■ Exhibition Poster
A link to a downloadable version of the exhibition poster in various styles will be sent to each artist via email, creating a lasting memento of the exhibition.

■ Promotional Badges
A ready-to-use link to download and share the promotional badge for each jury-selected artwork will be sent to each artist, encouraging them to share their participation on social media and enhancing their visibility.

■ Artwork Reviews
All exhibition visitors can submit reviews and ratings of the exhibition and each artwork online. Visitors' comments and ratings will provide valuable insights into the audience's feelings and understanding of the artwork, and artists will be notified by email of the comments they receive.

■ Exhibition Promotion
A comprehensive promotion program will be executed to boost the selected artists' exposure and increase artwork sales during the exhibition period. The program includes a press release, catalogue circulation, social media presentations, and more to ensure widespread visibility.

■ Reports, Analytics, and Insights
Artists will receive insightful reports containing information about the number of visits, reviews, artwork popularity, engagement rates, and sales statistics. These reports will be sent to each artist regularly during the exhibition to help them track their success and engagement.

■ Publication Opportunities
Some selected artworks may be featured in various magazines, books, and publications within the Biafarin art network for promotional purposes, further expanding the artist's reach and recognition.

■ Artist Profile Page
Each artist will receive a free online profile page on the Biafarin platform, offering a professional space to showcase their portfolio, bio, and other achievements.

■ Certificate of Participation
A digital certificate of participation will be issued and sent to all selected artists, recognizing their contribution to this exhibition.

FEES

The submission is FREE.

If selected, there is a USD 35 selection fee.

Submit up to 6 artworks; a maximum of two artworks will be accepted from each artist.

Jury Process

We use two phases for jurying. The first phase of jurying is the Yes/No selection, and the 2nd part is the scoring model. For scoring, each jury member scores artworks from 1 to 10. Artworks with the highest scores in the "Yes" group will be selected.

Why Selection Fee?

Submission to this art opportunity is free of charge, and we only ask the selected artists to pay a small fixed fee to proceed. 

This decision was made in good faith because we wanted artists to only pay when selected. We have a thorough jury process as our art opportunities are popular and have a low acceptance rate.

Money-back Guarantee

A money-back guarantee is available for all selection fee payments until the exhibition's official opening day.

Application Requirements

ARTIST DATA

Artist Headshot Photo (optional)
Artist Full Name
City and Country of Residence
Phone
Email
Social Media Links (optional)
Website (optional)

Biography 

Artist Statement (optional)

ARTWORK DATA

Title

Category

Technique

Surface

Creation Year

Size (WidthXHeightXDepth) in cm or inches

Artwork/Series Description (Optional)

Price in USD

Eligibility Criteria

ARTIST ELIGIBILITY

This opportunity is open to all visual artists worldwide.

ARTWORK ELIGIBILITY

Art Categories

The submission is open to all visual artists creating original artworks in 2 and 3-dimensional media.

Visual Arts Categories: Painting, drawing, landscapes, printmaking, illustration, photography, digital arts, sculpture, assemblage, metalsmithing, ceramic art, installation, crafts, jewelry, glass art, paper art, wood art, book art, land art, fiber art, textile art, collage, abstract, graphic arts, design, and mixed media are accepted.

Style
All styles are accepted.

Any abstract or representational interpretations of the subject are welcome.

Size
There is no size limit for submitted artwork.

Duration
There is no limit to the artwork creation year.
Artworks created within the last 5 years are preferred.

Originality and Rights
Artworks must be entirely the work of the entrant, executed without the supervision of an instructor.

Entries must not be copies or derivatives based in any way on other copyrighted or published paintings, photographs, or other artistic work. Any infraction of this rule will result in serious consequences.
Artists should have all the rights to present and publish their artworks internationally.

Artwork Photo

Only the artwork should show in the photo (no frames or extraneous backgrounds).

Invited artists might be asked for high-resolution artwork photos, if needed.

Availability

Artists can submit artworks that are not for sale.

Number of Artworks

Artists can submit up to 6 pieces of original artwork in relation to the subject.

The artworks are subject to selection, and a maximum of two artworks might be selected from the chosen artists.

Other

Artworks that, in the reasonable view of the organizer, include porn, violence, and/or racial, and religious hatred, inappropriate and/or offensive content, are not admissible.