Call Description

SFVACC invites artists to enter our 2026 In-Person Exhibition, Chroma, Color, and Contrast. SFVACC invites artists to explore the expressive force of color in all its forms - from the saturated and electric to the subtle and restrained. This exhibition looks at the interplay between hues, values, and intensities, and how contrast can spark emotion, define space, or disrupt expectation. We welcome work that examines color as language, as sensation, and as an agent of mood, movement, or meaning.

Artworks may be bold or quiet, harmonious or dissonant - what matters is the intentional use of chroma and contrast to create visual impact and deepen the viewer’s experience. All submitted art will be juried using digital images. The SFVACC seeks artists who can provide a well-rounded range of 2D and 3D art.  All submitted art will be juried using digital images.

• Best of Show - 2026 Solo Show Exhibition in the Lazarus Gallery at TAG Gallery valued at more than $1700
• 1st Place $400
• 2nd Place $300 plus 4 Honorable Mentions

Juror -  David S. Rubin has a distinguished track record as a curator, critic, and artist.  For almost forty years, he worked as a contemporary art curator at encyclopedic museums, contemporary art centers, and college art galleries. He began his career in 1977 as Assistant Director of the Galleries of the Claremont Colleges and Assistant Professor of Art History at Scripps College.  This was followed by curatorial positions at Santa Monica College; San Francisco Art Institute; Freedman Gallery at Albright College in Reading, PA.; MOCA Cleveland (then known as Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art); Phoenix Art Museum; Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans; and San Antonio Museum of Art.  His curatorial archives are housed in the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Art. 

Over the years Rubin has published numerous exhibition catalogs and books and he is currently a contributor to Hyperallergic and Visual Art Source. His writings also appear in Arts, Art in America, ArtScene, Artillery, Artweek, Fabrik, and Glasstire. Rubin has been exhibiting his automatic drawings since 2003 and has had solo exhibitions at California State University Art Galleries, Blue Star Contemporary, San Antonio, Barrister’s Gallery, New Orleans, and at Dock Space Gallery, R Gallery, and High Wire Arts in San Antonio. He has also participated in numerous group exhibitions, including at the Tenri Cultural Institute, New York; Artist Commune, Hong Kong;  Bradbury Art Museum, Arkansas State University; and smaller venues in New Orleans, San Antonio, and Los Angeles.  Rubin’s drawings are represented in the collections of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and Bradbury Art Museum, Arkansas State University. 

ELIGIBILITY
Chroma, Color, and Contrast is open to all artists residing in Southern California and adjacent areas. ALL ARTWORK MUST BE HAND DELIVERED. NO SHIPPING ACCEPTED.

IN-PERSON EXHIBITION LOCATION - TAG Gallery, 5458 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036

• IMPORTANT DATES
• Submissions Begin: Monday, December 1, 2025
• Deadline for Entries:  Sunday, January 25, 2026 - 11:59pm MST
• Notice of Acceptance (by e-mail): By Sunday, February 1, 2026
• Delivery: Deliver art to TAG Gallery, 5458 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036 on Sunday, February 22, 2026 from Noon-2pm. ALL ARTWORK MUST BE HAND DELIVERED. NO SHIPPING ACCEPTED
• TAG Gallery Exhibition Dates:  Wednesday, February 25, 2026 - Friday, March 20, 2026
• TAG Gallery Opening Reception: Saturday, February 28, 2026, 5-8pm. TAG Gallery, 5458 Wilshire  Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036  
• Awards Announced: At the Opening Reception, Saturday, February 28, 2026, 5-8pm
• Artwork Pick-up: TAG Gallery, Saturday, March 21, 2026, 11am-1pm. TAG Gallery and SFVACC are not responsible for artwork left at TAG Gallery after March 21, 2026

AWARDS - Award winners selected by the juror will be announced at the Opening Reception on Saturday, February 28, 2026, 5-8pm. Best of Show - 2026 Solo Show Exhibition in the Lazarus Gallery at TAG Gallery. NOTE: Best of Show award has no cash value and is non transferable. First Place $400. Second Place $300.  The juror will also select up to four Honorable Mention awards.  

SUBMISSION CRITERIA AND CONTENT - Entries must be original and of the artist’s own execution.  Do not submit works which violate copyright laws.   Artwork created and completed under the direct supervision of an instructor is not eligible. Once artwork is submitted, it may not be substituted or withdrawn by the artist.  All juried artwork must remain at TAG Gallery and online until the end of the exhibit. All artwork MUST be for sale. 

ARTWORK FORMAT, PRESENTATION & REQUIREMENTS - Artwork submissions are limited to six (6) original artworks per artist as .JPGs. No AI. No Video. 

SIZE OF WORK - Maximum finished size is 30" x 30" including frame for 2D; maximum height for 3D work is 36".

FORMAT FOR DIGITAL IMAGES (JPGS) - All entries must be submitted as a HIGH RESOLUTION (1-5MB), digital .JPEG. Image should be cropped to remove background and/or frame. If cropping is not possible, a neutral background is preferable.  Image quality is critical: Poor photography and presentation may affect acceptance by the juror. The digital image (JPG) must represent the submitted art. Directions for uploading photos to CaFÉ are clearly described on their website.  

ENTRIES & FEES - One entry is $40.  Early Bird Discount of $10 use code Chroma10 until December 31, 2025. Artists may add up to 5 additional entries at $5 each.  Payment is made through CaFÉ via credit card.  Fees are non-refundable.  There is no guarantee of acceptance into the exhibit.

SALES AT TAG GALLERY - TAG Gallery receives 35% commission on all sales at the in-person exhibition. Artists will receive 65% of the sale price approximately 60 days after the in-person exhibition closes. All in-person sales at TAG Gallery will be handled by the TAG Gallery staff.  TAG will collect sales tax. Prices cannot be changed from those stated at submission.  SFVACC will receive NO commission on any sale of art from the in-person. All artwork MUST be for sale. Artwork sold for $600 or more requires that the artist receive a 1099 tax form at the end of the year.

IN-PERSON ARTWORK PICK UP - TAG Gallery, Saturday, March 21, 2026, 11am-1pm. TAG Gallery and SFVACC are not responsible for artwork left at TAG Gallery after March 21, 2026

PROMOTION OF THE EXHIBIT - Promotion will be handled by the SFVACC and TAG Gallery, but we welcome artists promoting the exhibit as well. The exhibit’s prospectus will be available online at www.sfvacc.org/open-call.

LOCATION - The in-person exhibition will be at TAG Gallery, 5458 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Open Wednesday to Sunday 1-7pm. 323.297.3061. Visit taggallery.net 

SFVACC VIRTUAL EXHIBITION - Chroma, Color, and Contrast will also be exhibited virtually on the SFVACC website. The Virtual Exhibition Dates: February 25, 2026 - April 30, 2026. The virtual exhibit will remain on view on the SFVACC website Archived Exhibits page indefinitely.

SALES ON SFVACC WEBSITE POST IN-PERSON EXHIBITION - After the in-person exhibition closes, on the SFVACC website, a prospective buyer may contact the artist via email by clicking on the artist’s name under the image they are interested in purchasing.  All sales will be handled directly between the artist and buyer. SFVACC will receive NO commission on any sale of art from either the in-person or virtual exhibition. If artwork is sold, the artist must notify the SFVACC so a red dot (signifying it’s been sold) and SOLD in the place of the price, can be added. Collecting sales tax is the responsibility of the artist. Shipping and insurance shall be by mutual agreement between the buyer and artist. All artwork MUST be for sale. 

The virtual exhibit may be viewed 24/7 on the SFVACC website - www.sfvacc.org > EXHIBITS > Current Exhibit.

Application Requirements

Application Requirements: See FORMAT FOR DIGITAL IMAGES above.

Eligibility Criteria

Chroma, Color, and Contrast is open to all artists residing in Southern California and adjacent areas.