Call Description

PrintHouston is pleased to announce NEXT 2026, a contemporary print biennial to be held during PRINTHOUSTON 2026 Biennial. 

We are looking for innovative and challenging works that transcend process and materials and present printmaking as a versatile and adaptable medium. We invite artists who are pushing the boundaries with the use of traditional techniques and materials to apply. We also welcome those artists who are using traditional printmaking techniques to speak to contemporary audiences. In addition to lithography, relief, intaglio, monotype, or screenprint, we are interested in artists who use these printmaking techniques to create installations, ceramics, sculpture, and artists’ books. The only criteria, beyond excellent quality, is that the primary technique(s) used in the creation of the work be listed above.
 

ORGANIZER PrintHouston is a Houston-based Non-Profit 501(c)(3) arts organization. Our mission is to promote traditional and non-traditional printmaking, encourage print collecting, and facilitate the professional growth of our members. In 2011 we held our first PRINTHOUSTON events, and since 2017 it has become a biennial event. Exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations, workshops, and special events at galleries, museums, non-profit organizations, and commercial venues take place throughout the city of Houston, Texas. 

JUROR This year, we are excited to announce that Phil Sanders will be the juror of NEXT 2026. Phil Sanders, the Founder/Director of PS Marlowe, a creative services consultancy firm based in Asheville, NC, is a leading collaborative master printer with over twenty years of experience educating, lecturing, and advocating for prints and their makers.

Phil Sanders was formerly the COO of The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, the Director/Master Printer of Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, NYC, and Master Printer for Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE).

Sanders’ own artwork is contained in the public collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale University Art Gallery, among others.

In order to ensure the quality of the exhibition, the juror reserves the right to reject any work that was not accurately represented in the digital file. The juror’s decision is final.

VENUE ELLIO Fine Art, 3201 Allen Pkwy Suite 180, Houston, TX 77019

ELLIO Fine Art gallery features paintings, sculpture, photography and prints from artists throughout the United States and Europe. 
 
AWARDS: Cash awards

EXHIBITION CATALOG: All accepted artists will receive an exhibition catalog.

ARTIST MEMBERSHIP: All who are accepted to NEXT 2026 will be given 1 free year Artist Membership into PrintHouston. They will have 1 free year and may choose to renew and pay dues in January 2028. And they will be invited to participate in ThinkINK, the annual membership exhibition.

ELIGIBILITY 
Open to all artists 18 years and older residing in the United States of America. Works must be original, not to exceed 48 inches in any direction, completed in the last 2 years, and not previously shown in Houston. Collaborative work should be entered under only one of the artist's name. No student work, reproductions, or photography.

FEES $35 for up to 3 entries, payable during the online entry process.

ENTRY GUIDELINES 
Once you have registered, follow the instructions under “Media Prep” to format your images. You may submit up to three images. If you wish to submit a detail shot, it will count as an entry. Be prepared to submit your artist statement during the submission process. We would prefer statements no longer than 250 words.

The entry deadline is 11:59 p.m. Central Time, May 5, 2026.

Selected artists will be required to submit a short biography, a resume, and 300-dpi images by May 22. This information will be submitted to NEXT@printmattershouston.org.

PRESENTATION OF ARTWORK 

All work will be presented professionally in the gallery. Work must be shipped ready to hang: gallery framed* and wired with wire hangers or d-rings. Exceptions: oversized works, installations, 3-D, video, and artist’s books.

*Gallery framed: Neutral frames, archival backing boards, white or off-white mats (if used), spacers (if not matted), plexiglass. We will not accept decorative frames, colored matboards, sawtooth hangers, work that has come loose in the frame, etc.
 

Special display and handling instructions must be included in the package when shipped. Ellio Fine Art reserves the right to exclude any entry that presents complex hanging/exhibition problems or is not framed professionally.

PrintHouston, the juror, and Ellio Fine Art reserve the right to reject any work not accurately represented in the digital file or that is not ready for exhibition.

SHIPPING AND INSURANCE 

Shipped works are due at PrintHouston by June 12 You may hand-deliver your work during install day to Ellio Fine Art on June 12. No exceptions.

Shipped work must be packaged appropriately in a reusable carton, box, or crate for return shipping. Absolutely no packing peanuts. All works will be insured upon arrival in Ellio Fine Art. Neither Ellio Fine Art nor PrintHouston is responsible for any damage or loss during transit.

Ship to: 
Address to be shared with selected artists.

**IMPORTANT: Artists are responsible for the cost of shipping. You MUST include an easily located prepaid return shipping label. If you do not, your work will not be hung.

SALES & COPYRIGHTS Prints may or may not be for sale depending on the choice of the artist. The exhibition sale commission for Ellio Fine Art is 50% of the selling price and artist commission is 50% of the selling price. Ellio Fine Art reserves the right to offer reasonable shared discounts up to 10%. Your entry grants PrintHouston and Ellio Fine Art permission to include your image(s) in marketing and advertising and any catalogs created for NEXT 2026, PRINTHOUSTON 2026, and Ellio Fine Art.

QUESTIONS If you have any questions, e-mail us at NEXT@printmattershouston.org.

IMPORTANT DATES 
IMPORTANT DATES
Feb. 5: Open for Submissions  
May 5: 11:59:00 p.m. Deadline (Central time) Submissions 
May 6 - May 13: Jury Process
May 15: E-mail notifications
May 22: Artist information and 300 dpi images due
June 12: Shipped artwork due to PrintHouston
June 12: Hand-delivered drop-off at Ellio Fine Art

June 19: 6-8 p.m. OPENING RECEPTION
June 20: 1:30 - 2:30p.m. Juror’s talk and awards
July 18: End day of exhibition
July 19: 11:00 - 2:00 p.m. Hand-delivered pick-up, exhibition de-install
July 20: Return shipping begins

Application Requirements

FEES $35 for up to 3 entries, payable during the online entry process.

Once you have registered, follow the instructions under “Media Prep” to format your images. You may submit up to three images. If you wish to submit a detail shot, it will count as an entry. Be prepared to submit your artist statement during the submission process. We would prefer statements no longer than 250 words.

The entry deadline is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time, May 5, 2026.

Selected artists will be required to submit a short biography, a resume, and 300-dpi images by May 22. This information will be submitted to NEXT@printmattershouston.org.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility
Open to all artists 18 years and older residing in the United States of America. Works must be original, not to exceed 48 inches in any direction, completed in the last two years, and not previously shown in Houston. Collaborative work should be entered under only one of the artist's name. No student work, reproductions, or photography.