Call Description

The Hotter ‘N Hell National Art Exhibition is a juried show featuring all art forms that use fire and heat as part of the creative process, for example: ceramics, glass-blowing, welded sculpture, poured metals, wood-burning, metalsmithing, burned textiles, etc.  Cash prizes will be given to the Best in Show and Second Place. The NSU Demons are looking forward to turning up the heat this summer by featuring the best pyrotechnical works of artists from across the United States.

Eligibility
Open to all artists within the US.

Important Dates

February 23, 2026:  Open Call to Artist 
April 11, 2026: Deadline to Enter
April 28, 2026:  Acceptance Notifications Sent
May 22, 2026:  Final Day to deliver work, all shipped work must be received.

June 8, 2026: First Day of Show
August 8, 2026: Last Day of Show. Closing Reception 3-6 PM
September 1, 2026:  Last Day to Pick Up Work. Works shipped back to artists. 

Specifications

• All work submitted must use fire and/or heat in its production.
• All work must be ready for display.
• Any work that is not display-ready will be returned to the artist.
• Work requiring special installation is the artist's responsibility.
• No work can exceed eight feet in any dimension.
• Participants are responsible for shipping or delivering works. Delivery specifications will be included in acceptance letters and artists' agreements.

Entry Fee
The entry fee is $35 for one to three works. One detail for each piece can be added at no additional cost. (https://www.callforentry.org)

Submission
All entries must be submitted via CaFÉ (https://www.callforentry.org)
Participants will have to create an account (free), sign in, upload images to the portfolio, submit images, and then pay the $35 fee. Payment will be made with a card or PayPal.

Prizes

• Best in Show:  $500
• Second Place:  $250

Juror: Michael Williams, MFA

Raised in Pineville, Louisiana, Michael Williams is an artist whose work is grounded in a deep engagement with three-dimensional form and visual storytelling. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art with a Concentration in Ceramics from Louisiana College (now Louisiana Christian University) before continuing his studies at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi, where he received a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts with a Three-Dimensional Studio Concentration.

Williams’s artwork has been featured in more than twenty solo and group exhibitions, reflecting his ongoing commitment to material exploration and contemporary craft. In addition to his studio practice, he is a published illustrator whose work spans multiple media.

He currently serves as the Gallery Director at Louisiana Christian University and is a professor within the School of Media, Communication, and the Fine Arts, where he holds the Eugenia Colvin Dawson Professorship in Art. Through both his professional roles and his artistic practice, Williams continues to foster creative growth in his community while contributing to the broader visual arts field.

Application Requirements

All art forms that use fire and heat as part of the creative process, for example: ceramics, glass-blowing, welded sculpture, poured metals, wood-burning, metalsmithing, burned textiles, photos using fire, etc. 

Eligibility Criteria

Artists must be working in the United States of America.