Call Description

Yellowstone Art Museum (Billings, Montana)

Yellowstone Art Auction 59 (AA59) | February 5 - March 6, 2027

!! This application is FREE to all with the coupon code YAMART59 at checkout until July 19, 2026. Submissions received on or after Monday, July 20, 2026, will require a $35.00 application fee.

Important Dates for submitting artists:

• Art Submissions open: Wed., June 3, 2026
• Last day of free application: Sun., July 19, 202
• Final application deadline: Sun., October 18, 2026
• Acceptance notification sent to artists no later than: Thurs., November 10, 2026
• Art delivered to YAM by: Fri., December 18, 2026
• Exhibition Open + Artists’ Party: Fri. February 5, 2027
• THE NIGHT: Gala & Live Auction (closing event, ticketed): Sat. March 6, 2027

Accepted auction artists receive:

• Inclusion in the Yellowstone Art Auction 59 silent auction exhibition, which is presented in the museum’s main galleries, and runs from Friday, February 5 to Saturday, March 6, 2027, at the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings, Montana.
• All juried works are included in the catalog, distributed to over 600 in print and with thousands of online impressions through the digital issue/ YAM’s website.
• Widespread regional advertising and promotion of the Auction.
• A special invitation to the "Artists' Party' opening reception. Opportunities to attend THE NIGHT Gala & Live Auction open as space allows.
• Special acknowledgment for artists making full donations (100%) to live or silent auctions on exhibition signage, catalog, and website.

Application Requirements

To be considered by the jury, artwork submissions must include:

• A completed application
  • 2 artwork maximum! (detail images may be emailed to events@artmuseum.org if deemed necessary/ for 3D works).
  • Dimensions should reflect the size of the work WITHOUT framing for consistency sake. (Please make a note for our curators if an artwork's frame exceeds 3 inches).
• High quality digital image(s) of art submission
  • Resource: Tips for photographing artwork for digital submissions
• A 50 word artist statement.
• Submitting is FREE for the first 6 weeks with code YAMART59 at checkout. Entries submitted July 20 or later must include a $35 fee.

Please keep in mind that the information submitted with this application informs print catalogues, online listings, museum labels and more. Any inaccuracies in your application will be echoed in all YAM productions. Please DOUBLE and TRIPLE CHECK spelling, titles, dates, pricing, DIMENSIONS, before submitting.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility and judging

• Yellowstone Art Auction 59 is open to all original media (2-D and 3-D) except jewelry. Reproductions, including giclée and mechanical prints on canvas, will be disqualified.
• A MAXIMUM of TWO artworks may be submitted*
  • *This includes ONE optional DETAIL image per artwork- 4 total images, 2 total artworks! Additional detail images may be emailed to events@artmuseum.org if deemed necessary.
• AA59 will be juried based on the submitted digital photo entries, so please take care in representing your work.
• Submitted work must be created within the last 5 years (2020+).
• Works submitted to past YAM Art Auctions are not eligible.
• Oversized objects are discouraged due to spatial considerations.
  • Two-dimensional objects exceeding either 48 inches wide and/ or 72 inches tall, and three-dimensional objects weighing over 70 pounds are considered oversized.

Digital Image Requirements

• Digital images are required for submission. The quality of your artwork image affects jurying. Please:
  • Label each image in a similar fashion, including the artist’s Last name, First name, and Title of the Work. (example: Smith_John_Still Life 1.jpg)
  • Submit a high-quality image of the artwork only, excluding artwork frame. (Images should be at least 8” by 5” at 300 dpi).
    • Selections may be disqualified if the YAM is unable to obtain a high-quality image before the catalog press deadline.

Auction Pricing Information:

• SPLIT: At the annual Art Auction fundraiser, artists generously donate a predetermined percentage (50%, 75%, or 100%) of the sale proceeds to the Yellowstone Art Museum. The YAM will retain the percentage of the artwork’s final sale price selected by the artist within the application. The minimum donation (split) is 50%. We warmly thank and recognize those submitting 75% or 100% donations! Your support of the YAM goes far in maintaining the high quality of exhibitions and programs at the Yellowstone Art Museum. In gratitude, 100% donors will receive a complimentary Benefactor membership.
• RESERVE: Bidding for each piece will start at no less than 70% of the artist’s declared retail value. When establishing retail value, consider the price your work has recently sold for. Reserves may not be set at the retail value. Thank you for keeping in mind that this event is a museum fundraiser. Works sold at the reserve and below retail value are still subject to the artist's chosen split percentage.
• BUY-IT-NOW option allows patrons to side step competitive bidding and purchase silent auction works before the event's conclusion, at the full retail cost + a surcharge. Auction items purchased in this manner will remain on exhibit through the duration of the exhibition ending on Saturday, March 6, 2027. Buy-It-Now is available for most silent auction artworks, with some exclusions.

FOR ACCEPTED ARTWORKS:

Delivery of Artwork(s):

• Art must be delivered to the YAM no later than Wednesday, December 18, 2026 (6 weeks after acceptance notice). Please note that this deadline is earlier than years past and will be enforced to accommodate the museum’s best practices and our small staff- thank you!
• IMPORTANT: All 2-D works must be framed and/or ready to hang when they arrive at the YAM (finished works that are intentionally displayed without the addition of a traditional frame are OK but must be ready to hang) .
• All Artwork, especially 3-D pieces, must have proper supports, hanging devices, and clear instructions for installation, as needed. Any artwork that does not meet these requirements will be disqualified.
• The YAM will not be responsible for works that arrive damaged or have been framed/mounted in an unstable manner.
• Only selected work will be included, no substitutions. Upon receipt of the actual work, the YAM reserves the right to disqualify work that was not adequately represented or suitably prepared for exhibition.

Mailed Artworks:

• Shipping to the YAM is the responsibility of the artist; at their expense. The YAM may choose not to include work that arrives after the deadline.
• Following the Auction, any unsold works will be returned to the artists at the YAM’s expense, via non-additional insured FedEx shipping.
• Artwork will only be shipped domestically. International shipping will be paid at the buyer’s/artist’s expense.
• Any unsold artwork will be returned in the manner & condition it was delivered. If an artist drops off art in-person to the museum the artist is responsible to arrange timely pick-up.
• Any artwork that remains unspoken for on YAM premises after April 4, 2027 will be managed in the terms outlined in the current artist-museum consignment agreement.
• NOTE: Artist’s shipping address must be current and accurate. If an artist changes residence at any time during the process of submission and exhibition, it is their responsibility to notify YAM staff (events@artmuseum.org) to ensure safe return of artwork and/or payment. If the YAM is not informed of a change in address until after payment for sales has been distributed, the check cancellation fee will be deducted from the total payment value.