ABSTRACTS 2025
JUROR: LYLA RYE
DEADLINE: MIDNIGHT SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2025
All accepted artworks will be included in an online slide show with a playlist and a downloadable publication.
Abstract thought is often understood as theoretical, conceptual, intellectual, ethical, or metaphysical.
Whereas Abstract Art is generally understood as a type of visual expression that pushes past the boundaries of pictorial representation. For the purposes of this CALL, we loosely define Abstract Art as an artistic practice that is as migratory as artists’ ability to manifest simple or complex content within fluid or non-representational fields.
ABSTRACTS 2025 invites entries from contemporary artists from anywhere in the world to submit artwork that kicks at our moment in time using the tools of abstraction such as geometric patterns, organic and/or architectonic line, colour, texture, and forms. This online exhibition will act as a showcase for contemporary abstract artists. Submissions may include media/techniques as wide-ranging as drawing, painting, sculpture, assemblage, collage, or text.
JUROR
Lyla Rye is a Toronto based artist who began her studies in architecture. She works in installation, sculpture, video, drawing and photography to create encounters with real and illusionary space. Her work engages the viewer physically, optically, and conceptually. Rye studied at the University of Waterloo, York University and the San Francisco Art Institute. For over 30 years her work has been exhibited in galleries and screenings across Canada and internationally including New York, San Francisco, Adelaide, Auckland, Buffalo, Paris, and Berlin. She has exhibited at The Power Plant (Toronto), The Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), Southern Alberta Art Gallery (Lethbridge), The Textile Museum of Canada (Toronto), and in 2019 as part of the Karachi Biennale in Pakistan. She has work in the public collections of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, York University, Cadillac Fairview Corporation, The Tom Thomson Art Gallery, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery and as part of Lorna Mills’ Ways of Something at The Whitney Museum of American Art, NY. Her videos have been part of film festivals internationally. Recent solo exhibitions include, Mirage, curated by Betty Julian for Prefix ICA, Toronto in 2020 and Illusion’s Obstacles, curated by Marcie Bronson, at Cambridge Art Galleries in 2022. She has received numerous grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council, most recently being the recipient of the Chalmers Artist Fellowship. Lyla Rye is represented by General Hardware Contemporary in Toronto.
KEY DATES & DETAILS
DEADLINE
Sunday, March 30, 2025, by midnight
JURYING
late May 2025
ONLINE EXHIBITION LAUNCH
late September 2025
*Note: Due to the volume of submissions we apologize in advance for any inconvenience caused by our delays. Our juror(s) review every submission carefully and we ask for your patience during this process. Only selected artists will be contacted. Thank you for understanding.
APPLICATION DETAILS
- Artists can submit up to two works.
- Image files must be as follow:
- File names must be labelled Last Name_First Name, Title.jpg
- Example: Smith_Jane, Morning Doves.jpg
- Images can be in jpeg/jpg/png format.
- Image resolution should be 150 dpi max
- File size cannot exceed 2MB
- Submit original works only.
- Please note that improperly named files may not be recorded or will be lost in our system.
ENTRY FEE
The entry fee is $50 and covers entry up to 2 works per artist. It is non-refundable and can be paid upon submitting your application. Funds collected go towards making this exhibition possible.
SALES
Artists will be informed of sales. The gallery asks for a 30% donation/commission on all sales.