submission deadline
April 26, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET
exhibition dates
May 29 – June 29, 2026
Contemporary Queer: Abundance optimistically considers the future of queer life amid state-sanctioned violence in the United States. This exhibition utilizes visibility and remembrance to both look forward and celebrate intersectionality. Gallery 263 invites U.S.-based artists of all backgrounds to submit work that appreciates the vibrancy of queer experiences. Artists who identify as LGBTQIA2S+ and allies engaging thoughtfully with these narratives are encouraged to apply. We welcome diverse media of any medium that engage with gender, sexuality, community, and resistance.
In 2025, Gallery 263 broke its records for the number of visitors to an exhibition and reception with Contemporary Queer: A Love Letter. That exhibition was a direct response to the rise of anti-LGBTQ policies, and featured the complex splendor of queerness, ranging from activist art to personal diaries. This second iteration of Contemporary Queer will be juried by Jasper Sanchez, independent curator, queer art historian and friend of the Gallery. The national exhibition will look forward to a future that embraces and loves queer identities, in all of their abundant forms.
Queer art, in the context of this exhibition, embraces fluidity and defies categorization. We welcome work that queers the field, too – pieces that challenge binaries, disrupt norms, and celebrate the diversity of gender, sexuality, and identity. More than an exploration of difference, works will assert presence, resilience, and interconnected experiences.
About the juror
Jasper A. Sanchez (he/they), a Venezuelan-Colombian raised in Miami, is a curator and cultural organizer based in Boston. Their contemporary curatorial practice melds queer diasporas and reimagines public space to achieve creative justice, uplifting artists and making their work accessible. Sanchez has curated exhibitions with the Boston LGBTQIA+ Artist Alliance, Boston Center for the Arts, and Tufts University Art Galleries. Their writing and programming appear in the Boston Art Review. He is part of the Mobius Artists Group and the inaugural Collective Futures Fund Advisory Council. They hold a BA in Art History & Critical Theory from Lesley University in Cambridge.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the online form below. Up to 6 artworks, represented as jpg files or video/audio links, may be uploaded to the form for consideration. Payment is settled either as the final step of the online application form or by a follow-up payment method (mailed check). Selections for the exhibition are made by the guest juror. All communication and installation decisions are conducted by Gallery 263. Please read the full information below prior to applying.
Artwork size restrictions & shipping details
- 2D (painting, drawing, photography, graphic design, etc.)
Max dimensions: 108 inches H x 60 inches W (40 pounds max) - 3D (sculpture, assemblage, installation)
Max dimensions: Must be self-supportive or mountable; may not exceed 108 inches H x 30 inches W x 30 inches D. Installations must be simple to assemble or installed by artist - Time media (video or audio)
No length restrictions. Submit with links to streaming (YouTube or Vimeo). Artists will be required to provide a/v equipment with selected time-based works. - Size restrictions of artwork to be shipped
Shipped artwork must fit in a box no larger than: 36 inches W x 36 inches H x 8 inches D, 40 lbs. - Artwork must be shipped using UPS, with a return UPS shipping label included. Gallery 263 does not pay for return shipment. If your package does not include a UPS return label, it is the artist’s responsibility to make an arrangements with the gallery within 30 days of the conclusion of the show.
Eligibility
This is a national call, open to all US residents. Submitted work must have been created within the last five years, complete and presentation ready.
Submission
Online submissions only. Artists may submit up to 6 works. Work in all media is encouraged.
Entry fee
Payment of $25 for 1–3 submissions; $40 for 4–6. Payment must be received by the submission deadline.
Gallery volunteers may be eligible to receive a discounted or waived submission. Learn more.
FAQs
Please review our page of FAQs for additional information.
Please be kind!
Gallery 263, a small nonprofit organization, operates on the generosity of volunteer board members, a few staff members, and local volunteers who are artists and art lovers, like you. We care deeply about what we do and appreciate your understanding that we are human, too.
As the gallery operates on a small budget, submission fees cannot be waived. These fees support the operating costs of our nonprofit, such as keeping the lights on. Thank you for your support!
Submission form
