Archives in Absence

Deadline: 30/07/2025

Jessica McClenan

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Archives in Absence is a digital exhibition exploring abstract responses to archival loss, silence, and erasure. We are inviting artists working in abstraction to submit work that engages with gaps in memory, history, and the archive.

Open Call: Archives in Absence

A digital exhibition exploring abstraction, loss, and the silence of the archive

Deadline: 30 July 2025

Exhibition Launch: early September 2025

Prompt:

We invite submissions from artists working with abstraction to respond to the theme of archival absence, the gaps, omissions, and erasures found in memory, history, and institutional record-keeping.

This exhibition asks what does it mean to remember without a record? How can abstract art respond to what’s missing, withheld, or lost?

We're looking for work that doesn’t depict specific archival materials, but evokes the space of loss, silence, distortion, or memory, whether personal, political, or imagined.

Accepted works might explore:

- Fragmentation, erasure, distortion

- Emotional or speculative preservation

- Personal memory vs. institutional forgetting

- Redaction, censorship, damaged archives

- Visualising what’s unsayable or undocumented

All mediums are welcome, including painting, textile, sound, digital collage, photography, video stills, or installation documentation but work should be suitable for online display.

Submission Guidelines

Up to 3 artworks (JPEG/PNG, max 4MB each; for sound/video: provide a link via YouTube/Vimeo/Drive)

Short statement (max 250 words) explaining how your work relates to the theme

Artist bio (max 100 words)

Image credits (Title, Year, Medium, Dimensions)

Optional: a brief reflection on your relationship to archives or memory

If your work is time-based or sound-based, please include runtime and file format.

Work will be selected based on:

- Relevance to the theme: How well does the work explore absence, archives, or loss?
- Artistic quality: Strong visual composition, technique, and conceptual clarity
- Diversity of interpretation: We aim to include a range of media, voices, and approaches
- Fit for online exhibition: Work must translate well digitally and be provided in suitable formats

There is no requirement to produce new work; existing pieces are welcome as long as they align with the theme.

Selected works will be featured in:

- A designed online exhibition site
- A downloadable PDF catalogue
- Instagram and other social media channels
- Optional artist spotlight posts and interviews

This is a great opportunity for visibility and portfolio development.

Artists will be notified by mid-August. Selected works will be featured in the digital exhibition and downloadable catalogue. We may also promote artists on social media in the lead-up to the launch.

By submitting, you agree to your work being shown online with full credit, and to be contacted by the curator with exhibition updates.

Make a submission Contact the curator
Who is eligible for this opportunity?
Everyone is eligible to apply, regardless of location, age, or career stage. This is an online-only exhibition, so international and emerging artists are especially welcome to submit.
When is the deadline?
The deadline for submissions is 30th July 2025 at 18:00 GMT. Late entries will not be accepted, so please ensure all materials are submitted on time.
How many works can I submit?
You may submit up to three artworks for consideration. These can be part of a series or individual pieces, but please ensure each aligns with the exhibition theme.
How much does it cost?
It is completely free to apply and exhibit. There are no submission fees or hidden charges.
Are there payments to artists?
Unfortunately, we are currently unable to offer artist fees. However, selected artists will receive dedicated exposure through a curated online platform, catalogue inclusion, and social media promotion.
What publicity will be provided as part of the opportunity?
Selected works will be featured in:

- A designed online exhibition site
- A downloadable PDF catalogue
- Instagram and other social media channels
- Optional artist spotlight posts and interviews

This is a great opportunity for visibility and portfolio development.
What happens if my work is chosen?
If selected, you will receive a confirmation email by mid-August 2025. You will then be asked to submit high-resolution images, an updated bio, and any captions or statements by a specified deadline. We may also request a short quote or insight for the catalogue.
What kind of works are you looking for?
We are seeking abstract works that respond to themes of archival absence, erasure, memory gaps, and lost histories.
This may include:

- Mixed media, photography, digital collage, drawing, painting
- Techniques involving layering, redaction, distortion, or fragmentation

We welcome works that engage emotionally, conceptually, or politically with the idea of absence.
What are the selection criteria?
Work will be selected based on:

- Relevance to the theme: How well does the work explore absence, archives, or loss?
- Artistic quality: Strong visual composition, technique, and conceptual clarity
- Diversity of interpretation: We aim to include a range of media, voices, and approaches
- Fit for online exhibition: Work must translate well digitally and be provided in suitable formats

There is no requirement to produce new work; existing pieces are welcome as long as they align with the theme.

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