Biola University is searching for an artist or artist team to complete a new large-scale public mural on its campus in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

ABOUT BIOLA UNIVERSITY:

As a leader in academic quality and innovation, Biola University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top Christian universities, known for leading degree programs in the arts, business, film, the sciences, theology and more. Biola’s eight schools offer more than 300 academic programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels, enrolling over 5000 students at the La Mirada campus, online and in distance learning programs throughout the world. Located in Los Angeles County, Biola’s 95-acre campus is in the heart of Southern California, one of the great global hubs of arts, and one of the largest and most diverse urban areas in the United States.

COMMISSIONED ARTWORK THEMES & CONTEXT:

Biola University is searching for an artist or artist team to complete a new large-scale public mural on its La Mirada campus. Although the exact location and scale will be determined by the artist in consultation with the Biola Art Selection Committee, the artist should be prepared to create an outdoor mural that is at least 10 feet by 20 feet in scale.

Thematically, the mural should be focused on depicting the diversity of God’s Kingdom and should be consistent with Biola’s Statement of Unity Amidst Diversity, which can be found here: https://www.biola.edu/about/diversity.

Artists may choose to use biblical passages or themes as inspiration (such as the Great Commission, Revelation, gospel stories, parables, etc.). In determining the placement of the mural, the artist should also consider Biola’s current public art so that the mural is in dialogue with these other pieces. 

Further campus features that may be considered for inspiration or response include:

• Biola’s Calvary Chapel: https://www.biola.edu/calvary-chapel

• Bardwell Hall, home of Biola’s Department of Art

• Biola’s Galleries and Exhibitions Spaces: https://www.biola.edu/exhibitions

 
STYLISTIC SPECIFICATIONS:

The mural should include representational figuration of some kind, though artists are welcome to work within any representational styles or traditions. The figuration should be culturally diverse.

Christian iconography may be used, but is not required. Some degree of abstraction is welcome, but the work should be recognizably representational to a public audience. 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

Though no specific type of  materials are required in creating the mural, the proposal must provide assurance that the artwork will be durable and routine maintenance requirements will be minimal.

The materials used should be able to withstand continuous sun exposure and intermittent rain without noticeable deterioration for at least 10 years. Surplus materials (2%) must also be provided for future maintenance needs.

Any structural or engineering plans and specifications must be completed by the artist or artist team, in coordination with Biola University and any necessary  approved sub-contractors, and subject to any required approval or permit by local zoning or building authorities. 

BUDGET DETAILS:

Each of the three semi-finalists chosen by the Art Selection Committee will receive $2000 USD to develop and submit an Artwork Proposal. Following proposal presentations by each semi-finalist, the Committee will choose an Artist/Artist Team to commission.

The chosen Artist/Artist Team will receive an award of $20,000 USD to complete the artwork.

Budgets are to cover all costs associated with the commissioning of artwork, including but not limited to design, fabrication, any travel and accommodations, transportation, installation, photographic documentation, catalog documentation and an identifying plaque.

Any required permits, or engineer fees must be paid by the commissioned artist/artist team.

Any structural or engineer fees for approved structural modifications, must be paid by the commissioned artist/artist team.

State and County laws related to public construction, including licensing, insurance, bonding, and payment of prevailing wage rates, may apply and will be the responsibility of the commissioned artist/artist team 

ELIGIBILITY:

All applicants must be 18 years or older and U.S. citizens or permanent residents. If applying as an artist team, all members of the team must meet these criteria.

Applicants must also be willing to affirm Biola's Articles of Faith and our Statement of Biblical Principles (Link: https://www.biola.edu/about/theological-positions) as well as Biola's Mission Statement (Link: https://www.biola.edu/about/mission), and while performing any work on Biola’s campus or in the course of performing services related to the Mural, even though not an employee, agree to abide by its Standards of Conduct (see Addendum A below), Non-Discrimination Policy, and Sexual Misconduct Policy.

SUBMISSION DETAILS:

• Contact Information for Artist (or artist team if applicable)

• Statement of Interest: Explain why you (or your team) are interested in creating an original artwork for Biola University. Explain why you would be a good candidate and how your experience informs how you would respond to the Themes and Context of the project.

• Artist Resume/CV (teams should include resumes of all artists combined into a single PDF).

• Provide a one-page Christian Testimony of your faith and practice (please reference Biola University’s Theological Positions, at the following link: https://www.biola.edu/about/theological-positions. It may be helpful to identify your alignment with us in terms of Biola's theological positions or an ancient creed of the church (the Nicene Creed, the Apostles' Creed).

• Work Samples: No more than ten (10) JPEG images of existing artworks. Work samples may include more than one photo of an individual artwork (showing different angles or details) but please do not composite more than one image per JPEG image. If applying as an artist team, identify all artists of the work.

• No Artwork Proposals are Submitted at this Phase

 
POINT OF RECEIPT:

All applications must be submitted digitally at CuratorSpace by September 1, 2025. No incomplete applications will be considered. 

SEMI-FINALIST SELECTION:

The Artist Selection Committee will review the submissions and select three semi-finalist artists or artists teams to tour the site and develop concept proposals. Semi-finalist artists will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Background work reflects artistic merit, technical skill, authenticity, originality, commitment to material(s)/media and artistic practice, and evokes response or inquiry.

• Appropriateness of the artist’s medium and style in relation to the project goals and setting.

• The Statement of Interest is connected to the artwork themes and goals outlined for the public art project.

• Information from references (3)  who have worked with the artist and have detailed knowledge of the artist’s work and qualifications.

• Compatibility with the mission of Biola University and the Artwork Themes & Context as listed above. 

• Experience with projects of a similar scale and scope including familiarity with the public art process, the public review approval process, and/or collaboration with schools, design agencies, public facilities, and art selection juries.

 
FINALIST SELECTION —CONCEPT PROPOSAL PRESENTATION:

Each semi-finalist artist or artist team individually will present the concept proposal to the Artist Selection Committee. The semi-finalist artists or artist teams preparing concept proposals shall retain intellectual property rights to the artwork concepts commissioned for Biola University. Biola can retain all proposal materials presented, but without license to publish. The semi-finalist artists or artist teams’ proposed artwork submissions must be original and unique to Biola. No editions or replicas of pre-existing work may be submitted.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Requests for additional information may be sent via the CuratorSpace direct messaging system.

ADDENDUM A

Standards of Conduct

Biola University is a community of Christians committed to the principles of Christian living found in the Bible and holds that these biblical standards are vital to our individual and corporate relationships. Maintaining these standards contributes to the kind of atmosphere in which quality Christian education and spiritual nurturing can best occur and strengthens the testimony of Biola within both Christian and secular communities. In this light, and given the clear biblical imperative for spiritual self-discipline, the university has established these “standards of conduct” to be observed and upheld by all members of the Biola community.

Consistent with the example and command of Jesus Christ, we believe that life within a Christian community must be lived to the glory of God, with love for God and for our neighbors. Being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we strive to walk by the Spirit, “crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24).

To this end, we seek artists whose work and professional conduct align with our Christian values and mission, as articulated in Biola's Articles of Faith and our Statement of Biblical Principles (Link: https://www.biola.edu/about/theological-positions) as well as Biola's Mission Statement (Link: https://www.biola.edu/about/mission).

As a Christian educational institution, Biola also recognizes the responsibility of its Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff to provide examples of maturing Christian character, conduct, and attitude to its students and the community at large. Therefore, as maturing Christians, the entire Biola community will strive for the holiness of God (I Peter 1:13-19) and love Him with all our hearts, souls, and minds (Matthew 22:37). In addition, we are called to love our friends and neighbors as God has loved us (Matthew 22:39; I John 4:7-11). We will achieve this calling by walking by the power of the Holy Spirit and avoiding sins clearly forbidden in Scripture (Galatians 5:16-21; I Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:1-14). Also, we will pursue the fruit of the Spirit from our Lord, with one another (Galatians 5:22-24).

When the Bible is not clear regarding a specific behavior, we will be guided by our desire to glorify God in our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19-20) and will discern if our behavior will cause any of our brothers or sisters in Christ to stumble in their faith (I Corinthians 8; Romans 14). If our Lord is not glorified or another Christian is harmed or offended by our behavior, then we will freely abstain from that activity, both on and off the campus of Biola. We know that many behaviors are lawful, but not all glorify God as our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19-20), not all are profitable (I Corinthians 10:23-33) and some cause other Christians to stumble in their faith (I Corinthians 8; Romans 14).  Therefore, we will constantly be teachable regarding those activities where the Bible is not clear and will evaluate them in light of our pursuit of holiness and love for our Lord and each other.  In keeping with these principles, while not an exhaustive list, the following activities will not be allowed on the Biola campus: consumption of alcoholic beverages, the use of tobacco products and marijuana, and gambling.  Additionally, none of these products/activities may be paid for--directly or through reimbursement--with Biola funds.  

These standards apply to the trustees during their terms of service on the Biola University Board of Trustees, and to faculty and staff during their terms of employment with Biola University.  Biola, therefore, reserves the right to discipline or dismiss any employee who, in its judgment, does not conform to these conduct standards or to other expressed University principles, policies, or expectations that govern employee conduct.