No. 35 Gallery invites artists worldwide to submit work for Figurative—International Online Group Exhibition 2026. This exhibition explores the human figure across contemporary artistic practices, from portraiture, the human body, gestures, movement, and everyday human experiences to expressive distortion, fragmented forms, abstraction, symbolic representations, and conceptual interpretations of the figure. Selected artists will present their work in a curated international online group exhibition hosted on the No. 35 Gallery website, supported by curatorial presentation and promotion through the gallery’s platforms.

Artists are invited to submit works inspired by, responding to, or engaging with the human figure in its many forms, including portraits, self-portraits, full-body compositions, anatomical studies, gestures, movement, facial expressions, human relationships, personal identity, emotional experiences, figures in domestic or public spaces, imagined characters, fragmented bodies, and representations of human presence.

The theme is intentionally broad and welcomes a wide range of approaches, including traditional figurative painting, realism, expressionism, abstraction, symbolism, psychological portraiture, distorted or simplified figures, experimental image-making, personal narratives, conceptual approaches, and contemporary interpretations of the human form.

What Artworks and Subjects Are Included?

Portraiture & Self-Portraiture:

Individual portraits, group portraits, facial studies, expressive faces, psychological portraits, self-representation, and traditional or experimental interpretations of identity.

Human Figure & Body:

Full-body compositions, anatomical studies, gestures, poses, movement, bodily expression, nude and clothed figures, and explorations of physical form.

Figurative Narratives:

Figures within domestic interiors, public spaces, landscapes, everyday activities, personal memories, social interactions, imagined scenes, and narrative compositions.

Conceptual & Contemporary Approaches:

Figurative abstraction, distorted or fragmented bodies, exaggerated proportions, simplified forms, symbolic figures, explorations of identity, emotional expression, memory, vulnerability, relationships, and experimental interpretations of human presence.

We welcome submissions from emerging and established artists working across all visual art mediums, including painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, digital art, textile art, printmaking, drawing, collage, installation documentation, and other contemporary practices.

Through this exhibition, No. 35 Gallery aims to bring together diverse international perspectives on figurative art and create a thoughtfully curated platform for artists exploring identity, embodiment, memory, emotion, representation, human relationships, and the evolving role of the figure in contemporary visual culture.

Eligibility

This open call is open to artists worldwide working in any visual art medium or discipline.

Both emerging and established artists are welcome to apply.

Applicants must be aged 18 or over.

Fees

Submission is free.

Only selected artists will be invited to participate in the exhibition.

A £15.50 participation fee per selected artwork applies only after selection.

There is no fee to submit an application.

What Selected Artists Receive

Selected artists will receive:

• Participation in a curated international online group exhibition hosted on the No. 35 Gallery website
• A dedicated online exhibition presentation featuring selected artworks
• Curatorial selection and structuring of the exhibition
• Inclusion of the artist’s name, artwork details, and relevant professional links
• Social media promotion through the gallery’s platforms
• Continued visibility through the gallery’s online exhibition archive
• Inclusion in a professionally curated, high-quality digital exhibition catalogue featuring the artwork image, artist biography, artist statement, artwork details, and sales information where applicable
• A digital Certificate of Participation confirming inclusion in the exhibition

Promotion & Reach

The exhibition and selected artists will be promoted through No. 35 Gallery’s platforms:

23,000 Instagram followers and growing

Approximately 25,000 monthly website visitors, with projected growth to 100,000 monthly visitors through ongoing promotion and audience development

Additional promotion may include newsletters, social media features, artist highlights, and exhibition announcements across the gallery’s platforms.

Curatorial Support

• Selection and structuring of artworks
• Design and development of the online exhibition layout
• Consideration of visual and conceptual relationships between selected works
• Guidance on artwork presentation where required
• Development of a cohesive and professionally presented exhibition experience
• Exhibition Details

The exhibition will be presented online through the No. 35 Gallery website.

Selected works will be curated into a dedicated digital exhibition accessible to an international audience.

Following the exhibition period, the exhibition will remain archived on the gallery website for one year, allowing continued visibility for participating artists and their work.

Sales & Commission

Artists may choose to make their artworks available for sale through the exhibition.

No. 35 Gallery takes a 30% commission on any sales made through the exhibition.

About No. 35 Gallery

No. 35 Gallery is an independent online contemporary art platform supporting emerging and established artists through curated exhibitions, solo presentations, artist interviews, and international open calls.

The gallery provides artists with opportunities for visibility, professional presentation, and connection with international audiences.

Founded in 2025 by Anisa M. Nia. Based in London, UK.

How to Apply

• Applications can be submitted through the application form on CuratorSpace.
• Artists may submit one artwork per application.
• Artists wishing to submit additional artworks must complete a separate application form for each additional artwork.
• Please ensure that all submitted images are clear, high-quality, and accurately represent the artwork.
• Submission is free.
• There is no application fee.
• A non-refundable participation fee of £15.50 GBP per selected artwork applies only to artists whose work has been selected for the exhibition.
• Artists who are not selected will not be charged any fee.

For questions regarding the opportunity or participation process, please contact the curator.

For technical questions regarding the application platform, please contact CuratorSpace support.