OPEN CALL — GRAPHIC NOVELISTS GROUP SHOW 'LINES of DISCOMFORT' : Dream Logic & the Uncanny in Graphic Novels at Alma + Margo Studio, Shoreditch, London

We invite graphic novelists and illustrators to submit work for Lines of Discomfort: Dream Logic & the Uncanny in Graphic Novels.

The exhibition focuses on independent and alternative graphic narratives shaped by social satire, psychedelic and surreal sensibilities, and narrative disturbance.

We are interested in work that exposes anxiety, excess, awkwardness, and social unease — graphic novels and related practices where storytelling remains central, even as it becomes abrasive, unstable, or deliberately unresolved.

What We’re Interested In

We are particularly interested in work that explores:

• Narrative experimentation, including linear, non-linear, episodic, or formally structured storytelling
• Psychedelic, surreal, exaggerated, or distorted realities, as well as controlled or restrained approaches
• Fragmentation, repetition, accumulation, or formal systems, including highly composed or diagrammatic narratives
• Graphic novels and related works as a literary and artistic form, encompassing social satire, personal observation, cultural critique, and introspective storytelling
   

Curation

The exhibition is curated by Miklos “Miki” Kemecsi and will include original works from his personal collection by established artists such as Charles Burns, Peter Bagge, Al Columbia, CF, Mats!?, Ivan Brunetti, Jim Woodring, et al.

What You Can Submit

Submissions may include:

• Completed or in-progress graphic novels
• Individual pages or panels suitable for wall display
• Zines and artist books

 Exhibition Dates & Times

Private View
Thursday, 1 May, 6–9 pm

Public Opening
Open over four consecutive Saturdays, time 18:00-21:00 on:

2 May
9 May
16 May
23 May
 
Submission Details

• Submission fee: £20 per artist (flat fee, regardless of number of submissions)
• Submission limit: Up to 3 artworks per artist
• Submission deadline: Friday, 10 April
• Selection results: Applicants will be notified individually by Sunday, 18 April 
   

Artwork Delivery & Collection

• Delivery of Selected Works
  Friday, 24 April — 10 am–1 pm
  Saturday, 25 April — 10 am–1 pm
• Collection of Works
  Friday, 29 May — 10 am–1 pm
  Saturday, 30 May — 10 am–1 pm
   

Sales & Commission

Artists are paid for any works sold
The studio retains a 30% commission, with 70% paid to the artist
 
Important Information

• All selected works must be delivered within the designated time windows
• All artworks must be fully framed and ready to hang, with a secure wire attached to the back
• Artists are responsible for insuring their own artworks
• A member of the Alma + Margo team will be on-site at all times to oversee the exhibition
   

Why Take Part

A considered location
The exhibition takes place in the heart of Old Street, London — a long-established creative quarter with a steady flow of artists, designers, local residents, and culturally curious visitors.

A non-traditional exhibition space
Works are shown within our multi-purpose studio, a lived-in space that regularly welcomes a diverse audience. The setting encourages slow looking, conversation, and unexpected encounters with art.

Opening night
A Friday evening private view (18:00–21:00) offers an opportunity to meet fellow artists, visitors, and potential collectors in an informal, relaxed environment.

A receptive audience
The exhibition is seen by our regular salon clientele — a creative, culturally engaged community with a genuine interest in supporting independent artistic practice.

A meaningful exhibition credit
Exhibiting at Alma + Margo offers professional experience within a distinctive, non-commercial context — a format that sits confidently outside the white-cube gallery model.

Thoughtful promotion
Artists will be featured across all exhibition materials, including social media, digital platforms, and a curated distribution of printed matter across London.

We will promote the exhibition to our mailing list of 400+ subscribers and an engaged social media audience of 2800 across our platforms, reaching a community spanning both the creative and beauty industries.  

Cross-pollination
The exhibition benefits from Alma + Margo’s existing networks, bridging the worlds of contemporary art, design, and everyday creative life.

About the Space
Alma + Margo is a multi-purpose studio and cultural space in the heart of Old Street, London, bringing together hair, art, music, and community under one roof. The space has long functioned as a meeting point for creative and culturally engaged communities — offering an audience that moves naturally between art, design, and daily life.