SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN: "JOY UNFILTERED" – INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION. Allora Gallery invites photographers from around the world to submit work for our upcoming online group exhibition, "Joy Unfiltered."

Joy is contagious, transformative, and deeply human—the burst of laughter at a moment of connection, the quiet contentment of solitude, the electric energy of celebration, the tender warmth of love shared.

Sometimes joy exists in shared experience: in the musician lost in their art and the listener moved by every note, in the communion of witnessing beauty together.

Joy doesn't always announce itself with fanfare; sometimes it whispers through a stolen glance, a child's wonder, an unexpected kindness, the triumph of overcoming, or the simple beauty of being alive.

This exhibition celebrates joy in all its manifestations—the moments that make us feel most vividly, most authentically, most alive.

We seek photographs that capture the spectrum of joy—not just the obvious smiles and celebrations, but the deeper, more nuanced expressions of happiness, connection, and meaning.

What does joy look like in your lens?

How do you capture the electricity of human connection?

Can a single frame reveal the profound satisfaction of achievement, the quiet peace of solitude, or the magic of unexpected beauty?

What moments make your heart race as a photographer—witnessing joy unfold in front of your lens, discovering that perfect light, that decisive instant, that composition that takes your breath away?

And which of your past images still carry that magic, still transport you back with a smile?

We welcome photographs that explore joy in all its forms:

Portraits and candid moments celebrating human connection, celebrations and gatherings radiating energy and warmth, intimate moments revealing love and tenderness, nature's beauty inspiring awe and wonder, children discovering the world with unbridled enthusiasm, acts of kindness and generosity, personal achievements and triumph, the freedom and exhilaration found in movement and expression, quiet moments of peace and contentment, and the simple pleasures that make life worth savoring.

What brings you joy—both as a person and as a photographer?

How do your images reveal the moments that matter most?

We're looking for photographs that show how joy appears in infinite forms—from the grandest celebration to the smallest gesture, each frame capturing the essence of what makes us feel alive, connected, and grateful—the images that will transport viewers and yourself back to that moment of pure joy.

Eligibility

• Open to photographers worldwide, of all levels and backgrounds
• All photographic techniques and approaches welcome (digital, analog, mixed media)
• Work must address the theme of "Joy unfiltered" in some way
• Previously exhibited work is eligible
• AI-generated images are not eligible
  
  

Exhibition Benefits:

• Digital certificate of participation provided to all selected artists as official recognition of their inclusion in the international exhibition, suitable for professional portfolios and CV documentation.
• Selected works will be featured in a professionally curated online exhibition hosted on Allora Gallery's dedicated website, providing international visibility for participating photographers. Our exhibitions typically attract hundreds of visitors from the international photography community, including photographers, collectors, and art enthusiasts. Each artwork will be presented with full artist attribution and titles on the website, with detailed artist statements featured in our social media promotion.
• Exhibition promotion includes dedicated posts across Allora Gallery's Instagram account (130+ followers and growing) and other social media channels, individual artist features, and ongoing promotional content throughout the exhibition period. We actively engage with the international photography community to maximise reach.
  
  

Details:

• Submission fee: Free
• Participation fee (if selected):  $18 (plus VAT, where applicable)
• Deadline to submit: November 28, 2025
• Exhibition dates: December 15, 2025 – January 16, 2026
• Curated by: Oksana Bochina, founder of Allora Gallery
  
  

How to submit:

• Send up to 5 images (JPEG, 2000px wide, 4 MB or less each)
• Include your name, website and/or Instagram
• Short bio (max 100 words) and artist statement (max 100 words)
• Brief statement about your submitted work (max 150 words, optional)
  
  

Sales & Artist Connection:

All exhibited works are available for sale with 100% of proceeds going directly to the artist — Allora Gallery takes no commission. 

Interested collectors can contact the gallery directly, and we facilitate connections between buyers and artists while respecting artists' privacy and preferences.

Exhibition Access:

The online exhibition is freely accessible worldwide through our dedicated website, allowing international audiences to discover and engage with contemporary photography.

The digital format ensures broad accessibility and extended viewing opportunities beyond traditional gallery limitations, with exhibitions remaining accessible throughout the exhibition period and archived for future viewing.

About Allora Gallery:

Allora Gallery is an independent online photography space founded in 2025 and devoted to capturing the fleeting, the poetic, and the unseen.

Each month, we curate exhibitions around a central theme, welcoming photographers of all backgrounds, styles, and stages of their creative journey.

Allora means “then” or “so” in Italian — a word often spoken in moments of pause, just before something begins. For us, it’s that quiet in-between — the breath before the shutter clicks, the stillness before the story unfolds.

We are open to submissions from photographers of all levels and backgrounds.