REJECTS 2026 (An Exhibition of Royal Academy Summer Exhibition Rejects)
Deadline: 05/06/2026City: London | Region: Greater London | Country: United Kingdom | Shona Bland
Art Friend is seeking artists who submitted work to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition but weren’t selected and still have their artwork available. We are currently in talks with different venues, but hoping to launch in June shortly after the RA Summer Exhibition. The location will be in London. All TBC.
REJECTS is back!
Due to popular demand, Rejects is returning to London this summer to celebrate incredible artworks that didn’t make it into the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition - but absolutely deserve to be seen!
Art Friend is a friendly, down-to-earth gallery that aims to make everyone feel welcome in the art world. We’re looking for artists who submitted work to the RA Summer Exhibition, weren’t selected, and still have their artwork available.
Exhibition Details:
Dates: tbc
Artwork Requirements: Must be framed, ready to hang, and delivered on (date tbc) Any unsold work must be collected on (dates tbc).
Rejected artwork can be from any year as long as it fits with this years theme ‘Interconnectedness - (please do not apply with rejected artwork if you are exhibiting with the RA this year).
Commission: 50/50 split
Pricing: Artwork must be the same price across the board. Whatever price you sell it for yourself or through other galleries, you must sell it at the same price. Please do not add 50% on top, otherwise the artwork won't be accepted. Please be considerate with your pricing. We would like to sell your artwork for you, but if it is overpriced, it is unlikely to be accepted.
Exclusivity: Work must be exclusive to Art Friend for the duration of the show and for two months afterward (exceptions can be made for print editions).
Promotion: We ask participating artists to share details of the exhibition via social media and newsletters (if applicable).
Previously, Rejects was a huge success, with coverage in The Guardian, LOTI, and even on BBC Radio! This year, we’re excited to make it even bigger.
How to Apply:
Selection Policy: Due to limited space and specific curation needs, not all submissions can be accepted. * It’s not personal: Rejection is often based on logistics such as having too many pieces at a certain price point or style rather than the quality of your work.
Know your limits: We understand that "double rejection" can be tough. If you feel that a non-selection would be too discouraging at this time, we completely understand if you choose not to apply. By submitting, you acknowledge that selection is at the curators' discretion and is not guaranteed.
Deadline:
(date tbc)(to include artists rejected in the second round). However, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as space is limited and curation will begin before the deadline.
Application Fee:
We are charging a £6.60 application fee per artwork, maximum of 2 submissions to help cover the administrative costs of processing submissions and organising the exhibition. This fee is non-refundable and applies to all applicants.
Important: If you pay for more than one artwork, the system will allow you to complete another submission form. You will need to fill out the whole form for each artwork you want to submit. The number of submission forms you can complete depends on how many submissions you have paid for.
By applying, you agree to our exhibition terms as outlined above.
We’re looking forward to seeing your work! Due to the high volume of submissions, we may not be able to respond to everyone straight away—but we appreciate every entry.
Submission fees
The following submission fees apply to this opportunity.
- REJECTS open call fee - 6.60 GBP
The appropriate fee will be payable using a debit or credit card after the first submission has been completed. If the submission fee allows you to submit more than once, you will be able to make further submissions after the first. Contact the curator if you have any questions about the opportunity or the submission fee, or email help@curatorspace.com if you have any questions about the payment process.
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