Join a movement of socially conscious artists documenting the global push toward authoritarianism, dictatorships and fascism and the effect it has on individuals, groups, societies and all life on earth.
 The prospect of another world war is palpable. This call is for artists to step up and fulfill their duty as harbingers of truth and guardians of cultural history against the growing threats of totalitarianism and environmental destruction.

Zozobra is a Spanish word for distress.

The Mexican philosopher Emilio Uranga has used the term to describe a specific form of existential anxiety related to uncertainty and ambiguity, following its usage by the poet Ramón López Velarde.

The term has been used to describe the feelings of uncertainty and distress in the United States due to the ongoing confluence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the political events of the Trump presidency and 2020 U.S. presidential election (and now include Trump's re-election in 2024).

The level of anxiety is growing, distress is transforming groups and communities as violence and corruption corrodes the appearance of normalcy.

Just how long will western leaders continue undermining democracy, rupturing the rules-based international order, and provoking a global shift toward fascism over oil, money, power and greed. How long will citizens tolerate it?

• Suture Zone is a hub of resistance, containing socially conscious art and a voice for marginalized artists.
• Suture Zone generated 2500 page views for the 4 month exhibition period, or 438 visitors in 30 days on average

Artists from around the world submit to Suture Zone if they are socially conscious and are reacting to and documenting the global push toward authoritarianism, fascism and war, and the effect it has on individuals, groups, societies and all life on earth.

Eligibility:

• This opportunity is open to artists worldwide over the age of 18.
• Deadline to submit: Nov 30, 2026 midnight.
• Artists receive promotion through the Suture Zone website and social media.
• Selected artists also receive a personal profile page on the website. 
• Submission requires a fee of 20£
• You may submit up to 2 artworks per submission. 
• Submission fees are NON refundable. The submission fee is for the administrative cost of evaluating submissions.

ENTRY TERMS AND GUIDELINES

Artist Benefits

• Selected artists participate in a permanent on-line exhibition
• Selected artists receive an individual web page on the Suture Zone site.
• Selected artists receive a place in the Suture Zone publication showcasing submitted art.
• Artists benefit from networking with other artists who are concerned about the state of the world.
  Individual posts on Instagram

Artist Eligibility

• must be 18 years or older
• can be emerging or established
• must be able to communicate in English
• Artists working in various media, including painting, drawing, collage, installation, illustration, photography, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, assemblage, fibre art, paper art, printmaking, digital art,  and more may submit.

Fee

• Submission will cost 20£ for judging 2 works
• artist can submit more than once if he or she would like more than 2 artworks to be considered 
• Entry fees are NOT refundable and do NOT guarantee entry into the exhibition

Media

• two-dimensional work done by hand are eligible such as paintings and drawings 
• photography, digital, mixed-media, print work and collage are eligible
• video and sound are eligible at this time
• sculpture, crafts, jewelry, fabric art and similar media are eligible

File attachment field:

• The file name must not include a space when uploaded.
• Image resolution should be min 1000px on the shortest side and be 300dpi in RGB colour space
• The file size limit for attachments is 4MB.
• Only one file can be uploaded per file attachment field. Images formats accepted are: .ttf, .png, .jpg, .jpeg.

At this time we do not accept submissions of AI-generated content, as the current technology is based heavily on unauthorized use of copyrighted content. We also will not accept AI-derivatives, or larger works with any AI component, for the same reason.

Judging Criteria

Suture Zone looks for originality, mastery of medium, strong overall design and composition, creative and clear interpretation of theme and a solid, arresting impression and intention in each artwork. 

Artist Biography

• maximum 150 words
• must be written in the first person and should explain the artist’s purpose and inspiration for his or her overall practice or for the pieces submitted.
• will not be a factor during the jurying process but will be used in Exhibition or Artist Pages
• text will be edited if they surpass the word limit or if they are structurally and/or grammatically incorrect

Artist Message to accompany your artwork on the website

• Maximum 150 words

Image Requirements

• Image resolution should be min 1000px on the shortest side and be 300dpi in RGB colour space
• only 1 artwork and 1 frontal viewpoint per image is permissible 
• cannot exceed 4MB
• image file must be in .jpg format
• files must be labeled as Full name-Title of Art.jpg (example: Kelly Jones-Sunrise.jpg)
• cropped to show only the artwork - frames, mat, other backgrounds and watermarks are unacceptable
• clear, without glares and in focus

Artist notification of results

Suture Zone will notify all entrants of inclusion or exclusion of the current exhibition by email or through Call for Art websites.

Newsletter Subscription

Upon submission, artists who chose to, will be added to Suture Zone’s email list and will receive future announcements and newsletters.  If the artist prefers not to be on this list in the future, he or she can email Suture Zone and be removed. 

About Suture Zone:

Created in 2025, Suture Zone is a dedicated political, online art gallery and publication based in Canada.

Suture Zone has been created to fill a perceived gap in the art world in which artists with a message of social change or political content are caught in the void of galleries not addressing global, political and existential issues, and a lack of media outlets for promotion and dissemination of critical artistic responses to the despotism growing in the world.

Curatorial Approach:

Suture Zone's curatorial approach draws on today’s political and cultural landscape, exploring themes of existential distress and anxiety tied to social and environmental injustices, pandemics, politics, war, media, and technology.

This anxiety is felt around the globe and expresses itself beyond national boundaries and artistic styles. For contemporary artists, art is a focal point of intense experience or trauma, showing the causes and effects of oppression, fear, confusion and anger.

As a curator, I strive to bring diverse voices together and build an understanding of causes and effects to bring a deeper understanding to these subjects and experiences.