Moments of Gesture: Call for Paintings
Curated by John Hughes
Moments of Gesture seeks to foreground the physical and metaphysical dimensions of gesture in painting. From the first brushstroke—where the primal act of art-making is enacted—to the gestures depicted within the finished work, painting traces a distance between artist and viewer. Within that distance, gesture becomes a bridge: between movement and stillness, intention and perception.
Painting is, by nature, still. Pigment adheres to a surface; the image does not move. Yet painting continually evokes motion—through bodies in space, shifting light, and the unfolding of time within a single frame. This paradox of movement held within stasis lies at the heart of the moment of gesture.
Gesture may appear in many forms: the bend of a wrist, the posture of a seated figure, the arc of a branch casting shadow, or the subtle traces of the artist’s own hand. The brushstroke itself—sometimes dissolving into the image, sometimes asserting its independence—remains a sign of presence, pointing beyond what can easily be put into words.
We invite paintings that are alive with force, risk, sensation, and color—works that embody both the ferocity and the delicacy inherent in the formation of images.
The exhibition aims to create a space animated by moments of attention and transformation: paintings that capture gestures as they arise, suspend them, and allow them to resonate. We welcome a kaleidoscopic range of approaches—from quiet acts of observation to bold, searching marks—forming together a chamber of interiority, perception, and expressive possibility.
This online group show will be available on Artsy and open to the artists who are members of our community. Join our Patreon group to submit your painting. Artworks must be available to sell through our Artsy listing. The artwork must have been created from 2020 up to the deadline date to qualify for this call. Artworks must be original in thought and process. The medium must be traditional including oil paint, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, oil sticks, and pastels.
DEADLINE: May 15, 2026
VIEWING ROOM: JUNE to DECEMBER 2026
People of the Land
American Gothic | Grant Wood (American, 1891–1942)
A figurative group show focused on rural life can evoke narratives of nostalgia, hard labor, community, or the "para-pastoral" (a darker, more uncanny view of the countryside).
People of the Land is a curated figurative online exhibition on Artsy designed to bridge the nostalgic romanticism between the wild wild west of the Americas, the outback of the Australian stockman, the South American gauchos, the guagiros of Cuba and the Caribbean, to the modern urban consciousness and the enduring, often overlooked narratives of rural life. By focusing on the human figure—the rancher, the farmer, the cowboy, the Indigenous steward and the women who paved the way working the fields while keeping the home nurtured—this show explores the profound, symbiotic relationship between people and the land they cultivate. Through a diverse range of figurative styles, from classical realism to contemporary expressionism, the exhibition seeks to honor the storytelling traditions of those who live by the seasons and the soil.
Artworks may not be larger than 8×10 inches. Traditional mediums including oil, pastels, watercolor, and drawings. No digital or photography. AI may be used to create the original concept for the reference. Please include this information with your submission.
This online group show will be available on Artsy and open to the artists who are members of our community. Join our Patreon group to submit your painting.