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 2025 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.