Open to Artists who Live/Work in Lake, McHenry, & cook Counties – Deadline September 13
This 46th annual juried competition includes all fine art media, work created in the last two years, and is again open to artists who live or work in Lake County, McHenry County and Cook County, Illinois. Exhibition will be held in the Gallery from October 2-29, 2026. Application deadline is Sunday, September 13, 2026 at midnight. Opening reception will be held Friday, October 2, 5-7:30 pm. Cash awards will be given to the strongest pieces as determined by our juror.
ELIGIBILITY
All artists age 18 or older who reside or work in Lake, McHenry, and Cook Counties in Illinois are eligible to enter. Artists may submit up to three entries. Submitted entries must have been completed within the last two years. No changes or substitutions allowed. Work previously shown in the Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art is not eligible for this show.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Application and fees due by midnight, Sunday, September 13, 2026
The exhibition will be juried from your art images submitted via email. Please be sure the images of your art are of the highest quality so the juror can view the work at its best. YOUR IMAGES MATTER!
TWO-PART PROCESS TO ENTER:
1. Email completed artwork information and digital images for jurying to: com.clcgallery@clcillinois.edu
Email the following: Name; Address; Phone; Titles of Works; Media; Dimensions — Height x Width x Depth (depth needed for 3-D work); Sale Prices (or Not For Sale — NFS) along with your artwork images to the gallery email address.
2. Pay entry fee. Go to: https://www.clcillinois.edu/community/gallery scroll down to Gallery Membership and click the “Become a member” button on the right, submit your email address for a security code, then select “Membership Type” from the payment drop-down menu and select the Recent Works Entry fee that applies to you. You do not have to be a member to enter the Recent Works art competition but if you do become a member you are eligible to submit a piece for inclusion in the Members Exhibition in January (one work of art, your choice).
MEDIA
2D and 3D work is accepted in any medium including video and animation. All work must be original, never shown in this gallery and completed within the last two years. Reproductions or copies of original work will not be accepted.
2D works limited to 40” wide and 48” tall, including the frame. All work must be dry and ready to hang with hang wire or other hanging hardware on the back. D-rings and sawtooth are acceptable. Works on canvas with a finished and PRESENTABLE edge need not be framed. Works on paper must be framed, under glass or plexiglass (preferred).
Multiple pieces as a set (diptychs, triptychs, etc.) are accepted. Please use simple frames in black, white, neutral wood or metal. 3D works may be freestanding or supportable on a base. 3D entries are limited to 75 lbs. Submit video entries as a link, with an MP4 supplied if accepted. Work is insured up to $150 only, per piece. If your work is delicate and you wish to install it with the assistance of the curator please make arrangements in advance. If you have questions, email the Gallery at: com.clcgallery@clcillinois.edu
Submit high-quality, RGB digital images of your work. Images of work must be 2-4 MB in JPEG or PNG format (no larger than 4 MB). Photograph artwork unframed, without glass and as professionally as possible. Here are some tips for photographing 2 and 3-D work with a smartphone.
• Square up the piece. Make sure that when you photograph your work, you don’t create distortion of the artwork by photographing from an irregular angle.•
• Photograph in natural daylight for best color match. Try laying the work flat on the ground outside (driveway, sidewalk, deck) and photographing from above. Cloudy days are best as there are no harsh shadows. For 3D work, photograph the most interesting side with a plain background.
Fill the frame of the camera with the art. Don’t zoom as this will reduce the amount of pixels and thus the quality. Crop image to art and get rid of extra background. Take multiple shots, pick the best one and do finishing touches in Photoshop if you can.
If you are emailing from your phone and are prompted to choose the image size when you save or send a photo, choose the largest option available (usually called “actual size” or “original size”).
AWARDS
Awards will be selected by the juror scoring the entries. Awards will be announced approximately 6:30 p.m. at the reception on Friday, October 2.
SALES
Please price your work for sale. Work not for sale should be marked NFS in the submission email. No commission will be retained by the Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art at this time.
ENTRY FEE
Entry Fee: 1-3 pieces/$30 for non-members, $20 for Gallery members. To receive the discount, gallery membership must be current through the end of the show. Entry fees and gallery membership payments accepted by credit or debit card. Go to this link: https://www.clcillinois.edu/community/gallery scroll down to “Join us” and click the “Become a member” link, submit your email address for a security code, then select “Membership Type” from the payment drop-down menu and select the Recent Works Entry fee that applies to you. If you become a member you are eligible to submit a piece for inclusion in the Members Exhibition in January. Email the gallery at: com.clcgallery@clcillinois.edu to arrange payment with a check or cash, if you prefer.
LABEL YOUR WORK
Please make sure to clearly label the backside of your work with the entry information: Name; Address; Phone; Title of Work; Media; Dimensions; Sale Price (or NFS).
NOTIFICATION
Artists will be notified by email about their acceptance to the show by end of day, Friday, September 18.
IMPORTANT DATES
• Application, art images and fees due: Sunday, September 13
• Artists notified of acceptance to the show: end of day, Friday, September 18
• Artists deliver their accepted works to the Robert T. Wright Gallery: Tuesday, September 22, 10 am-4 pm
• Exhibition runs Friday, October 2 – Thursday, October 29
• Opening Reception in the Gallery: Friday, October 2, 5-7:30 pm
• Pick up exhibited work: Friday, October 30, 10:00 am-3 pm
• If you have a conflict with drop-off or pickup dates, please email the gallery to make other arrangements.
ABOUT OUR JUROR
Matt Irie received his MFA from Northwestern University, Evanston (2002). Irie completed a permanent commission for the Chicago Public Libraries in 2005. He participated in the Luleá Art Biennial, Luleá, Sweden (2009) and was included in Double Take, a public exhibition of site-specific sculptural works funded by The Public Art Fund at MetroTech, Brooklyn, NY (2010). In 2011 he had solo exhibitions at The Wright Museum of Art, Beloit, WI and Ebersmoore Gallery, Chicago, IL. In 2012 & 2013 Irie was included in two-person exhibitions at Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, San Antonio, TX and Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL. Irie’s work was also included in a two-person exhibition at Left Field Gallery, Los Osos, CA (2020). Recent solo exhibitions include Arresting Gestures, at the Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL (2021), Some of All, at Cleaner Gallery & Projects, Chicago, IL (2023) and Recent Jams b/w Fits & Starts, Gallery One & Two, McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL (2024).