Light & Shadow 2027
Accepting entriesExplore light, darkness and the space between them. Selected works will appear in an online exhibition and a printed catalogue available on Amazon.
The theme
Light can reveal a surface, draw attention to a gesture or change the meaning of a scene. Shadow can conceal, separate, soften or give a subject its weight.
Light & Shadow invites work in which this relationship plays an essential role. We welcome close observation of the visible world as well as abstract, imagined and symbolic interpretations. Your work might explore a sharp contrast, a gradual change in tone, an interior lit by a single source, or the emotional associations of light and darkness.
Painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, textile, mixed media and digital art are welcome. Artists may submit figurative or abstract work. Three-dimensional works should be represented by a clear photograph.
Entry options
| Option | Total artworks | Submission fee |
|---|---|---|
| Free entry | 1 | $0 |
| Extended entry | Up to 3 | $10 total |
The $10 upgrade covers up to two additional artworks alongside your free entry. The upgrade costs the same whether you add one or two works. The maximum is three artworks per artist across all submissions to this edition.
Paying for additional works does not give any work a scoring advantage or affect prize decisions. Each work is considered on its own merits. The upgrade does not guarantee selection and does not replace the participation fee if you are invited to exhibit. The $10 upgrade is non-refundable.
What selected participants receive
After the preliminary curatorial selection, invited artists can choose between two participation packages.
| Included | Exhibition $25 | Exhibition + Artist Interview $50 |
|---|---|---|
| All your accepted works in the group online exhibition | Yes | Yes |
| Publication of your accepted works in the exhibition catalogue, with an ISBN and availability on Amazon | Yes | Yes |
| Finalist diploma and participation documentation | Yes | Yes |
| Jury evaluation protocol | Yes | Yes |
| Consideration for competition prizes | Yes | Yes |
| Artist interview with artwork images, listed in Artist Interviews with a Featured Artist label | — | Yes |
Both are one-time fees per artist, covering all accepted works. The fee does not increase with the number of artworks you submit or have accepted. The $50 package includes the $25 participation fee.
The Artist Interview is an optional publication service. It has no influence on jury scores or prizes. Jurors do not receive information about your chosen package.
Printed copies of the catalogue and delivery are purchased separately. A solo exhibition and an individual artist catalogue are not included in these participation packages.
Exhibition catalogues
Printed exhibition catalogues, available on Amazon.
Publication is included in the finalist fee. Printed copies are sold separately.
“Really nice catalog of fine art and artists.”
Awards
- $150 cash.
- A solo online exhibition on Curatone.art.
- An Artist Interview and Featured Artist profile.
- A prize certificate.
- $50 cash.
- An Artist Interview and Featured Artist profile.
- A prize certificate.
- $50 cash.
- An Artist Interview and Featured Artist profile.
- A prize certificate.
If a prize winner has purchased the $50 participation package, we will refund the $25 interview upgrade because the interview is included in their prize.
How it works
- 01Submit your workEnter one artwork free. If you wish, pay $10 once to submit up to two additional works. Use the same email address for your entry and payment.
- 02Preliminary curatorial selectionThe organizer reviews submissions for suitability for the exhibition. Artists whose works pass this stage receive an invitation by email, with the accepted works, participation options and a payment deadline.
- 03Confirm your participationChoose the $25 Exhibition package or the $50 Exhibition + Artist Interview package. One fee covers all your accepted works. Your invitation explains the next steps and the deadline for confirming your place.
- 04Jury evaluationWorks by artists who have confirmed participation are evaluated independently by the international jury on a ten-point scale. Jurors do not see the artist's identity or participation package. Prize places are determined from the jury's evaluations.
- 05Exhibition and resultsResults and the online exhibition are published on January 25, 2027. Participants receive information about their documents and the catalogue publication schedule by email. Interviews are prepared separately after the results.
Key details
| Theme | Light & Shadow |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Artists aged 18 and over, worldwide |
| Media | Painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, textile, mixed media and digital art |
| Free submission | 1 artwork per artist |
| Extended submission | Up to 3 artworks for $10 total |
| Maximum | 3 artworks per artist across all entries |
| Participation, if selected | $25 per artist, covering all accepted works |
| Optional package | $50 total, including participation and an Artist Interview |
| Cash prizes | $250 total: $150 / $50 / $50 |
| Deadline | January 10, 2027, 23:59 Berlin time |
| Results | January 25, 2027 |
| Images | JPEG or PNG, up to 4 MB per artwork |
Frequently asked questions
Is submission free?
Yes. You can submit one artwork free. A single optional $10 upgrade lets you submit up to two additional works, for a maximum of three in total.
Is the $10 fee per additional artwork?
No. It is one payment covering up to two additional artworks. You pay $10 whether you add one or two.
Are there any fees after selection?
Yes. If your work passes the preliminary curatorial selection and you wish to participate, the Exhibition package costs $25. The optional Exhibition + Artist Interview package costs $50 in total. Both cover all your accepted works.
Does paying for more works or choosing the interview package improve my scores?
No. Each work is assessed on its artistic merits. Jurors do not receive payment or package information. Submitting more works gives you more works for consideration, without changing the scoring criteria for any individual work.
What happens if I pay $10 and none of my works is selected?
The $10 upgrade pays for submitting additional works for consideration; it does not guarantee selection and is non-refundable. If none of your works is selected, no participation package fee is due.
Is a printed catalogue included in the participation fee?
Publication of accepted works in the exhibition catalogue is included. Printed copies and delivery are purchased separately through Amazon.
What if I buy the interview package and then win a prize?
All three prize winners receive an Artist Interview. If you have paid for the $50 package, we refund the $25 interview upgrade. Your participation fee remains $25.
Can I submit a physical artwork?
Submit a digital image of the work. This is an online exhibition; no physical artwork needs to be shipped.
Can I enter more than once?
You may add works after your first submission, but the limit remains three artworks per artist for the entire edition. Only one artwork is free.
Submit your work to Light & Shadow 2027
One artwork free. Up to three artworks for $10 total. Deadline: January 10, 2027.
Questions? info@curatone.art