The Beauty Of Blackness Fine Art Show 2026

The 7th Annual Beauty Of Blackness Fine Art Show

September 3–6, 2026 | Labor Day weekend at The Opera Galleria, Fort Collins, CO

We invite you to join one of the most elegant fine art experiences in the Mountain West—The Beauty Of Blackness Fine Art Show, a curated exhibition celebrating the brilliance, depth, and refinement of Black American and Artists of Color.

Now entering its 7th year, the show is an exclusive destination for collectors seeking original, investment-worthy artwork that reflects cultural depth and timeless beauty. Set in the vibrant heart of Old Town Fort Collins—a city voted one of America’s best places to live and known for its thriving arts scene—this event offers both prestige and opportunity in equal measure.

Who Should Apply:

We welcome Black, African American, and Artists of Color working in original fine art mediums:

• Painting

• Drawing

• Sculpture

• Mixed Media

• Fine Art Photography

• Metal and Glass Art

• Fine Printmaking

• Textile and Fiber Art

This is not a craft show—only original, gallery-quality works are accepted.

Why Apply:

• Luxurious Venue: Held inside the historic Opera Galleria in the heart of Fort Collins

• Highly Curated Audience: Sophisticated collectors, art consultants, and interior designers in attendance

• Expanded Reach: Online gallery with national visibility and purchasing access

• Special Features: Artist reception, collectors night, fashion showcase, artist talks, and community honors

• Marketing Support: Extensive regional promotion, social media highlights, press outreach, and more

Important Dates:

• Show Dates: September 3–6, 2026 Labor Day Weekend

• Location: Opera Galleria, Fort Collins, CO

• Application Deadline: June 15th 2026

This is more than an art show—it is an immersive cultural experience that redefines how the world sees Black and multicultural creativity.

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Submit your work and elevate your presence on the national stage.

All artwork must fit the criteria for one of the following categories and have been completed within the last four years. Entries in more than one category require separate applications. Booth sharing is prohibited unless both artists collaborate to create every piece! All artwork, of course, must be produced by the artist named in this application.

In all categories, 100% all original artwork .  NOTE: Wearable art (clothing or accessories) and household items are prohibited.  The sale of notecards is prohibited.  The purpose of this event is to introduce and promote the sell of original fine art to a discerning community. 

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• LISTING AND DESCRIPTION OF ACCEPTABLE MEDIA AND CATEGORIES

• Categories included in this Show are, drawing, furniture, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, painting, paper, photography, printmaking, sculpture.

• DRAWING AND PRINTING:  Work created using dry media such as chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, and crayons or from fluid media, such as ink applied by brush or pen.  Printed works from which the artist creates the plates, stones or screens and pulls the prints are accepted. (must be signed and numbered)

• FURNITURE:  Functional works of wood and other materials.  No part of the finished pieces shall be the result of mass production.

• GLASS:  Functional and non-functional items are accepted.  No part of the finished pieces shall be the result of mass production.  Pressed glass objects are not permitted.

• JEWELRY:  Personal adornment.  Original and unique designs incorporating any of the following: gold, silver, gemstones, glass, wood, clay and other non-precious materials. No part of the finished pieces shall be the result of Kits or mass production. Must be all handmade and designed by the artist

• MIXED MEDIA:  Includes 2-D and 3-D non-sculptural work, incorporating more than one type of physical material or processes in its production, i.e. an etching that is then painted or a collage of handmade paper and photography.

• PAINTINGS AND PRINTMAKING:  Original 2-D work created in oils, acrylics, watercolor, etc.

• PHOTOGRAPHY:  Limited edition prints from the artist's original film or digital file.  The edition quantity shall not exceed 50 of any one image.

• SCULPTURE (LARGE):  Defined as over 5 feet tall, functional and non-functional, 3-D work in any medium. 

• SCULPTURE (SMALL):  Defined as less than 3 feet tall, functional and non-functional, 3-D work in any medium.

• WOOD:  Works crafted from wood, excluding furniture, sculptures that are hand tooled, machine turned or machine carved.  No magnifying glasses, pens, bottle stoppers or catalogue merchandise are permitted.

• Not permitted:  strung pearls, craft clay, and use of commercial casts or molds; commercially available pendants and brooches, catalogue merchandise.  Loose stones may not be sold.

• ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Works produced with commercial kits (molds, patterns, plans, prefabricated forms, or other commercial methods) are not permitted.

• Exhibited work must be consistent with the digital images or slides submitted by the artist and follow Show guidelines.

• Paintings, graphics, hand pulled prints, and photographs must be appropriately framed or matted and must be displayed in a suitable panel, portfolio or stand.

• Only the work of the juried artist or collaborating team may be displayed and/or sold.

• Artists are asked not to display discount signs.

• Work produced with commercial kits (molds, patterns, plans, prefabricated forms, or other commercial methods) is not permitted.

•  Use of SALE signs is prohibited. Artists may price work as they see fit, including verbal price negotiation directly with the customer, but artists are not permitted to display discount or mark-down signage in their booth.

Reproduction Policy

All artwork displayed must be original and produced entirely by the hands of the exhibiting artist.  While other fairs may allow reproductions, we do not.

What do we consider a Reproduction?   Any method of making multiple copies of original art using photo, mechanical, digital or casting technology is considered by The Beauty Of Blackness Fine Art Show to be a reproduction. Reproduction technology have one or more of the following characteristics:

• The work is not the product of the artist’s own hand.

• The number of reproducible copies is technically limitless.

• All copies are identical.

• The copies are produced by commercial entities, and the artist is not involved in the process. 

Methods of creating multi-copy art in limited runs, such as intaglio, lithography, relief painting and other traditional printmaking means, are not considered reproductions.

Regarding photography and digital art, the Art Fair recognizes that artwork created utilizing photographs and/or computer technology are inherently reproducible. We also recognize that the use of cropping, enlargement and darkroom and digital processes can produce different effects even from the same negative/image. All of this is allowed at The Beauty Of Blackness Fine Art Show. We require that participating fine art photographers show only work that they have signed, numbered and produced in limited editions on archival material. Such work is not considered to be a reproduction.

To prevent the sale of mass produced work at The Beauty Of Blackness Fine Art Show, the Fair reserves the right to halt sales of such work on-site, and/or to not invite artists who are believed to be selling reproductions, unlimited editions, mass produced work to future Fairs.

Rule Violation Policy

To insure fairness for every artist, the rules contained in this application will be strictly enforced. Artists not complying with The Beauty Of Blackness Fine Art Show policies will be asked to leave the art fair, without refund. The Beauty Of Blackness Fine Art Show reserves the right to advise artists of any work that does not meet art fair standards and may take any action deemed necessary for compliance. The Beauty Of Blackness Fine Art Show reserves the right to not invite violators to future fairs.

EQUIPMENT & SETTING UP

Pro Panels are the only display walls accepted for The Beauty of Blackness Fine Art Show. Booth walls are not provided by the show; however, we have a limited number of Pro Panels available for rent. Artists must supply their own Pro Panels and lighting. Limited Electricity Available. Wifi is not Available If you have any questions, please email us at thebeautyofblacknessfas@gmail.com.

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Booth and Wall Fees

• Single Space: $850 
• Corner Space: $250 
• Gallery Wall Space: $450
  • Details: Limited to 3 paintings (maximum size 30 inches in any direction).
  • Eligibility: Open to artists unable to attend in person but wishing to have a physical presence or artist wanting to be present with a smaller space.
  • Commission: 25% commission on wall space sales.
  • Shipping Requirements:
    • All work must be shipped insured with a return shipping label.
    • Shipped work must arrive by August 25th, 2026.

Artists are responsible for all shipping of artwork to buyers for online purchases made via our website.

Show Cancellations Refund Policy

Cancellations must be submitted in written form via mail, fax, or email. Emails should be directed to the Director of Artist Relations at thebeautyofblacknessfas@gmail.com.

Refund Schedule:

• Full Refund: Minus the jury fee and a $100 processing fee, if cancellation is made 65 days or more before the show.
• 50% Refund: If cancellation is made within 30 days of the show.
• No Refund: If cancellation is made less than 30 days before the show.

Important Note: A "No Show" forfeits any refund eligibility.