Out of the Shadows

“Out of the Shadows” is a blindly juried open call for visual artists exploring the interplay of light and shadow in all its forms and interpretations, engaging themes of memory, mystery, and transformation. It will be held at Carter Burden Gallery (548 West 28th Street, #534, New York, NY 11103) from November 20 – December 17, 2025.

Out of the Shadows
 

Jurors: Karin Bruckner, Stephen Cimini, and Stewart Siskind
 

“We find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of shadows, the light and the darkness, that one thing against another creates.”
- Jun’ichirō Tanizaki (In Praise of Shadows)

This open call for submission centers around an evocative and poetic theme that allows for wide interpretation across a range of personal, artistic, and societal experiences. It seeks to explore the quiet power in the yet unseen, the barely visible, the half obscured, the nearly revealed and the implied versus the explicit. 

“Out of the Shadows” is looking for visual artists working with the concept of shadows and light in every imaginable form, shape and color; touching on memory, mystery, and the revelation that can emerge from obscurity and its inherent possibility of transformation. We invite works that reveal what has long been veiled, layered or hidden; light emerging from darkness, form from fog, or uproar from silence. The exhibition aims to tap into a zeitgeist of transition, transformation, and transgression exploring ambiguities, uncertainties, and hope.

“Out of the Shadows” is a blindly juried open call and will be shown at Carter Burden Gallery (548 West 28th Street, #534, New York, NY 11103), November 20 - December 17, 2025.


ABOUT THE JURORS

Karin Bruckner is an Artist, Designer, and Architect born in Switzerland, raised in Germany, and now based in New York City. After earning a Master’s in Architecture from the Technical University in Munich and a Master of Science in Architecture and Building Design from Columbia University, she worked with Richard Meier & Partners and Philip Johnson Architects before returning to her lifelong art practice, focusing on printmaking. A represented artist with Susan Eley Fine Art and Carter Burden Gallery, Bruckner is also a Teaching Artist and part of the preparator team at Carter Burden, with additional consulting work from her studio. Her process-driven, materially responsive practice spans two- and three-dimensional works on paper, with pieces held in private and public collections worldwide.

Stephen Cimini is an abstract artist recognized for his meticulously structured geometric compositions that explore balance, color harmony, and architectural form. Working primarily in oil paint, cold wax, and marble dust on canvas, he also experiments with works on paper and Encaustiflex, a unique microfiber material. A Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant recipient, Cimini has exhibited widely across the U.S., with work held in numerous private and corporate collections. As a juror, he brings decades of experience, a deep understanding of visual rhythm and material integrity, and a commitment to the emotional and meditative power of abstract form.

Stewart Siskind earned a BFA in Graphic Design from the School of Visual Arts and pursued postgraduate studies in design and color theory at NYU and Parsons. After a successful career as an art director and graphic designer in New York City, with awards, publications, and two posters in the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, he shifted his focus to printed matter and collage. His work, often composed of found materials and his own photography, explores the beauty of imperfection and the interplay of shape, color, texture, and pattern. A native of Brooklyn now based in Manhattan, Siskind is a member and the Director of Prince Street Gallery.

DATES

•  Extended Entry Deadline: Wednesday, August 27, 2025

•  Artist Notification: Saturday, September 27, 2025

•  Show Dates: November 20 – December 17, 2025

•  Timeframe for receiving shipped work:

•  Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - Tuesday, November 11, 2025

•  Hand delivery of work:

•  Wednesday, November 12, 10am – 4pm

•  Thursday, November 13, 10am – 4pm

•  Opening Reception: Thursday, November 20, 6 – 8pm

 •  Gallery Closed for Thanksgiving:

•  Thursday, November 27 & Friday, November 28

•  Pick up hand-delivered work:

•  Thursday, December 18, 10am – 4pm

•  Friday, December 19, 10am – 4pm

•  Saturday, December 20, 10am – 4pm

•  UPS/FedEx return of shipped work: Friday, December 19

SIZE LIMIT
Two-dimensional work, including the frame, must not exceed 30 inches including frame in any direction and should be wired, labeled on the back, and ready to hang. No saw-tooth hangers please. Artwork that does not fit these parameters will not be hung.

Three-dimensional pedestal pieces must not exceed 20 inches in any direction. Three-dimensional standing floor sculptures must not exceed 6 feet in height. All three-dimensional works must not exceed 50 lbs.

ENTRY FEES
Non-refundable fee of $45 for up to 5 works.

SALES
Carter Burden Gallery will take no commission on sales. Label work that is not for sale “NFS”.

DELIVERY, PICK-UP, & SHIPPING
Late arriving work will not be hung.

Artists must cover all shipping costs. Work that is shipped must arrive in a reusable container, including a prepaid computer- generated UPS or FEDEX return shipping label. No U.S. Postal Service returns. Do not send stamps, cash, or credit card info for return of work. Work not picked up after one month will be handled at the discretion of the gallery.

Framed works must use plexi-glass instead of glass.

LIABILITY
All possible care will be taken to guarantee the safety of the work. Carter Burden Gallery’s insurance will cover work ONLY while it is hanging in the gallery. The gallery will not bear liability for any loss or damage while in transit. Transit insurance is the responsibility of the artist.

All artists working in two-dimensional and three-dimensional works, over 18 in the USA are welcome to submit. We particularly encourage artists over the age of 60.