Functional Aesthetics: Contemporary Art in Use

Juror & Curator: Raluca Anchidin
Deadline for submissions January 18, 2026, 11:59PM

Atlantic Gallery, located in the historic Landmark Arts Building in Chelsea, invites artists to submit work for the upcoming juried show, Functional Aesthetics: Contemporary Art in Use

Functional Aesthetics: Contemporary Art in Use will bring together inventive, hand-made, and uniquely designed works that expand the definition of functionality in contemporary art and everyday life, exploring the intersection of art, craft, and design. Pottery that transforms into feel-good art, headwear that doubles as sculpture, furniture that merges aesthetic experimentation with everyday use: these are the types of practices we aim to highlight, reminding us that art is not only something to be looked at, but something to be lived with.

Functional Aesthetics: Contemporary Art in Use
March 10 - March 28, 2026
Juror & Curator: Raluca Anchidin

Atlantic Gallery, located in the historic Landmark Arts Building in Chelsea, invites artists to submit work for the upcoming juried show, Functional Aesthetics: Contemporary Art in Use. 

Functional Aesthetics: Contemporary Art in Use will bring together inventive, hand-made, and uniquely designed works that expand the definition of functionality in contemporary art and everyday life, exploring the intersection of art, craft, and design. Pottery that transforms into feel-good art, headwear that doubles as sculpture, furniture that merges aesthetic experimentation with everyday use: these are the types of practices we aim to highlight, reminding us that art is not only something to be looked at, but something to be lived with.

Key themes include:

Exciting new ideas for contemporary living from emerging and mid-career artists
Working with passion and purpose in mind
Slow production, repetition, and quality over quantity
 

We welcome submissions of:

Jewelry, clothing, and other wearable art
Kitchenware and utensils
Lighting, ceramics, and glasswork
Textiles such as blankets, rugs, or woven works
Toys, furniture and other household objects
Stationery, paper goods, and artist books
Musical instruments and sound-producing works

Weekend Program

In addition to the opening reception, the exhibition will host a one-day event (3/14) designed to bring the artworks to life. Visitors will be invited to experience pieces in use - drinking from a ceramic cup, trying on jewelry, or sitting with a piece of furniture - turning the gallery into a living space shaped by the work itself. The program creates a relaxed, “market-meets-salon” style atmosphere where audiences can converse with participating artists, explore and connect with the works before making a purchase. This exhibition affirms that creativity is accessible to everyone and celebrates the vibrancy of functional art as both an autonomous artistic practice and a form of daily experience.
 

The juror and curator, Raluca Anchidin will award one artist the prize of feature on the Atlantic Gallery website and in the gallery newsletter, plus a one-week social media takeover of the Atlantic Gallery Instagram account, at a future date.

A PDF catalog of the exhibition will be provided to all accepted artists. A print version will also be available for purchase.

Work Requirements:

Accepted artworks must be available for display and sale during the exhibiting period. 
For 3D work that is suspended, detailed instructions for hanging (with photo) and hanging hardware are required. Suspended work may not exceed 15lbs. If your work has to be displayed on a pedestal, stand or display rack, please specify in your application if you have one that you can bring, or whether you require one from the gallery. Work that is not ready for installation will not be displayed. All work submitted must be for sale. Atlantic Gallery will take a 40% commission on any work sold. 

Terms
Show Duration: March 10 - March 28, 2026 
Opening Reception: March 12, 2026, 6-8PM
Special Event: March 14, 2026, 12-6PM
Submission Fee: 
Atlantic Gallery Artist Members: $30 for up to three works
Non-members: 
$35 Early Bird for up to three works (Nov 18 - Dec 7, 2025)
$40 Regular for up to three works (Dec 8, 2025 - Jan 18, 2026)
$5 for each additional work up to a total of five images
Commission: 40% Gallery [Artist keeps 60%]
Venue: Atlantic Gallery, 548 West 28th Street Suite 540, Chelsea, NY 10001
This will be a curated show. Submitting artwork does not guarantee selection for exhibition. 
The juror and curator, Raluca Anchidin, will award one artist the prize of feature on the Atlantic Gallery website and in the gallery newsletter, plus a one-week social media takeover of the Atlantic Gallery Instagram account, at a future date.
A PDF catalog of the exhibition will be provided to all accepted artists. A print version will also be available for purchase.
 

Important Dates:

Early Bird Deadline: December 7th, 2025
Deadline to submit: January 18, 2026, 11:59PM
Notification of Acceptance: January 30-31, 2026
Art Drop-Off: March 3 - 7, 2026, 12PM-5:30PM
All shipped work MUST include a pre-paid return shipping label and artists must schedule a pickup with their respective carrier. 
Art Pick-up: 
March 28, 2026, 5 – 6PM
March 31 – April 4, 2026, 12-6PM: Hand-delivered work to be picked up; all artwork to be shipped back this week

Juror/Curator: Raluca Anchidin

Raluca Anchidin is a Romanian-born art curator and advisor. In NYC, she curated numerous shows that fostered community and cross-disciplinary collaboration, including ENCHANTED QUEENSDOM [part of the LIC Arts Open Festival], (Surprise!) Bday Party, Art Feast, The Good Neighbor [a second collaboration with LIC-A], and A Love Letter to New York City. Anchidin also founded the “Sunnyside Art Walk” series, engaging the Queens neighborhood in exploring and supporting the local arts. In 2025, she launched her gallery, ankydyn gallery, dedicated to showcasing emerging and mid-career contemporary artists online - with in-person exhibitions debuting during Miami Art Week. Anchidin transitioned to the cultural sector after a ten-year career in B2B advertising and digital media. Her expertise includes brand positioning, audience engagement, event production, and strategic partnerships. She holds a Master’s in Media and Communications from Brunel University, UK. 

 Terms of Entry:
 

All works must be for sale. Atlantic Gallery will take a 40% commission on any work sold. 

Accepted work may be refused if it does not conform to the entered image. Absolutely NO substitutions of accepted works will be allowed. All accepted work must remain in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition. 

Submission to this juried exhibition constitutes an agreement on the part of the entrant to the conditions set forth in this prospectus. Atlantic Gallery reserves the right to final curatorial, educational, installation and marketing decisions. Entry fees are non-refundable. 

Great care will be taken with all work, but artists are responsible for insuring their own pieces if they wish. Atlantic Gallery will not be responsible for any loss or damage to work while on the premises or in transit to or from the gallery. The payment of the entry fee will serve as your acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in this prospectus. Acceptance of a work of art to this exhibition shall be understood to constitute an agreement on the part of the artist to the terms and conditions stated in this prospectus.

About Atlantic Gallery

Atlantic Gallery is located in the Landmark Arts Building, half a block from the High Line, in Manhattan’s Chelsea gallery district. This historic building is home to more than two dozen art galleries. The Gallery may be accessed from either the building’s West 27th or West 28th Street entrances.

Atlantic Gallery represents a select group of artists, who jointly own and manage it. Rotating exhibitions feature the work of the Gallery’s member artists, as well as the work of other artists. Atlantic Gallery is committed to supporting creative autonomy and excellence. Its innovative programs create a forum where both participating artists and the public provide mutual challenge, support and inspiration.

Founded by painters and printmakers in 1974, Atlantic Gallery migrated from Brooklyn to SoHo in 1979 and to Chelsea in 2007, having added photographers and sculptors to its roster of artists. In 2012, the Gallery moved further west to its current location.

 

Work Requirements:

Accepted artworks must be available for display and sale during the exhibiting period. For 3D work that is suspended, detailed instructions for hanging (with photo) and hanging hardware are required. Suspended work may not exceed 15lbs. If your work has to be displayed on a pedestal, stand or display rack, please specify in your application if you have one that you can bring, or whether you require one from the gallery. Work that is not ready for installation will not be displayed. All work submitted must be for sale. Atlantic Gallery will take a 40% commission on any work sold. 

Entry Instructions:

Please be prepared to submit the following when applying: Name, Title of work, Materials used, Size in inches (H x W x D), Retail price.

Open to all US and international artists 18 years or older.

Accepted artworks must be available for display and sale during the exhibiting period. 
For 3D work that is suspended, detailed instructions for hanging (with photo) and hanging hardware are required. Suspended work may not exceed 15lbs. If your work has to be displayed on a pedestal, stand or display rack, please specify in your application if you have one that you can bring, or whether you require one from the gallery. Work that is not ready for installation will not be displayed

ALL PEDESTAL WORK MUST FIT ON A 19″ SQUARE PEDESTAL OR ARTIST MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN APPROPRIATE STAND. We also have two lower pedestals of 21”x18” and 20”x 24” that can be used if needed.

ENTRY FEE:
The fee is $35/$40 after Dec. 7th for 3 works and $5.00 for each additional work up to a total of five works. 

PAYMENT:
Via CaFÉ™/Call for Entry 

Atlantic Gallery will take a 40% commission on any work sold. 

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be processed through CaFÉ́/Call for Entry, callforentry.org, an industry-wide digital submission platform. With CaFÉ́, you need to register only once, and then can apply/upload images for dozens of Calls all over the world.

LABELING IMAGES:

Max image size: 5 MB

Image Dimensions: 1200-1800 pixels on the largest side JPEG images MUST BE labeled as follows:
FILE LABEL FORMAT:
YOUR LAST Name_ FIRST Name_title of artwork_HxWxD.jpg For example:

smith_joe_ title of artwork_12x16x10.jpg

Delivery and Pick-up Instructions for Artwork to Atlantic Gallery

Shipping Address:

Atlantic Gallery
Attn: Felix Quiñonez Jr.  

548 West 28th St; Suite 540 New York, NY 10001

Contact Information:

Gallery Manager: Felix Quiñonez Jr. (212) 219-3183, atlanticgalleryinfo@gmail.com

FOR SHIPPING: 
• Packages need to be Delivered: March 3 - 7, 2026

• Please be sure to tell preferred carrier service that packages need to arrive during our business hours: Tuesday – Saturday; 12:00pm – 6:00pm.

• Please include (AND email ahead) DETAILED instructions for unpacking and re-packing work, as well as any specific installation instructions.

• Work should be shipped in the smallest reusable container that will safely transport the piece.

• Please DO NOT use packing peanuts.

• A computer-generated return label for return of work MUST be enclosed in an envelope taped to the back of your artwork or email label to atlanticgalleryinfo@gmail.com. NO EXCEPTIONS. Pre-paid shipping arrangements must be made through UPS or FedEx websites or with other shippers who will pick up work at the gallery. No U.S. Postal Service Or COD returns. DO NOT send check, stamps, or credit card information for return of work.

• Be sure to pay for pickup of your piece. It is a separate fee when you purchase your return label.  

• The gallery will do its best to repack work in shipped packaging, but responsibility for providing adequate packaging and instructions rests with the artist.
• Please don’t request for a signature when shipping work to the gallery.

FOR HAND DELIVERY:

• Hand Delivered: Tuesday, March 3 -  Saturday 7, 2026, 12-6PM.
• Please wrap artwork in bubble wrap if you choose not to package it in a box. 
• Hand-delivered packaging must be removed from the gallery upon delivery.
• Hand-delivered work must be picked up on March 28, 2026, 5–6 PM; March 31 – April 4, 12-6PM. The gallery accepts no responsibility for work not retrieved on pick-up date. If other arrangements need to be made, please contact gallery manager via email atlanticgalleryinfo@gmail.com or phone (212) 219-3183.
• Work not picked up by April 4,2026, will incur a $25 storage fee per business day.
 

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all International and US artists 18 years or older.
 

Open to all International and US artists 18 years or older.