Red Light District

Not Shockboxx invites artists to submit work for Red Light District, an exhibition that slips into the intimate, flirtatious, and undeniably human space where sexuality, nudity, and art meet.

We’re looking for the full spectrum — the beautiful, graceful nude that holds you still… and the raw, strange, or unfiltered expression that makes you shift in your seat. Sensual, humorous, elegant, gritty, delicate, provocative — bring us work that knows how to command attention.

If your practice explores desire, touch, tension, fantasy, power, queerness, vulnerability, or the electric space between bodies, this is your moment. All mediums welcome: painting, photography, sculpture, illustration, digital, textile, mixed media, video, installation. If it pulses with heat or honesty, we want it.

This show is 18+.
Boundaries are straightforward:
No depictions of minors — real, implied, or symbolic.
Explicit content is welcome, as long as it centers consenting adults and remains within legal and ethical standards for artistic expression.

This isn’t shock for shock’s sake. It’s about the truth of being human — the erotic, the awkward, the beautiful, the complicated, the funny, the haunting. Show us the work you’ve been afraid to show elsewhere.

We especially encourage submissions from queer artists, artists of color, and artists with different abilities. No one is excluded, but these voices will receive juried preference.

Key Dates

Deadline to apply: February 8

Juried artists announced: February 14

Artwork delivery deadline: February 24

Installation: February 26

Opening Reception: Saturday, February 28 from 3–5pm

Exhibition closes: Saturday, March 14
 

Commission

50/50 split on all artwork sold.

Artist pays shipping (if required) and return shipping if unsold.
 

About Not Shockboxx

Not Shockboxx is an independent, unapologetic art space in Hermosa Beach, CA, known for thought-provoking, often provocative exhibitions that challenge societal norms and spark conversation. Learn more at notshockboxx.com or the immediate past ownership at shockboxxproject.com.
 

Submit up to 10 pieces for consideration.
Each submission must include:

• Title, medium, dimensions, year completed
• High-resolution images (JPEG, PNG, or PDF)
• Short artist statement (100–200 words) explaining how the work fits the theme

Submission fee: $25 (plus $10 for each additional image)
Apply via CallForEntry.com link

• Open to all artists regardless of location, identity, or background.
• All 2D, 3D, mixed media, photography, textiles and digital works accepted.
• Size limit: 10ft x 10ft — works must fit through a small garage door opening.
• All work must be original and available for display during the full run of the exhibit.
• We especially encourage submissions from queer artists, artists of color, and artists with different abilities.