Unbridled: An All-Women Western Art Exhibition

Unbridled is a juried exhibition showcasing the fearless vision of women artists who engage with the many meanings of the American West—its land, histories, cultures, and mythologies. This call invites work that is raw, visionary, experimental, or traditional—no holds barred—as long as it speaks to a personal idea of “Western”.

“Unbridled” 

Unbridled celebrates women who refuse to be fenced in by genre, by geography, or by expectation. This exhibition welcomes the full spectrum of Western visual culture: from ranch and rodeo to borderlands and back alleys, from high plains light to urban grit, from historical re-visioning to speculative futures. Artists are encouraged to take risks, push scale and material, and submit work that feels most true to their own wild, Western imagination.

Key details:

• Eligibility: Open to women and women-identifying artists, working in any visual medium.
• Media: Painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture, photography, fiber, ceramic, digital, 
  and other fine art media; no AI-generated work.
• Theme: Artists may submit work of their choice that, in any way, connects to Western subjects, 
  geographies, identities, or visual vocabularies.
• Exhibition Venue: The A. R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art
• Exhibition Dates: August 7, 2026– September 19, 2026
• Opening Reception: August 7, 2026, 5pm – 8pm

Entry and deadlines:

• Entry Deadline: March 31, 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: April 15, 2026 via email.
• Artwork Delivery:
  • Shipped works due: July 11, 2026
  • Hand-delivered works due: July 11, 2026 by 4pm
• Artwork Return/Pickup:
  • by October 31, 2026.
• Entry Fee: $35 up to 3 pieces
  • Number of Entries: Up to 3 works per artist; sets (diptychs/triptychs) count as one entry if 
    presented as a unified work.

Juror, awards, and sales:

• Juror:  Peggy Judy, Artist
• Awards:
  • Best in Show - award to be announced
• Sales and Commission:
  • All work must be available for sale.
  • A. R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art will retain a 30%commission on all sales; the artist receives 
    70%
  • Prices may not be changed after acceptance; all prices must include commission.
  • Artists grant the venue permission to use submitted images for promotion of the exhibition and related 
    programming, with credit to the artist.

Submission guidelines:

• Image Requirements:
  • High-quality JPG or PNG files, at least 1200 px on longest side.
  • File naming: LastName_Title_1
  • For 3D work, up to 3 views per work.
• Artwork Requirements:
  • Original work created within the last 3 years and not previously exhibited at the A. R. Mitchell 
    Museum of Western Art
  • No reproductions, copies, or works made in workshops or under direct instruction.
  • No AI-generated or purely prompt-based digital work.
• Size/Weight Limits:
  • 2D: Maximum framed size 48" x 48"; minimum size 8" x 10"].
  • 3D: Maximum 36" in any dimension, weight limit, 50 lbs
• Presentation:
  • 2D work must be ready to hang, wired with D-rings; no sawtooth hangers or keyhole slots.
  • Works on paper must be framed or archivally mounted under glazing.
  • Sculpture and alternative media must include any special display hardware or instructions.
  • The organizers reserve the right of refusal for any work that arrives damaged, not as represented, 
    unsafe, or not professionally presented.

Eligibility: 

• Open to women and women-identifying artists, working in any visual medium.