TAAC 5th Anniversary Book Project: Call for Art & Writing

Taos Abstract Artist Collective (TAAC) invites artists living and working across Northern New Mexico to participate in its 5th Anniversary Book Publication Project.

2027 will mark TAAC’s 5th anniversary! And in celebration of this monumental milestone, we are publishing a special-edition anniversary book, reflecting all of you and the energy and vibrance of our collective over our first five years. This book will be released in conjunction with a special anniversary exhibition that will run from May-September of 2027.

Our book will be self-published as an original artwork and an expression of our commitment to artist voices, inclusivity and to telling the story of abstract art in Northern New Mexico.

Book Concept

2027 will mark TAAC’s 5th anniversary! And in celebration of this monumental milestone, we are preparing to self-publish a special-edition anniversary book, reflecting all of you and the energy and vibrance of our collective over our first five years. This book will be released in conjunction with a special anniversary exhibition that will run from May-September of 2027 (exhibition details will be forthcoming).

Our book will be self-published as an original artwork and an expression of our commitment to artist voices, inclusivity and to telling the story of abstract art in Northern New Mexico.

Scope of Book: TAAC is obtaining our own publishing imprint for this and future art publications. We intend the book to include a collection of the following: 

• TAAC Artist Artwork
• Essays, poetry/poetics regarding artwork; in response to/accompanying artwork
• Essays, poetry/poetics about art practice and artist collective
• Essays, poetry/poetics about New Mexico, the Southwest
  Essays, poetry/poetics about inclusivity and access in the arts
• Essays, poetry/poetics about abstraction
• Photography
• Excerpts from TAAC TALK interviews (radio/video)
• Guest contributors from the artist community
• An acknowledgement of every TAAC artist who has participated in a program or exhibition over the last five years

Submissions & Participation: 

We will open a call for submissions from March 9th - June 15th, 2026. The submission fee will be $10 and will directly fund the administrative costs of the project. If someone would like to submit but is unable to pay the fee, TAAC will absorb that cost. Please email us at info@taacnm.org if you need assistance with the submission fee. Selected contributors will receive a discount on the final publication.

Audience:

We intend to distribute this book throughout New Mexico and the Southwest, and to other relevant art markets and communities. We will seek to place the book within institutions, galleries, private collectors and of course our artist community. We will hold a pre-sale for the book in early 2027 and physical copies will be available during the run of our anniversary exhibition in 2027.

Funding:

We intend to kick-start the funding of this book project with specific fundraising initiatives, private support and grant monies. If you or your company or organization are interested in sponsoring this project, please email Lauren at lauren@taacnm.org 

We are so excited to share this undertaking with all of you and we are excited to see what you come up with during the submission process - this is a reflection of all of us and we are the ones who get to tell our story to the world!

If you have any specific questions about this project, please email us at info@taacnm.org 

We welcome your feedback.

THANK YOU! The countdown to our 5th anniversary has begun!

Warm wishes,

TAAC Board 
 

About TAAC

About TAAC: TAAC is an artist-run volunteer 501(c)(3) organization. Our board members are volunteers who donate their time to ensure the smooth organization and running of exhibitions that benefit the community. If you have questions regarding volunteer opportunities, board openings, or structural inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us at info@taacnm.org

Mission:
Taos Abstract Artist Collective (TAAC) Established and founded in Taos in 2020, TAAC promotes abstract artists living or working in Northern New Mexico, toward the exchange of ideas, new aesthetics and creative concepts. Taos is synonymous with abstract thinking, with origins in indigenous geometries, transcendental and modernist movements, and conceptual and land art installation. Once the nexus for westward bound artists, Taos unleashes expansive, abstract thinkers. Represented amongst the TAAC artist group are established, mid-career and emerging artists who show in Taos or Northern New Mexico, nationally and internationally. 

Established in 2022, TAAC offers curated and juried exhibitions, artist talks, studio visits and collaborative community concepts. TAAC is an inclusive group that amplifies self-identifying abstract artists living and working in Northern New Mexico, honoring our intersecting identities across race, national origin, ethnicity, culture, size, gender identity and expression, disability, sexuality, age, socioeconomic status, neurotype, religion and/or spiritual practice. All abstract artists are welcome in their pursuit of provocative expression.

Eligibility: Artists must live and work in Northern New Mexico. Artists not living and working in Northern New Mexico will not be accepted for this show.

Chosen Work: TAAC reserves the right to select which works to include in the publication. The artist may submit up to three (3) works for consideration. The artist may not swap out works following selection.  

Compensation: Selected contributors will receive a discount on the final publication. TAAC is an artist-operated 501(c)(3). All proceeds from book publication sales will go directly back to the collective and to funding ongoing projects, events and exhibitions that amplify our community.

Scope of Book: TAAC is obtaining our own publishing imprint for this and future art publications. We intend the book to include a collection of the following: 

• TAAC Artist Artwork
• Essays, poetry/poetics regarding artwork; in response to/accompanying artwork
• Essays, poetry/poetics about art practice and artist collective
• Essays, poetry/poetics about New Mexico, the Southwest
  Essays, poetry/poetics about inclusivity and access in the arts
• Essays, poetry/poetics about abstraction
• Photography

Media Accepted 

• Visual Arts: Images of any abstract 2D / 3D media including but not limited to: Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Mixed Media, Photography, Found Object, Conceptual Art, Installation, Ceramics, Pottery, Fiber, Wearable Art, etc.
• Original Writing: we are looking for original written works including essays, short prose, poetry/poetics regarding the following: artwork, art practice, artist collective(s), Northern New Mexico, the southwest, inclusivity and access in the arts and abstraction.
• Ekphrastic poetry/writing: we are also looking for writing that accompanies an original work of art. Ekphrastic writing is a vivid, imaginative literary description of or response to a work of visual art, such as a painting, sculpture, or photograph.
• You can apply to more than one category and with a variety of file types, the total number of file types is 3 per submission
• Please use the following format for image files: Lastname_Title.jpg
• Please upload a docx or pdf file for your writing submission(s)
• File Dimensions (for artwork): 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side
• File Size: Under 5 MB
• Color Profile: sRGB
• Resources for resizing your images: https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/helpful-digital-resources/ or send us an email if this is challenging and you need help
• Artist Bio: 150 words or less
• Description of visual work: You must include the date, media, title and dimensions of your work (as applicable) 
   

Schedule

• Call Dates: Open March 9th- Deadline June 15th, 2026 (11:59pm MT)
• Curatorial Review: Summer 2026
• Contributor Notification: Fall 2026
• Publication: Winter 2027
• Distribution: Spring 2027

For Help Using CaFÉ or to Contact CaFÉ:

https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/
 

To Contact Taos Abstract Artist Collective:

info@taacnm.org 
 

Please Note the Rules & Terms to Apply: 

• Artists must live or work within Northern New Mexico to apply to this show. Please do not apply if you live/work elsewhere.
• Emerging, mid-career, and established artists or collaborative teams are welcome to apply.
• Work featured in the publication may also appear in promotional materials for all events associated with the 5th anniversary celebration.
• Artists must complete the application on CaFÉ, please do not email us a submission.
• The $10 entry fee is nonrefundable.
• This is a curated publication, and the selection of work is up to the curatorial team.
• Not all pieces submitted are guaranteed to be selected for this publication.
• In the spirit of TAAC's commitment to artist safety and inclusivity, work that depicts violence or hateful rhetoric towards any individuals or groups will not be considered.

Eligibility:

Open to artists or collaborative teams living and/or working in Northern New Mexico. Artists not living and working in Northern New Mexico will not be accepted for this show.

Chosen Work:

Chosen Artwork: TAAC reserves the right to select which artworks to include in the publication. The artist may submit up to three (3) works for consideration. The artist may not swap out work following acceptance.

Copyright:

Contributor will retain full copyright to the Work. If selected, a full contributor agreement will be provided.