Art on the Corner, Downtown Grand Junction & Colorado Mesa University 2026

Downtown Grand Junction’s Art on the Corner (AOTC) is entering its 42nd year as a year-round outdoor sculpture exhibition. AOTC was one of the first programs of its kind in the nation, and many communities have modeled their own initiatives after it. The temporary exhibit is displayed throughout Grand Junction’s historic creative district.

This year, Art on the Corner will select up to 18 pieces to be displayed along the historic Main Street corridor. 

Colorado Mesa University is piloting a new on campus sculpture walk and will select five works of art to be displayed for one year.

The exhibition is open to all 3D sculpture artists. Submitted sculptures must be original works created by the artist. Interested artists are required to submit an application, along with the requested supplemental materials, by Friday, July 31, 2026, for consideration.

WHO WE ARE:

Downtown Grand Junction is a State-Certified Creative District and manages Art on the Corner (AOTC), a rotating outdoor sculpture exhibition displayed throughout the historic downtown shopping park. Temporary sculptures are installed along the Main Street and Colorado Avenue corridors, alongside works from AOTC’s permanent collection.

Colorado Mesa University (CMU) celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025. CMU has offered sculpture classes with an on-campus foundry since 1976 and constructed its Fine Arts Facility in 2002. The university has a long-standing tradition of supporting a wide range of fine art disciplines.

View a video about the AOTC program and its location:

https://youtu.be/_iDrh9pmWNA

Explore the current AOTC temporary exhibition on the website:

https://gjcreates.org/aotc/

CURATOR:
The 2026 AOTC Exhibit and CMU Exhibit will be curated by Pavia Justinian. 

Pavia Justinian is an acclaimed Colorado artist who hails from the Grand Valley. As a professional sculptor and public artist whose life-sized work is featured in commissioned public art installations as well as held in private collections across the American Southwest, Pavia brings over a decade of public art experience to her role as this year's curator. Pavia builds monumental, colorful sculptures that explore the female form and celebrate Colorado wildlife. Mediums include reclaimed textured metals, painted concrete and epoxy, mosaic glass, polished stones and found objects. A student of this show's founder Dave Davis, Pavia's roots in the Grand Valley art scene run deep. In prior years her work has earned prizes and ribbons, including People's Choice. Pavia is thrilled to curate this year's Art on the Corner public art show!

APPLICATION PROCESS AND MATERIALS:

Application Guidelines

• Artists may submit up to five (5) applications.
• Each application must include one (1) sculpture for consideration.
• A minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) photographs must be submitted per sculpture, clearly showing all sides of the artwork.
• Including multiple sculptures in a single application will result in dismissal of that application.
• Both exhibits will be curated by the Pavia Justinian.
• Art on the Corner selections will be completed first.
• CMU selections will be made after the Art on the Corner sculptures have been confirmed.

Required Sculpture Information

Each application must include the following details:

• Sculpture title
• Materials
• Dimensions (height, width, and depth)
• Weight
• Special installation requirements
• Value of the sculpture
• Selling price
• Artist statement specific to the submitted piece

Artwork Requirements

• Sculptures must be constructed of durable materials capable of withstanding all weather conditions and should be resistant to vandalism.

Art on the Corner Compensation & Contract

• All accepted artists will receive a $1,000 honorarium following installation.
• Artists will have a separate contract with Art on the Corner for pieces shown in the historic corridor.
• Two nights of lodging will be provided for incoming artists on Friday, October 2, 2026, and Saturday, October 3, 2026.
• An Artist Welcome Reception will be held at the SpringHill Suites on the evening of Friday, October 2, 2026.

Colorado Mesa University Compensation & Contract

• All accepted artists will receive a $1,000 honorarium following installation.
• Payment will come from Colorado Mesa University.
• Artists will have a separate contract with Colorado Mesa University for pieces shown in their sculpture corridor.

Art on the Corner Awards

• Best in Show Awards will be presented on the afternoon of Saturday, October 3, 2026. Award payments will be distributed 2–3 weeks after installation.
• The People’s Choice Award voting will open on the day of installation and close on Saturday, November 1, 2025. The winning artist will be notified via email.
• Sculptures on display at Colorado Mesa University will not be eligible for the awards.

Artwork Selection Criteria

• Quality: Primary consideration is given to artistic excellence. All work must be an original creation by the artist.
• Permanence: Sculptures must demonstrate structural and surface soundness, be resistant to theft, vandalism, and weather, and require minimal maintenance. This is an outdoor public art exhibition.
• Compatibility: Artwork should be compatible in style, scale, material, form, and content with the Downtown area and the broader Grand Junction community, and appeal to a wide public audience.
• Public Safety: Artwork must not create undue safety or liability concerns for Downtown Grand Junction or the City of Grand Junction.

Requirements

Downtown Grand Junction Installation

• The artist (or representative) is required to deliver the artwork and be present for installation on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 7:00 a.m.

Colorado Mesa University Installation

• For the Colorado Mesa University installation, the artist (or representative) must deliver the artwork to the university on Friday, October 2, 2026. Arrangements will be coordinated directly with the university.

Other Considerations

• All sculptures must be mounted and ready for display according to the specified mounting requirements (see below).
• The artist is responsible for all costs related to design, labor, materials, and any contracted services required to complete the work, as well as transportation to the installation site and removal from the exhibition.
• All artwork must be available for public sale. The artist agrees that Art on the Corner will manage all sales and retain a 25% commission for any artwork sold during the exhibit period or as a direct result of the exhibition.
• Finalists will be required to sign an Exhibit Contract and adhere to its terms.
• Artwork will remain on display for twelve (12) months from the date of installation.
• Art on the Corner crews will assist with sculpture removal on October 2, 2027. If removal is required before or after this date, the artist must obtain approval from the Art on the Corner administrator and independently coordinate removal.
• The artist is responsible for all removal-related expenses, including lodging and fuel.

Mounting Requirements

Sculptures Mounted/Welded to Pedestals (Steel pedestal provided by AOTC and CMU)

• For sculptures less than six (6) feet tall:
• A steel base plate must be attached using 1/4" steel pins or countersunk machine screws (minimum of three per sculpture).
• Pins must be secured to the sculpture with epoxy or automotive body filler.
• A 1/4" mild steel base plate must extend at least 1/2" beyond the base of the sculpture to allow for welding.
• The bottom of the base plate must be flush to permit tack welding to the pedestal.
• The artist—not AOTC—is solely responsible for ensuring secure attachment of the sculpture to the base plate throughout the exhibition.

Free-Standing Sculptures Bolted to Sidewalk

• Free-standing sculptures (six feet or taller), mounted to either a pedestal or steel plate provided by the artist, will be bolted to the sidewalk using 3/8" or 1/2" bolts.
• The center of each 5/8" mounting hole must be at least 1-1/2" from the edge of the pedestal or base plate to allow access space.
• The base must include a minimum of three (3) evenly spaced 5/8" mounting holes for leveling and secure attachment to concrete.

Contact Information:

For more specific information on sculpture installation, please contact Sarah at Sarah@downtowngj.org or 970-852-9041. 

 

Application Requirements:

• Artist Statement
• Artist inspiration/story regarding work submitted

Eligibility:

• Artist must live within a reasonable driving distance of Grand Junction CO
• Only 3D mediums accepted
• Artwork must be for sale
• Artwork previously shown with Art on the Corner is not eligible. Applications with previously shown work will be rejected.