Life and Death - 2026 (4th Juried Annual Exhibition, Publication, Sales)

Exhibit and publish art inspired by Life and Death

What do we live for? What do we leave behind?

Gallerium proudly presents Life and Death, a triad exhibition, publication, and sales opportunity to explore these two universal cyclical phenomena. 

Life is traditionally known as the beginning, the birth, and it may be interpreted as any beginning and a fresh start, which brings joy, eagerness, and energy. New birth, flourishing, as well as everyday life, and still life are all part of life themes.

Death, a fascinating theme for artists, refers to the end and the sadness, vulnerability, and helplessness that the last moment may include. Death has been visualized as forceful, scary, and grim, as well as serene, beautiful, calm, and an acceptance of morality.

For Life and Death 2026, submit your 2D or 3D, abstract and representational art, as all real and imaginary art are interpretations of life and death.

View last year's exhibition at: https://www.gallerium.art/life-and-death-2025 

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Exhibit and publish art inspired by Life and Death

What do we live for? What do we leave behind?

These two eternal questions lie at the heart of Life and Death 2026 — a profoundly moving, deeply thought-provoking art opportunity that invites you to explore the universal truths that bind us all.

Gallerium proudly presents the 4th annual juried edition of one of its most emotionally powerful and internationally acclaimed exhibitions: Life and Death 2026.

As visual artists, you hold a mirror to the world—and there is no greater truth than life and death. They shape our stories, fuel our emotions, ignite our passions, and define our journeys. This exhibition is your invitation to reflect on, question, and express these forces through the lens of art.

Why Life and Death?

Throughout history, artists have turned to the themes of life and death to make sense of human existence. From Klimt’s Death and Life to vanitas still lifes, from ancient funerary art to modern symbolic installations—these twin forces have been constant muses.

But Life and Death 2026 is more than an art show.

It's a journey into the soul of art itself. It's a chance for you to:

• Transform emotion into expression
• Pay tribute to what has passed and celebrate what is beginning
• Create something that will outlast your own lifetime

Because beyond the sales and exposure, art has the power to preserve memories, elevate experiences, and connect us—artist to viewer, generation to generation.

Themes and Topics

This year, we invite you to stretch the boundaries of interpretation and delve deeper into a wide spectrum of topics within this theme:

For Life:

Beginnings and Birth – The start of life in all its forms: human, animal, botanical, spiritual.

Parenthood and Legacy – Stories of raising life, passing down knowledge, generational ties.

Growth and Flourishing – Childhood, transformation, natural cycles, and the resilience of living things.

Still Life, Everyday Life – Observations of the ordinary, the beauty in the mundane.

Love and Connection – Bonds that give life meaning: romantic, familial, communal.

Celebrations of Living – Joy, energy, festivals, and the exuberance of simply being alive.

For Death:

Endings and Farewells – Saying goodbye, personal loss, global tragedies.

Grief and Mourning – Emotional landscapes shaped by loss.

Skulls, Hourglasses, and Symbols – Classical and modern motifs representing impermanence.

Eternal Rest and Afterlife – Heaven, hell, reincarnation, ancestral spirits, near-death experiences.

Decay and Beauty – Fading flowers, rusted objects, forgotten places.

Acceptance and Transformation – Death as release, peace, or a transition to another state of being.

For Life & Death Together:

The Cycle of Life – Birth, death, and rebirth in nature and spirit.

Cultural Rituals – From Dia de los Muertos to Buddhist cremations, funeral traditions to birthing ceremonies.

Existential Questions – The nature of consciousness, what it means to exist.

Spirituality and Metaphysics – Soul journeys, chakras, reincarnation, karma.

Rebirth and Renewal – Phoenix rising, spring after winter, hope after despair.

Personal Stories – Your own experiences with life or loss, told in color, texture, and form.

Symbolic Journeys – Crossing rivers, passing gates, thresholds of life, or beyond.

Who Should Submit?

Artists of all backgrounds, ages, cultures, and skill levels.
If you have ever experienced life or loss… this call is for you.

Whether your work is bold or delicate, abstract or representational, figurative or conceptual, if it speaks to the beauty, the complexity, or the pain of living and dying, it belongs here.

Why Submit?

Yes, there are exciting benefits—but Life and Death 2026 is not just about being featured. It’s about making meaningful art that touches lives.

An Exclusive Triple Art Opportunity

Selected artworks will receive global exposure and career-boosting opportunities, including:

Exhibition by Gallerium – Your art will be showcased in an exclusive international online exhibition, reaching art lovers, collectors, and curators worldwide.

Publication in the official catalogue and The Book of Arts – All jury-selected artists will be published in the exhibition catalogue. A selection of featured works might be considered for inclusion in The Book of Arts, extending your art’s legacy.

Sales & Global Promotion – Your work will be featured on ARTSY, the largest global art collector platform, giving your art greater visibility and opportunities for sales.

Who Can Apply?

Open to all artists worldwide – Any age, background, or career stage
All 2D & 3D mediums accepted – Painting, drawing, digital, mixed media, sculpture, installation, fiber art, photography, and more
All styles welcome – Abstract, conceptual, figurative, contemporary, modern, surrealism, minimalism, and beyond

Free Submission – Only selected artists will be required to pay a small fixed selection fee to participate.

Get inspired! See last year’s exhibition: https://www.gallerium.art/life-and-death-2025 

Explore Gallerium’s past exhibitions that have engaged over 4 million art lovers worldwide: https://www.gallerium.art/exhibitions 

Take the Leap. Express the Inexpressible.

We invite you to submit your artwork and share your voice in this deeply meaningful and globally recognized exhibition.

Join us in this powerful, creative journey that celebrates both the beauty of life and the mystery of death.

AWARDS

■ International Exhibition
Selected artworks will be part of an exclusive two-month global online exhibition, running from June 11 to August 11, 2026. 

■ Publication Feature
A subset of the selected artworks may be chosen to be highlighted in The Book of Arts Publication. The book will be available in both digital and premium print editions, featuring vivid colorful A4 pages. It will reach a wide audience, including art experts, galleries, curators, businesses, and collectors through prominent publication networks.

■ Artwork Promotion and Sales
All exhibited works will be available for viewing through the online showcase, with the option to sell. Artists are welcome to participate whether or not their works are listed for sale or sold.

■ Artsy.net Global Marketplace Shop
Selected works will be showcased and featured on ARTSY, one of the leading platforms for art collectors worldwide, broadening exposure and enhancing sales opportunities for artists.

■ Exhibition Collection Catalogue
All exhibited artists will be featured in the catalogue. Artists can request printed copies via print-on-demand services from a partner platform, and the catalogue will be promoted internationally online, reaching art lovers, galleries, curators, and collectors.

■ Honorable Mention Artist Award
Up to 10 outstanding artists will receive a personalized distinguished artist award digital certificate, recognizing their exceptional skill, originality, and artistic contribution. This honor will also be featured across our social media channels, spotlighting these remarkable talents.

■ Permanent Online Presence
Exhibition links, along with artist profiles, will stay active permanently, enhancing online visibility and boosting search engine presence. After the exhibition concludes, the Buy button will be deactivated, but artist pages will continue to promote the artist's work and achievements.

■ Exhibition Poster
Each artist will receive a downloadable exhibition poster in various styles, providing a meaningful keepsake from the event.

■ Artwork Visibility Badges
Artists will be provided with a downloadable promotional badge for each selected artwork, encouraging them to share their participation on social media, boosting their visibility and audience engagement.

■ Visitors Feedback
Visitors to the online exhibition will have the opportunity to leave comments and rate the artworks. Artists will receive these reviews via email, offering insights into audience impressions and engagement with their work.

■ Promotion Campaign
A comprehensive promotional campaign will be launched to enhance exposure for all selected artists and drive artwork sales during the exhibition. This will include press releases, catalogue distribution, social media promotions, and more.

■ Performance Insights and Reports
Artists will receive detailed reports with insights on exhibition visits, artwork engagement, popularity, and sales performance. These analytics will be sent periodically, helping artists understand their impact and audience reach.

■ Professional Artist Profile 
Each artist will be granted a complimentary profile page on Biafarin platform, offering a professional space to showcase their portfolio, biography, and accomplishments.

■ Certificate for Exhibited Artists
All selected artists will receive a Digital Certificate of participation, acknowledging their contribution to the exhibition.

FEES

Submission: FREE

There is no submission fee for this artist call.

Only selected artists will pay a selection fee of USD 40

An early bird selection fee with a 15% discount (USD 34) will be offered.

Up to 6 artworks can be submitted.

A maximum of two artworks will be selected per artist.

Jury Process

We use two phases for jurying. The first phase of jurying is the Yes/No selection, and the 2nd part is the scoring model. For scoring, each jury member scores artworks from 1 to 10. Artworks with the highest scores in the "Yes" group will be selected.

Why Selection Fee?

Submission to this art opportunity is free of charge, and we only ask the selected artists to pay a small fixed fee to proceed. 

This decision was made in good faith because we wanted artists to only pay when selected. We have a thorough jury process as our art opportunities are popular and have a low acceptance rate.

Money-back Guarantee

A money-back guarantee is available for all selection fee payments until the exhibition's official opening day.

About Gallerium

Gallerium art exhibitions are intended to create equal showcasing opportunities for brilliant visual artists worldwide.

Art improves people's lives, and showcasing art is a true and effective way of playing a part in building a better world. In this way, Gallerium utilizes the Biafarin exhibition platform to boost the benefits of the exhibitions. It is always free to submit your art in Gallerium competitions, while only selected artists need to pay a small selection fee.

Each one of Gallerium's shows focuses on a unique subject.

International artists are encouraged to express their artistic interpretation of the subject for an opportunity to be selected for exhibition.

Gallerium exhibitions have been seen by more than 4 million visitors worldwide.

About The Book of Arts

The Book of Arts is a series of contemporary art books published by Discover the Artist Media Holding and Art Publications Network. The mission is to publish prominent art from artists of various cultures and nationalities via several editions each year. Each edition focuses on a specific subject to make a visual story of modern and contemporary art in the art world.

The publications are available to hundreds of thousands of art experts, collectors, galleries, museums, curators, and enthusiasts in digital and print format and reach readers in over 150 countries.

The online version of the book will be published and circulated globally, while the high-quality hardcopy version can be ordered online and directly via a print-on-demand platform.

ARTIST DATA

Artist Headshot Photo
Artist Full Name
City and Country of Residence
Phone
Email
Social Media Links (optional)
Website (optional)

Biography 

Artist Statement (optional)

ARTWORK DATA

Title

Category

Technique

Surface

Creation Year

Size (WidthXHeightXDepth) in cm or inches

Artwork/Series Description (Optional)

Price in USD

ARTIST ELIGIBILITY

This opportunity is open to all visual artists worldwide.

ARTWORK ELIGIBILITY

Art Categories

The submission is open to all visual artists creating original artworks in 2 and 3-dimensional media.

Visual Arts Categories: Painting, drawing, landscapes, printmaking, illustration, photography, digital arts, sculpture, metalsmithing, installation, crafts, jewelry, glass art, ceramic art, paper art, book art, land art, fiber art, textile art, wood art, collage, abstract, graphic arts, design, and mixed media are accepted.

Style
All styles are accepted.

Any abstract or representational interpretations of the subject are welcome.

Size
There is no size limit for submitted artwork.

Duration
There is no limit to the artwork creation year.
Artworks created within the last 5 years are preferred.

Originality and Rights
Artworks must be entirely the work of the entrant, executed without the supervision of an instructor.

Entries must not be copies or derivatives based in any way on other copyrighted or published paintings, photographs, or other artistic work. Any infraction of this rule will result in serious consequences.
Artists should have all the rights to present and publish their artworks internationally.

Artwork Photo

Only the artwork should show in the photo (no frames or extraneous backgrounds).

Invited artists might be asked for high-resolution artwork photos if needed.

Availability

Artists can submit artworks that are not for sale.

Number of Artworks

Artists can submit up to 6 pieces of original artwork in relation to the subject.

The artworks are subject to selection, and a maximum of two artworks might be selected from the chosen artists.

Other

Artworks that, in the reasonable view of the organizer, include porn, violence, and/or racial, and religious hatred, inappropriate and/or offensive content, are not admissible.