Journeys: Color & Light

Journeys: Color & Light

Exhibition Dates: Sept. 1 to Nov. 1, 2026

Call Opens: June 15, 2026; Deadline: Aug. 20
 

The Desert Artists Gallery (DAG) invites residents of the United States, 18 years or older, to submit artwork for exhibition at JOURNEYS: COLOR & LIGHT. This call is open to interpretation based on recent or past journeys and travel.

“Journeys: Color & Light,” celebrates the magic of color, light, and atmosphere in travel. Open to artists working in oil, acrylic, mixed-media/collage, ink, and watercolor, this hybrid virtual and in-gallery competition offers monetary awards, in-gallery exhibition, marketing and sales support.

JUROR Robert Z. Chew, Founder, Desert Artists Gallery, Palm Desert, Calif., and Co-President, The Artists Gallery, Los Angeles. He is known for his colorful abstracted landscapes and florals, which have been shown in galleries, museums, and are part of many private collections.

...

The Desert Artists Gallery (DAG) invites residents of the United States, 18 years or older, to submit artwork for exhibition at JOURNEYS: COLOR & LIGHT. This call for art is open to interpretation based on recent or past journeys, with various styles and mediums accepted (see details). 

In Gallery Virtual, Online Exhibition, 3D Gallery: Sept. 1 – Nov. 1, 2026

Annual Winners In-Gallery Exhibition: Nov. 15 – Dec. 20, 2026

ENTRY DEADLINES: CALL OPENS: JUNE 15, 2026.  CALL CLOSES: AUG. 01, 2026. Entries must be submitted online by 10:59 pm, AUG. 01, 2026. Pacific Daylight Time.

OVERVIEW

The latest Desert Artists Gallery (DAG) juried call, “Journeys: Color & Light,” is about celebrating personal journeys and the magic of color, light, and atmosphere during those journeys. Open to visual artists working in oil, acrylic, mixed media, collage, ink, and watercolor. This hybrid virtual and in-gallery competition offers monetary awards, in-gallery show to winner, marketing and sales shop/support, optional representation, and winners becoming Signature DAG artists.

The Desert Artists Gallery (DAG) is the newest gallery on El Paseo’s “Gallery Row” in Palm Desert, California. Open since April 2025, DAG is an independent artist-centric gallery focused on the art celebrating the western United States, global desert life, and culture, both in traditional and contemporary styles. DAG is also in search of great art from around the world that is relatable to contemporary or traditional art inspired by desert or arid climates and its many lifestyles. Our low 35% commission rate helps us sell more work, and let artists take home more money.  

All selected finalists (top 25% of entries selected by juror) will received Honorable Mention Certificates, will be featured and promoted in our virtual galleries within the Desert Artists Gallery (large TV monitor), will be viewed on the gallery “Juried Show” Exhibition Gallery, and in the gallery’s 3D-Virtual Exhibition “Walk-Through” area on the DAG website. All selected artists will have the option to be non-exclusively represented by DAG, if both parties agree. Free one year Membership.

 First Place: $300, plus Year-end In-gallery Exhibition, Winner Certificate, Becomes Designated Signature DAG Artist, with shop and profile page. Free marketing and promotion campaign.

 Second Place: $200, plus Second Place Winner Certificate, Free One Year Membership, with shop and profile page. Free marketing and promotion campaign.

Third Place: $100, plus Third Place Winner Certificate, Free One Year Membership. Shop and profile page. Free marketing and promotion campaign.

Emphasis will be paced on work that depicts (or deconstructs) landscapes, figures, still lifes, or any composition the artist feels is appropriate for this exhibition theme: Journeys: Color & Light.

We look forward to seeing your work and working with you!

Please submit 1 work sample using this CaFE platform. Any additional entries will be charged $5 per entry, up to a maximum of 6 entries per artist. Open to California visual artists ages 18 and over.

Artwork submitted after the deadline will not be considered. All submissions must be uploaded through the CaFE platform. All submitted artwork must be original, created by the submitting artist, and available for sale. No AI artwork will be accepted.

Artwork must meet specified size, medium, or thematic requirements listed in the call. If selected as winner, artwork must arrive ready to hang with secure hardware (wired or D-rings) for the Annual Year End Exhibition of Winners. DAG reserves the right to decline any artwork that arrives damaged, is not ready to hang, or differs significantly from the images submitted.

Winning artist(s) is responsible for shipping the artwork along with the Certificate of Authenticity to DAG, 73-200 Suite 2B, El Paseo, Palm Desert, Calif. 92260. A prepaid return shipping label must be included.

Artists are responsible for insuring their artwork during transit. DAG is not liable for damage incurred during shipping. Artists may choose to insure artwork during the exhibition at their own expense. DAG does provide basic art and liability insurance.

All artworks must be for sale. DAG commission rate of 35% will apply to all sales.

The Desert Artists Gallery (DAG) invites residents of the United States 18 years or older to submit artwork for exhibition to JOURNEYS: COLOR & LIGHT. This call for art is open to interpretation. Artists may submit original paintings, drawings, printmaking, mixed media, watercolor. Artwork dimensions, including frame, are limited to 80 H x 40 W inches. Entries must be original, and of the artist’s or collective's execution, and have not been previously shown at DAG. Do not submit artworks that violate copyright laws. All submitted artworks must be available for sale. 

FORMAT FOR DIGITAL UPLOADS
Artwork entries must be submitted as a high-resolution (1-3 MB) digital JPEG. Images of your artwork should be cropped to remove any background, matte, and frame. Upload only one view per artwork submitted. The image quality of your artwork photos is critical. The digital image(s) you upload must faithfully represent the artwork, size, and medium you submit. 

See CaFÉ guidelines for Video uploads: https:// www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/uploading-media/ 

ENTRY DEADLINES: CALL OPENS: JUNE 15, 2026.  CALL CLOSES: AUG. 01, 2026. Entries must be submitted online by 10:59 pm, AUG. 01, 2026. Pacific Daylight Time.

 JUROR Robert Z. Chew, Founder, Desert Artists Gallery, Palm Desert, Calif., and Co-President, The Artists Gallery, Los Angeles

Robert Zent Chew is an American artist, born in the Midwest and living in Los Angeles, California and Montrose, Colorado.  He is best known for his abstracted landscapes and abstracted florals, which have been shown in galleries, museums, and are part of many private collections. In Los Angeles, Chew is currently represented and is co-president of The Artists Gallery, Los Angeles, and is founder of the Desert Artists Gallery, Palm Desert, Calif. Worldwide the artist is part of the SaatchiArt online family. He studied at the LA-based Kline Fine Art Academy and works closely with such well-known LA contemporary landscape artists as Scott Yeskel. Recently, was named one of its featured artists by SaatchiArt curator Rebecca Wilson. The paintings of Robert Zent Chew have been exhibited in Los Angeles and Palm Desert, Calif.  His work has been shown in variety of exhibitions and are in private collections from Los Angeles and New York City to Denver and Tampa, Florida.

MARKETING & PUBLICITY

DAG will send a press release and calendar listing to print and online media, send printed announcement postcards to its mailing list, and send electronic announcements of winners to its email list. Select Exhibition Artists will receive digital postcards to use in their own marketing campaigns. The Exhibition and selected artists will be promoted on social media, on websites, blogs, video, Instagram posts, as well as other marketing platforms. DAG provides promotional images and email marketing, and we strongly encourage cross-promotion on social media.

ENTRIES & FEES

One entry is $25.00. Artists may submit up to 6 additional artwork entries at $5.00 each Upload one image or video per artwork, do not upload videos of submitted artworks.

Payment is made through CaFÉ via credit card. Fees are non-refundable. There is no guarantee of acceptance into the exhibit. 

AWARDS
Cash Awards: 1st Place - $300, 2nd Place - $200, 3rd Place - $100 

Awards of Excellence are awarded to those selected to be featured in the Exhibition. Categories include Paintings, Drawings, Printmaking, Mixed Media/Collage, and Watercolor.

SALES
All submitted artworks MUST be for sale. DAG will handle all sales, which may include a 10% discount for customers. DAG receives a 35% commission on the sold price of artwork in this exhibition from the day it is accepted until 30 days after the exhibition ends. Payouts for sales during this term are sent within 60 days of the sale; payouts over $600.00 require a W9 from the artist. All Invited artworks must remain on display during Exhibition. Do not submit artwork to DAG that is already booked for other shows and exhibitions during date of acceptance.