Abandoned Haunts & Curious Trappings

Celebrating the October season, Abandoned Haunts & Curious Trappings is a juried exhibition of hauntingly beautiful artworks. The show will be judged by award winning photographer Matthew Christopher of Abandoned America.

Application fee for one images is $35. Up 3 additional pieces may be submitted for $5 each. Top prize is $200. 

The deadline is 9/16/2026. All original media are acceptable, such as drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture, collage, fabric work, glasswork, jewelry and digital media.  Artists nationwide are invited to apply. Maximum size is 36" x 36”. All works must be for sale. The gallery takes a 35% commission on works sold.

Celebrating the October season, Abandoned Haunts & Curious Trappings is a juried exhibition of hauntingly beautiful artworks. Artists from throughout the United States are invited to apply. The Firefly Artists takes no responsibility for shipping, and strongly prefers hand delivery and pickup of works. If you do choose to ship, a paid return shipping label must be included.

All original media is acceptable, such as drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture, collage, fabric work, glasswork, jewelry and digital media. Artists nationwide are invited to apply. Maximum size is 36" x 36”. All works must be for sale. The gallery takes a 35% commission on works sold.

Exhibition entries must be original artwork, no reproductions (with the exception of photography). All jewelry must be framed. While framing is not required for 2D works, canvases must be wired for hanging. Works on paper may be matted and will be hung “Clothespin Style.” All art submitted for exhibition must be for sale. The gallery will take a 35% commission on sold pieces. The sale price provided during submission of the work for exhibition may not be subsequently changed.

CALENDAR:

Deadline Extended: Wednesday, 9/16
Accept Letter: Monday, 9/21
Dropoff: Saturday, 10/3, 12-8:30 pm
Dropoff: Sunday, 10/4 12-6:30 pm
Exhibition: Tuesday 10/6-Thurs 11/5
Reception: Thursday, 10/22: 7-9 pm
Pickup: Friday, 11/6, 12-8:30 pm
Pickup: Saturday, 11/7 12-8:30 pm

AWARDS:

First Prize: $200, Second Prize: $100, Third Prize: $50, and Honorable Mention

PRESENTATION:

While framing is not required for 2D works, canvases must be wired for hanging. Works on paper may be matted and will be hung “Clothespin Style.” Framed pieces 16” x 20” and larger must have plexiglass instead of glass. Accepted Jewelry pieces must be framed. Each submitted piece of work shall include (1) Artist Name (2) Name of Work, (3) Medium/Full Description of the materials used.

SUBMISSION:

Each Applicant Artist may submit one piece for consideration for $35. Up to three additional pieces may be submitted for $5 each. A maximum of one piece from each selected artist will be chosen to be part of the exhibition. Please indicate whether the work is framed or unframed.

SALES

All art must be for sale. The gallery will take a 35% commission on sold pieces. The sale price must be provided during the application process and may not be subsequently changed.

JUDGE

The show will be judged by award winning photographer Matthew Christopher of Abandoned America. 

Matthew Christopher has had an interest in abandoned sites since he was a child, but started documenting them in 2006 while researching the decline of the state hospital system. He has published two books of his work, Abandoned America: Dismantling the Dream (Carpet Bombing Culture, 2016) and Abandoned America: The Age of Consequences (Jonglez, 2014), and is currently working on a third as well as producing the Abandoned America Podcast and regularly updating this website. His photography has been featured in NBC Nightly News, the New York Times, the L.A. Times, NPR, Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington Post, Yahoo News, BBC, New York Post, Buzzfeed, the Weather Channel, the Huffington Post, the Discovery Channel Magazine, and many more. He has given presentations about the art of ruins, abandoned spaces, preservation, and mental health history for a wide variety of organizations, and his work has been displayed in galleries across the United States. His website, Abandoned America, has gained international attention and is considered one of the leading collections of images of abandoned spaces.

DROP OFF/PICK UP:

Physical drop off and pick up of work is strongly preferred, but we understand that may not be possible. Please note: While we will do our best to accommodate, there is no wheelchair access to this venue, which is located in an historic building. If you do choose to ship, a prepaid return shipping label MUST be included. 

Drop off: Saturday 10/3, 12-8:30pm, Sunday 10/4 12-6:30pm

Pick up: Friday, 11/6, 12-8:30pm, Saturday, 11/7 12-8:30pm

Please note: The Firefly has very limited storage space. As such, while we will do our best to accommodate, please pick up your work promptly. Artwork not retrieved within 90 days of a show's close will become the property of The Firefly Artists. 

INSURANCE

The Firefly Artists will give reasonable care and supervision to objects on loan. Applicant Artists shall provide insurance coverage for their own works while at The Firefly Artists Gallery.

PUBLICITY

The Firefly Artists assumes the cost of publicity and shall have the right to photograph accepted works and to create videos including accepted works for such purposes. Such publicity, including selection of media and photographs, will be made at the discretion of the managing partners of The Firefly Artists. Publicity may include: mailing, emails, social media and website postings, and distribution of show announcements, press releases, gallery interpretive displays or other didactic material associated with the exhibition, as well as advertisements in newspapers and other publications if any are warranted.

PHOTO IMAGERY & STATEMENT

The applicant artist grants permission to use any submitted images and statements as well as any images of work created by The Firefly Artists for publication and promotional purposes. The Firefly Artists shall have the right to publish any such photographs and statements furnished by the applicant artist with no payment to the artist or the photographer who produced the image. Applicant artists must secure publication permission from the photographer if copyrighted; and provide the same to The Firefly Artists.

Celebrating the October season, Abandoned Haunts & Curious Trappings is a juried exhibition of hauntingly beautiful artworks. All original media is acceptable, such as drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture, collage, fabric work, glasswork, jewelry and digital media.  Artists nationwide are invited to apply. Maximum size is 36" x 36”. All works must be for sale. The gallery takes a 35% commission on works sold.

Entries must be original, human-created artworks. While digital artwork is eligible, AI-generated art is not, nor are works created in a workshop or class, or otherwise under the close instruction of a teacher. No reproductions will be accepted, with the exception of photography and digital art.