Shapes and Colors - 2026 (4th Juried Annual Exhibition, Publication, Sales)

Beyond Vision: The Art of Shapes and Colors

Gallerium proudly presents the 4th annual juried Shapes and Colors 2026!

Shapes and Colors are the essential elements of creating art. 

Shapes Give Structure – Every stroke, every curve, and every angle creates rhythm, movement, and balance. Whether geometric or organic, each shape carries meaning—stability in squares, energy in triangles, fluidity in circles.

Colors Speak Emotion – A single hue can uplift the spirit, evoke nostalgia, or create tension. The choice of warm or cool tones, vibrant or muted shades, can completely transform a piece’s impact.

Together, They Tell Stories – Art is a universal language, and shapes and colors are its words. They allow artists to express ideas, convey emotions, and ignite imagination in ways that words cannot.

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

Last year's exhibition at: https://www.gallerium.art/shapes-and-colors-2025 

Exhibit and publish art inspired by shapes and colors that form your art

What would art be without shapes and colors? These two elements are the foundation of creativity—the building blocks of every masterpiece, from the simplest sketches to the most intricate compositions. Shapes define form, and colors breathe life into it. Together, they evoke emotions, tell stories, and connect the artist’s vision with the viewer’s soul.

Whether you work with bold geometric compositions, fluid organic forms, vibrant palettes, or monochromatic expressions, Shapes and Colors 2026 invites you to celebrate the visual language of art that transcends words.

This opportunity is for artists who dare to explore, who push boundaries, and who transform simple elements into extraordinary visual experiences. Whether your work is abstract or representational, minimalist or complex, digital or traditional, this is your chance to showcase how you use shapes and colors to create impact.

Why Shapes and Colors Matter in Art

Shapes and colors are more than just artistic tools—they are emotional triggers, storytellers, and universally understood symbols that connect people across cultures and experiences.

Shapes Give Structure – Every stroke, every curve, and every angle creates rhythm, movement, and balance. Whether geometric or organic, each shape carries meaning—stability in squares, energy in triangles, fluidity in circles.

Colors Speak Emotion – A single hue can uplift the spirit, evoke nostalgia, or create tension. The choice of warm or cool tones, vibrant or muted shades, can completely transform a piece’s impact.

Together, They Tell Stories – Art is a universal language, and shapes and colors are its words. They allow artists to express ideas, convey emotions, and ignite imagination in ways that words cannot.

This opportunity challenges you to think beyond aesthetics and dive deeper into the meaning of shapes and colors in your artistic practice. What stories do they tell in your work? How do they reflect your perspective on the world?

Themes and Topics

To provide artists with even more inspiration and creative freedom, we have expanded our themes. You can explore, interpret, and submit work under any of the following categories:

1. Pure Abstraction

• Bold, expressive compositions that focus solely on form, line, and color
• Non-representational art that evokes emotion and movement
• Minimalism, chaos, or fluid abstraction
•  

2. Geometric & Symmetrical Forms

• Precision in patterns, symmetry, and mathematical beauty
• Mandalas, tessellations, and sacred geometry
• Abstract architectural interpretations

3. Organic & Free-Form Shapes

• The natural world expressed through soft, flowing forms
• Surreal interpretations of nature, dreams, and imagination
• The human body and its organic, ever-changing shapes

4. Symbolism & Storytelling Through Shapes and Colors

• Shapes and colors used to represent emotions, cultural motifs, or abstract concepts
• Mythological, spiritual, and symbolic representations through form and hue
• The psychological impact of colors and their historical meanings

5. Contrast & Illusion

• Optical illusions that play with perception and perspective
• High-contrast compositions using black-and-white or complementary colors
• Negative space and its role in defining form

6. Monochrome & Limited Palettes

• The power of a single color or minimal color combinations
• Exploring subtle tonal variations to create depth and emotion
• Sepia, grayscale, and limited spectrum artworks

7. The Science of Color

• Light, refraction, and how colors interact in digital or physical spaces
• Color perception, the psychology of hues, and how colors influence human emotion
• Scientific, futuristic, or digital explorations of chromatic expression

8. The Emotional Power of Color and Form

• Art that embodies joy, serenity, power, or vulnerability through composition and color choice
• Expressing deep personal stories using color and form as primary tools
• Contrasting warm and cool tones to enhance visual storytelling

Exhibition, Publication & Sales

Artists selected for Shapes and Colors 2026 will receive:

✅ International Exhibition – Your artwork will be featured in the Shapes and Colors 2026 online international group exhibition by Gallerium, gaining exposure to a global audience of collectors, art lovers, and industry professionals.

✅ Publication in The Book of Art – a subset of selected artworks may be chosen for publication in The Book of Art, a professional art publication designed to showcase talented contemporary artists.

✅ Artsy.net Feature – Jury-selected works will be showcased on Artsy.net, the world’s largest network of art collectors, providing unparalleled visibility and potential sales.

✅ Digital Certificates & Promotion – Receive a professional digital certificate of participation, plus extensive online promotion across social media and art platforms.

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.

Visit last year’s exhibition: https://www.gallerium.art/shapes-and-colors-2025 

Explore past exhibitions: https://www.gallerium.art/exhibitions 

AWARDS

■ International Exhibition
Selected artworks will be part of an exclusive two-month global online exhibition, running from July 9 to September 9, 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

Only jury-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 10 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 10 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.