Portraits - 2026 (4th Juried Annual Exhibition, Publication, Sales)

Portraits 2026: The Power of Human Presence

Gallerium proudly presents Portraits 2026, the 4th annual juried art opportunity to explore and showcase humans through their faces. 

"Your face says it all" as facial expressions communicate complex, and dynamic emotions.

Scientists believe that the human face has evolved to enable us to communicate emotions effectively. There are more than 8 billion people on Earth, and every face says something unique about the person. Every face is unique, and it serves as a powerful tool for conveying different emotions and facilitating social interactions. 

For Portraits 2026, we encourage artists from any medium and anywhere in the world to share human faces and all they entail through their art, as every face reveals something unique about the person. 

All abstract and representational artworks, from portraits of people to self-portraits and group portraits, are welcome.

Visit last year's exhibition at: https://www.gallerium.art/portraits-2025 

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Portraits 2026: The Power of Human Presence

“Every face tells a story—what’s yours?”

Portraits are more than likenesses. They are echoes of memories, vessels of identity, and powerful mirrors reflecting humanity in its purest form. With Portraits 2026, Gallerium warmly invites visual artists across the globe to share their interpretation of what it means to be human—through the intimate language of the face.

Whether it’s the laugh lines of a loved one, the soulful gaze of a stranger, or an imagined character born of emotion and brushstroke, every face has a story—and your art has the power to tell it.

Opening for the third consecutive year, Portraits 2026 is not just an exhibition—it’s a collective visual diary, a celebration of human connection, individuality, and shared experience. This opportunity goes beyond awards and recognition. It’s about being part of a movement that honors life, captures identity, and invites viewers to pause and feel.

Why Participate?

In a world where our faces are increasingly hidden behind screens, masks, or digital avatars, portraiture stands as a timeless act of presence. To draw, paint, sculpt, photograph—or digitally render—a face is to say: This person matters. This emotion matters. This moment matters.

Portraits 2026 gives your work global reach, emotional impact, and lasting visibility. Share your vision, touch hearts, and speak across cultures through the universal language of the face.

What We’re Looking For?

We welcome a wide range of creative interpretations and invite artists to explore portraits through:

Classic Portraiture: Traditional or modern approaches to painting, drawing, or sculpture of a face or figure.

Self-Portraits: Explore your own identity, emotions, and experiences.

Group Portraits: Convey relationships, family, culture, and social bonds.

Conceptual or Symbolic Faces: Use abstraction, surrealism, or symbolism to express inner worlds.

Imagined Faces: Characters or emotions brought to life from your imagination.

Digital Portraits: Embrace innovation—portraits created through digital media tools.

Cultural Portraits: Capture the essence of heritage, tradition, or ethnic identity through facial expression and attire.

Psychological Portraits: Reveal inner turmoil, joy, or transformation.

Emotive Portraits: Highlight specific emotions—grief, hope, nostalgia, ecstasy, serenity, fear, and more.

Portraits Inspired by Literature or History: Depictions of iconic or imagined figures based on storytelling.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

The human face is our most instinctive way to connect. In every line, wrinkle, and glance, there is vulnerability, truth, power, and history. Portraits 2026 is your invitation to immortalize these moments—to let others see what you see.

Art can outlive words. And a portrait can say what language cannot.

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 Book of Arts – A selection of featured works will be published in this well-recognized art book, 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/portraits-2025 

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

Let the world see the soul through your art.

Join us in Portraits 2026 and make your mark—one face at a time.

AWARDS

■ International Exhibition
Selected artworks will be part of an exclusive two-month global online exhibition, running from September 10 to November 10, 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, if available for sale, 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.