The Silent Cut: Moments in Motion

THE SILENT CUT: OPEN CALL JURIED EXHIBITION

Application Dates: July 21, 2026 – September 19, 2026
Juror: TBD
Exhibition Dates: October 24, 2026- January 9, 2026

Awards: Cash prizes will be given to selected artists. The top selections will be featured in an 11-week exhibition at Fort Works Art Gallery in Fort Worth, TX.

We seek to showcase exceptional work that operates like a scene, a cut, or a sequence. This includes images that feel like stills from a larger narrative, photo series or pieces. Strong submissions will engage cinematic elements such as framing, lighting, pacing, and editing—building atmosphere, holding tension, or suggesting a story without fully resolving it.

An opening reception/award ceremony will be held at Fort Works Art Gallery to celebrate the works and artists included in this exhibition.

A cut in film is a break, but it’s also where meaning shifts, where time jumps, and where a story begins to take shape. The Silent Cut starts from this idea: that a single image can hold that same power. The work does not need explanation or dialogue; it should be able to tell a story on its own.

We are seeking artwork that explores cinematic ideas within still images, with an emphasis on photography while remaining open to all mediums. This might include focusing on moments just before or after an action, using sequencing to alter meaning, or manipulating time through repetition, looping, or compression. Rather than illustrating film directly, this exhibition is interested in how the structure and logic of film can be translated, disrupted, or reimagined through contemporary art.

The Silent Cut centers on works that feel like fragments of a larger narrative—images that suggest something beyond the frame. Submissions may be staged or documentary, sequential or singular, experimental or character-driven. We are especially interested in work that exists in the in-between: before action, after resolution, or within a moment of pause.

This call reflects a growing overlap between art and film, positioning the still image as both a standalone work and a conceptual counterpart to moving image practices. Selected works will be exhibited at Fort Works Art during the Lone Star Film Festival, creating a dialogue between disciplines and engaging visiting audiences.

Selected artists will be announced via social media and contacted directly with details regarding artwork drop-off and shipping.

All selected works will be included in an exhibition at Fort Works Art in Fort Worth, with an opening reception.

Shipping & Delivery Requirements (Selected Artists)
All shipped works must arrive no later than 5:00 PM on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Late deliveries cannot be accommodated. Artists are responsible for all shipping costs, including return shipping, and must include a pre-paid return label. Full instructions will be provided upon acceptance.

About Fort Works Art
Fort Works Art is committed to bringing energy and accessibility to the Fort Worth art scene. Serving both seasoned collectors and new audiences, the gallery operates at the intersection of exhibition space, cultural center, and museum. Its mission is to support artists, engage the community, and inspire future generations.

Open to national artists. Works must be 2-Dimensional and framed with hanging materials (Wire or D-Rings). All mediums are allowed to submit, with an emphasis on 2-Dimensional photography. Maximum size to submit is 60 inches high x 60 inches wide. All works must be available through the entire run of the show. Do not submit works for the juror that might be sold before the show time frame. All works included in this exhibition are to be listed For Sale. All works sold during the time of the exhibition will be split 50/50 with the gallery.

THE SILENT CUT is open to all artists at any stage of their career.