The Sacred Ordinary

The Sacred Ordinary invites artists to explore the beauty, meaning, and quiet significance found in everyday life. This theme considers how the mundane, domestic, familiar, or overlooked can be elevated into something sacred or extraordinary. Through personal experience, memory, ritual, observation, or transformation, artists are encouraged to reveal the wonder that may exist within ordinary moments, objects, places, and routines.

Artists are encouraged to interpret this theme broadly and in their own distinctive ways, using a variety of artistic mediums including painting, sculpture, collage, photography, and mixed media.

Mercury 20 Gallery is seeking art that interprets the theme: The Sacred Ordinary

The Sacred Ordinary invites artists to explore the beauty, meaning, and quiet significance found in everyday life. This theme considers how the mundane, domestic, familiar, or overlooked can be elevated into something sacred or extraordinary. Through personal experience, memory, ritual, observation, or transformation, artists are encouraged to reveal the wonder that may exist within ordinary moments, objects, places, and routines.

About the Juror:

Svea Lin Soll is a curator and art consultant with nearly 30 years of experience across galleries, museums, and independent practice. She has curated over 70 exhibitions and is currently co-curating Kōmij Mour Ijin / Our Life Is Here, a two-year project with UC Berkeley and the David Brower Center. Svea advises private collectors on acquisitions, helping them build collections of lasting significance.

PRIZE - ONE artist in any medium will be selected for a solo exhibition in The Back Room Gallery at Mercury 20 Gallery in 2027

We look forward to receiving your thought-provoking interpretations of The Sacred Ordinary theme.

Submission Format: Please provide high-quality images of your artwork in JPEG format. Please be sure to crop the image to the artwork only. No background or borders, unless it is a 3d artwork.

File format: JPG / JPEG 

Minimum file size 2 MB / Maximum file size 5 MB

Pixel Dimensions: 1920 pixels on longest side 

Resolution: 300 ppi  

The file name must be titled in this order: LastName-FirstName-Title-Dimensions-Medium-Year

Artist Statement: Along with your artwork, include an artist statement describing how your work relates to the theme of The Sacred Ordinary

Medium: We accept all 2D & 3D mediums. No video or performance. 

Size - 60 inch limit in any direction.

Weight - 25lb maximum

Fee - $35 for up to 3 works of art. With the option to add up to 2 more artworks at $10 each. 

3 artworks = $35

4 artworks = $45

5 artworks = $55

Submissions not adhering to these submission requirements will NOT be considered.

Instructions for accepted entries:

Please note, selected artwork must be hand delivered to Mercury 20 Gallery in Oakland, CA in order to be included in the exhibition.

Drop off Dates: Saturday January 2nd 5 - 7 & Sunday January 3rd 12 - 3pm

- Exhibition Dates: January 8, 2027 - February 6, 2027 (Gallery Hours are Fridays, Saturdays 12 - 5 & by appointment)

- Opening Reception: January 9, 2027, 3-5pm

- Pick up Date: Saturday February 6, 5 - 7pm OR Sunday February 7, 9am - 12pm 

Please note that selected artists will be responsible for hand delivering and picking up their artwork. No artwork can be shipped or stored. Artists must ensure that their artwork is prepared for display. 

Artwork: All art must be dry upon delivery to the gallery and be ready to install. The backs of work to be hung must have D-rings and be wired, with wire ends covered. We realize certain pieces may need to be hung differently from these specifications, i.e. quilts, fiber arts. If special installation instructions are required, please email us clear instructions and related imagery to thesacredordinaryopencall@gmail.com

If you submit any installations or complicated hanging pieces, the gallery may ask you to install your own work with their guidance. 

All submissions must be original artworks and completed within the last 3 years. 

The gallery holds a 50% commission on sales of artwork. Please price your work accordingly
 

Eligibility: This call is open to artists, both emerging and established, above the age of 18 who are able to hand deliver and pick up their work. We welcome artists of all backgrounds and experience levels to submit to this opportunity.