Mosaic Arts International 2027

The Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA) invites artists working in mosaic media to submit applications to Mosaic Arts International (MAI) 2027: Fine Art & Site-Specific Mosaic.  Held in conjunction with SAMA's annual conference, the juried exhibit showcases the best contemporary fine art mosaics from SAMA's diverse international membership. Fine Art is a segment of the Mosaic Arts International 2027 exhibition series that will be presented at Museum of Biblical Art (Fine Art Segment): February 17 – August 22, 2027, and the Irving Art Center (Site-Specific and Architectural Segment): February 6- March 27, 2027.

The Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA) invites artists working in mosaic media to submit applications to Mosaic Arts International (MAI) 2027: Fine Art & Site-Specific Mosaic.  Held in conjunction with SAMA's annual conference, the juried exhibit showcases the best contemporary fine art mosaics from SAMA's diverse international membership. Fine Art is a segment of the Mosaic Arts International 2027 exhibition series that will be presented at Museum of Biblical Art (Fine Art Segment): February 17 – August 22, 2027, and the Irving Art Center (Site-Specific and Architectural Segment): February 6- March 27, 2027.

Since its founding in 1966 by Mattie Caruth Byrd, The Museum of Biblical Art Dallas has greeted over 50,000 visitors annually as a beautiful space where Biblically-themed art is exhibited. The beautifully remodeled Museum boasts eleven galleries, The National Center for Jewish Art, Museum of Holocaust Art, European Art Treasury, an on-site Art Conservation Lab, Via Dolorosa Sculpture Garden, and other major pilgrimage attractions. The Museum offers myriad programs, field trips, and events for art appreciators of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs.

In addition to being a city department, Irving Arts Center is a home for the arts, housing ten resident arts organizations. Resident Organizations provide cultural programs for the community, and opportunities to participate in the creative process. Community members can play a role in front of the curtain as musicians, actors, and artists, or behind the scenes as planners, technicians, directors and more. The facilities play host to a wide variety of rental clients, presenting everything from corporate meetings, conferences, cultural presentations and classes to film shoots, wedding receptions and parties.

The 2027 Conference—The American Mosaic Summit— will be held at the Sheraton DFW, Dallas, Texas, March 3 – 7, 2027.

The Mosaic Arts International exhibition offers a new perspective on mosaic art across contexts and celebrates established and emerging artists working in the medium today. Together, all segments will represent 35 – 60 artists. The Society of American Mosaic Artists is dedicated to educating, inspiring, and promoting excellence in mosaic arts.  

Each artist may enter up to three (3) original works per segment for a total maximum of six (6) entries. Entry Fee is $20 per work.

Fine Art Entry Requirements:

Entries consist of one (1) primary image (this image is to include framing and any presentation elements that are integral to the presentation of the work) and up to three (3) detail images for each entry for a maximum of four (4) images per entry/per artwork.

Fine Art Segment Category Definitions

Wall Mosaics - Mosaics that are mounted to a vertical flat surface and are two-dimensional panels, bas-relief panels, or wall sculptures.

Free-Standing Mosaics - Mosaics that are sculptural or three-dimensional in a form that stands by themselves, on a pedestal, or floor surface.

Weight and size limits

• Wall Mosaics - 100 lbs. and no wider than 50 inches total (including spacing between multi-sectional work).
• Free-Standing works placed on a pedestal - 100 lbs. No size limit.
• Free-Standing work on the floor - 150 lbs. No size limit.

If a work is selected for the exhibition and is within the weight and size limitations, it MUST be shipped or hand-delivered to the venue to be placed on display.  

2027 Fine Art Exhibition Theme 

In collaboration with the Museum of Biblical Art, all work will be juried in the Fine Art Segment and selected to be present at the museum, through the lens of the theme, Beauty Born of Broken. It can be argued that all mosaics are beauty made from broken materials, so we encourage artists to consider the theme while creating original work, but do not be constrained by it.  It is open ended for interpretation with intent.

For each Fine Art Segment entry/artwork, you will need: Title, 300-word Artist Statement on the work, Height, Width, Weight, Year Created, Total Sales Price (or Not-for-Sale), Segment and Subcategory Designation (i.e. Fine Art- Freestanding) and a brief listing of materials. Be precise in the description of materials but omit brand names (ie: "glass" is insufficient and “Orsoni Smalti” is inappropriate, etc.)  A term such as “mixed media” is also insufficient without some description of the most important materials included. Description of the substrate or fabrication method is not required. SAMA reserves the right to edit all lists of materials and dimensions to a common standard for labels and catalog text.

Artist Statements for each work will be used for exhibition and publication purposes. All final statements of work accepted to MAI may be edited for publication and presentation consistency by SAMA and will not exceed 300 words.  For more information on appropriate content for your artist statement, please do your own research. There are several great tutorials, worksheets, questionnaires, and samples available on the internet.

Artwork should be sturdy and ready for hanging or installation at the time of delivery.

·      No sawtooth hangers. 

·      No pressed wood frames.

·      The hanging wire and frame grommets must be well-secured and the frame, hanging wire, and grommets must be weight-appropriate to hang the artwork. 

The SAMA Exhibition Committee reserves the right to decline hanging/staging an entry if the guidelines are not followed and will return the entry at the artist’s expense prior to the opening of the exhibit. 

Site-Specific Mosaic Entry Requirements:

Entries consist of one (1) primary image (this image is to include framing and any presentation elements that are integral to the presentation of the work) and up to three (3) detail images for each entry for a maximum of four (4) images per entry/per artwork.

Site-Specific Mosaic Definition

Work that is permanently affixed to its intended environment. Public / Private Commissions, Community Projects, Large-scale Sculpture, and Surface Design

For each Site-Specific entry/artwork, you will need: Title, 300-word Artist Statement on the work, Height, Width, Weight, Year Created, Installation Location (including city, state, and country) and a brief listing of materials. Be precise in the description of materials but omit brand names (ie: "glass" is insufficient and “Orsoni Smalti” is inappropriate, etc.)  A term such as “mixed media” is also insufficient without some description of the most important materials included. Description of the substrate or fabrication method is not required. SAMA reserves the right to edit all lists of materials and dimensions to a common standard for labels and catalog text. The Artist Statement of the work and its setting should address the environment the work was created for and purpose or commissioning body directives toward design and fabrication.

Artist Statements for each work will be used for exhibition and publication purposes. All final statements of work accepted to MAI may be edited for publication and presentation consistency by SAMA and will not exceed 300 words.  For more information on appropriate content for your artist statement, please do your own research. There are several great tutorials, worksheets, questionnaires, and samples available on the internet.

Image Guidelines for All Entry Types

• The jury process will take place by digital image review via CaFÉ(callforentry.org).  Slides are not accepted.
• Please label each image with the work's title.  In the description box, explain the view, angle or perspective this image is viewing the work, i.e. full view, detail, left side, right side, back, etc.
• All submitted images shall be formatted in the following file size and resolution as a jpg per CaFÉ guidelines:
• Images must be sized at 1200 px (on the long side of the image) and no larger than 5mg per file.
• CaFÉ requirements are lower than the quality image we will need for the catalog or submission for print publications.  Reserve your primary image as the best overall image that you want to have printed in the catalog per our request.
• If there is a frame around your finished mosaic, you MUST include it in your image submission.
• Digitally altered images may be disqualified.
• Images should be accurate representations of the work.
• Images WILL NOT be reviewed if all guidelines are not followed.
• SAMA reserves the right to pull a work from the exhibition if it arrives for installation and does not match the image submitted for the jury process.
• SAMA reserves the right to not include a work in the catalog if the submitted image does not meet the specifications for print quality.

Important: the quality of photography contributes greatly to the clarity, sharpness, color, lighting, and understanding of your artwork which assists the jurors in their decision-making process and offers the highest-quality photograph for printing purposes.

Digital Submission

All submissions to the Juried Members Exhibition are required to be entered via digital submission through CaFÉ(callforentry.org).  If you are not already registered with CaFÉ, you will need to register prior to submitting your application. If you experience difficulties submitting your entry at CaFÉ.com, please contact info@americanmosaics.org. Incomplete applications submitted will be deemed ineligible. 

EACH ARTWORK will require a SEPARATE ENTRY APPLICATION ($20 per entry/per artwork).  We will accept up to three (3) Fine Art entries and three (3) Site-Specific entries per artist for a maximum of six (6) entries.

Important Tip:  Please prepare all text in advance of working on your application so you can have it readily accessible to enter the system.

When you complete your digital application at callforentry.org please pay the entry fee as directed. Payment must be made with debit or credit card. The entry fee is nonrefundable. 

Digital Application Checklist

Please have the following ready before going to callforentry.org. The process is estimated to take 30 minutes. 

• Digital images for a maximum of 6 works, one full view and one - three details for each artwork entered.
• For each work, you will need: Title, 300-word Artist Statement, Height, Width, Weight, Year Created, Total Sales Price, Category Designation (Wall, Free-Standing, or Site-Specific), and a brief listing of materials. For Site-Specific Works, we will ask for installation location and collaborators.
• Debit or Credit Card information.
• Current SAMA or SGAA membership.

 Download a pdf copy of the full prospectus.

Open to all current SAMA members, age 18 and over. Applications will not be accepted by SAMA until membership status is verified. (Dues may be paid on the SAMA Website at americanmosaics.org) Only one accepted work per artist will be exhibited in the Fine Art segment of the Exhibition unless multiple works by one artist is deemed necessary to the overall exhibition by the jury. Artists may also submit works to the Site-Specific Mosaic segment and could potentially have work accepted to each of the MAI juried segments for 2027. In the instance that a submitted mosaic is a collaboration, ALL collaborators must be current members at the time of entry for the work to qualify.

Submitted artwork must be the artist’s original design, completed within the past two years (December 1, 2024, through December 1, 2026), and not previously exhibited in a SAMA exhibition. If an entry was created in a recognizable style or influence of another artist, at the time of submitting your entry, please identify this fact and that your influence was from another artist who is known, unknown, contemporary, or deceased. Art center or school open studio time projects will be accepted. Reproductions of ancient mosaics ARE NOT permitted. No reproductions of "copy-free" or copyrighted material (even with permission) allowed unless it is copyrighted by the submitting artist. No work executed during an educational experience such as a technical workshop, master course, or directed study may be submitted. Obvious copyright infringement will result in the removal of all work for consideration prior to jurying.