In Good Company

IN GOOD COMPANY: San Diego Portrait Gallery of Contemporary Artists is a new juried exhibition running August 13–September 24, 2027, at The Studio Door. San Diego County visual artists are invited to create portraits of their peers, offering a collective portrait of the region’s working art community. Expressive, symbolic and experimental interpretations across eligible visual art media are welcome. An accompanying catalog will document the portrait subjects and their contributions, with a copy donated to the San Diego History Center.

Juror: Patric Stillman, Gallery Owner of The Studio Door

Artists can enter up to three (3) pieces for consideration. Flat rate payment of $35 per body of work (3 - 5 images).

Submission Deadline:  January 16, 2026  - 10:59 PM PST 

Awards: 3 works will receive a Juror's Award certificate and a check for $100

IN GOOD COMPANY

San Diego Portrait Gallery of Contemporary Artists

A new juried exhibition presented by The Studio Door
August 13–September 24, 2027
Artists’ Reception: Saturday, August 14 • 6–9 PM

Who should represent San Diego’s working art community today?

IN GOOD COMPANY invites San Diego County visual artists to create portraits of their peers. Through one artist’s interpretation of another, the exhibition will offer a collective portrait of the region’s contemporary art community.

Portraiture is not limited to painting or realism. Sculpture, photography, fiber art, mixed media, and other eligible visual art media are welcome, as are expressive, symbolic, and experimental interpretations.

Artists will apply with examples from their body of work demonstrating their interest and ability in portraiture, along with either three preferred portrait subjects or a request for The Studio Door to assign a subject. Selected applicants will receive a confirmed subject and time to create a new portrait specifically for this exhibition.

The resulting exhibition catalog will introduce the artists who are the subjects of these portraits, briefly documenting their contributions to the region’s active art world. A copy will be donated to the San Diego History Center as a record of this moment in San Diego’s cultural life.

CREATIVE APPROACH

An artist’s portrait can reveal far more than their profession. We encourage interpretations that capture the subject’s spirit through the distinctive vision of the artist creating the work.

Think beyond the familiar image of an artist holding a brush or standing at an easel. Consider what draws you to this person and how your own artistic language can express that connection. An unexpected setting, a gesture, or a symbolic detail may reveal something a conventional likeness cannot.

Traditional and experimental approaches are welcome. The strongest portraits will offer a sense of the person portrayed while carrying the unmistakable voice of their maker—one artist seen through the eyes of another.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Apply with examples of your work.
Submit three to five images demonstrating your approach to portraiture. These are work samples for selection; you do not need to complete a new portrait before applying.

2. Recommend your subjects—or let us choose.
List three San Diego County visual artists in order of preference. Briefly explain why each artist’s work and contribution deserve recognition.

Alternatively, simply ask The Studio Door to select a subject for you from a gallery-developed list informed by recommendations from local art organizations and galleries. No nominations are required if you choose this option.

3. Receive your selection and confirmed subject.
Selected applicants will be notified by April 9, 2027, with the name of the artist they have been invited to portray. Artists will have more than three months to create their portrait before final artwork images are due July 30.

4. Create your new portrait.
All selected artists must create a new work specifically for this exhibition after receiving confirmation of their subject. Previously completed portraits are not eligible.

Artists and subjects may determine the working approach that best suits the portrait, including sittings, studio visits, interviews, or agreed photographic references.

5. Submit a progress update and final materials.
A July 1 progress review will help The Studio Door determine placement in the physical or online exhibition. Final artwork images and catalog materials are due July 30.

6. Join the reveal.
Participating artists and their subjects are asked to keep their involvement confidential until the exhibition opens on August 13, adding an element of discovery and surprise. The artists’ reception follows on August 14.

EXHIBITION DATES

August 13–September 24, 2027

Artwork, including items sold, must remain on exhibit for the duration of the show.

ARTISTS’ RECEPTION & SPECIAL EVENT

Opening Reception
Saturday, August 14, 2027 • 6–9 PM

The reception will celebrate the participating portrait artists and the working artists whose lives and practices inspired the exhibition.

Special Event
Saturday, September 18, 2027 • 6–9 PM

The Studio Door will hold a second event in conjunction with this exhibition. Details will be announced at a later date.

ELIGIBILITY: PORTRAIT ARTISTS

Applicants must be visual artists based in San Diego County.

Artists should submit work samples demonstrating their interest and ability in portraiture. All eligible visual art media are welcome; work need not be painted or realistic.

Self-portraits are not eligible.

ELIGIBILITY: PORTRAIT SUBJECTS

Portrait subjects must be living, working visual artists based in San Diego County.

Eligible subjects include painters, sculptors, illustrators, fiber artists, ceramicists, photographers, printmakers, assemblage artists, book artists, and artists working in other visual art media.

Subjects must be selected for their work as visual artists. Work in acting, writing, dance, music, filmmaking, theater, or other performing and literary arts does not qualify a person for inclusion.

Artists are encouraged to nominate peers whose current work demonstrates distinction and helps represent the quality of art being created in San Diego County. Nominations should briefly explain what makes the proposed subject’s practice worthy of recognition.

NOMINATING YOUR SUBJECTS

You may nominate your preferred subjects or simply allow The Studio Door to select a subject on your behalf. The gallery’s subject list will be developed with recommendations from local art societies, artist alliances, galleries, and other visual art organizations.

If nominating your own subjects, list three eligible artists in order of preference. For each proposed subject, provide:

• The artist’s name and visual art medium.
• A website or other public source where their work can be viewed.
• A brief explanation of why you think they should be included.

Before nominating an artist, please contact them to confirm their willingness to be portrayed and featured in the exhibition and catalog if selected. Explain the project’s timeline and request confidentiality until the exhibition opens. A nomination does not guarantee selection.

Subject preferences will be considered but cannot be guaranteed. Applicants must wait for confirmation of their assigned subject before beginning work for this exhibition.

SUBJECT REPRESENTATION

Each portrait subject will appear only once in the exhibition, allowing the exhibition and catalog to represent a broader range of San Diego County visual artists.

When multiple applicants nominate the same subject, the juror will determine the pairing. Selected artists may be assigned another artist from their preference list or offered a subject recommended by The Studio Door.

If a confirmed subject is unavailable or declines, contact The Studio Door before choosing a replacement.

SELECTION & PORTRAIT DEADLINES

April 9, 2027 — Artist selection and subject confirmation

The juror will select participating artists based on their submitted body of work and, where provided, their proposed subjects. Every applicant will receive an email confirming whether they have been selected.

Selected artists will receive one confirmed subject.

For gallery-assigned subjects, consent will be coordinated at this stage.

Selected artists are responsible for coordinating with their subjects and confirming their agreement to the exhibition’s public presentation and catalog plans.

If you have not received notification by April 10, check your spam folder before contacting The Studio Door.

July 1, 2027 — Progress review and exhibition placement

Selected artists must submit a current portrait image, medium, dimensions, and anticipated completion date. Include any special installation or pedestal requirements.

The Studio Door will use this review to determine placement. Approximately 50 portraits will be displayed in the gallery, with additional portraits presented online. Initial artist selection does not guarantee placement in the physical gallery.

July 30, 2027 — Completed portrait images and catalog materials

Submit a publication-quality image of the completed portrait and the supporting information listed under EXHIBITION CATALOG.

Participating artists must meet these deadlines to be included in the catalog and exhibition. Contact The Studio Door promptly if a problem arises.

JUROR

Patric Stillman • The Studio Door

Patric Stillman is an artist, curator, and founder of The Studio Door, the independent San Diego gallery he established in 2014. His work as a gallerist brings him into daily contact with the region’s working artists and informs his commitment to documenting their contributions.

Stillman served as a juror for the Oceanside Museum of Art’s 2025 Biennial and writes a monthly arts column for The WORD San Diego. His community work has been recognized with the Larry T. Baza Arts & Culture Award and designation as a Hillcrest Hero.

KEEP THE REVEAL A SURPRISE

Participating portrait artists and their subjects are asked to keep their involvement confidential until the exhibition opens to the public on August 13.

Please refrain from publicly naming your pairing or sharing identifiable work-in-progress images before that date. Private communication needed to create the portrait is encouraged.

The artists’ reception on August 14 will celebrate the revealed portraits and bring participating artists and subjects together.

EXHIBITION CATALOG

Every completed portrait accepted through this process and submitted by the required deadlines will be included in the exhibition catalog, whether displayed in the physical gallery or online.

The catalog will feature the portraits alongside information about the visual artists depicted. Participating portrait artists will also be credited.

Final catalog materials are due July 30, 2027, and will include:

• A publication-quality image of the completed portrait.
• Artwork title, medium, dimensions, and sale price.
• A brief biography of the subject, supplied or approved by the subject, and a short statement by the portrait artist explaining their choice and interpretation.

Detailed submission instructions will be provided to selected artists.

The catalog will be produced following receipt of final artwork images. Every effort will be made to have printed copies available during the exhibition, but publication may follow the exhibition’s close.

Printed copies will be available to participating artists at cost. Digital copies in PDF format will be provided to participating artists free of charge.

A copy will be donated to the San Diego History Center as a record of the region’s working visual art community in 2027.

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS

All selected artists must create a new portrait specifically for this exhibition after receiving confirmation of their subject. Previously completed portraits are not eligible.

Maximum size: 36 inches in any dimension.

For two-dimensional artwork, this measurement includes the frame. For sculpture, no dimension may exceed 36 inches.

All artwork must be original, professionally presented, and available for sale.

BEST IN SHOW

Three artists will each receive a $100 Juror’s Award for compelling portraits that demonstrate originality, artistic execution, and insight into their subjects.

All completed portraits accepted for the gallery or online exhibition are eligible.

ARTWORK PRESENTATION

Two-dimensional artwork must arrive gallery ready and ready to hang. Black wood or natural wood frames are preferred when framing is used.

Framed two-dimensional artwork must use plexiglass rather than glass.

Glass and ceramic works will be accepted only if hand-delivered and picked up by the artist.

Sculptural works must be stable and ready for professional display.

CaFÉ SUBMISSION PROCESS

All applications are handled through CaFÉ at https://www.callforentry.org.

Artists must create a free CaFÉ profile, upload their work samples, and complete the application questions.

WORK SAMPLES & APPLICATION FEE

Submit three to five images of existing work demonstrating your approach to portraiture. The juror will review these images together as a body of work when selecting participating artists.

These are examples of your artistic practice, not individual artworks being entered for exhibition. You do not need to complete a new portrait before applying.

A nonrefundable $35 application fee covers all submitted work samples. There are no additional image fees.

The exhibition’s size, new-work, and sale requirements apply to the finished portrait, not to the initial work samples.

IMAGE SPECIFICATIONS

Initial work samples must be JPG or JPEG images measuring at least 1,200 pixels on the longest side, with a file size under 5 MB per image. Follow CaFÉ’s current upload requirements.

Contact CaFÉ directly for technical assistance.

Selected artists will receive separate instructions for publication-quality catalog images.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Saturday, April 3, 2027 • 10:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Equivalent to 11:59 PM Mountain Daylight Time.

The complete application, including images, subject preferences or a request for gallery assignment, and payment, must be submitted through CaFÉ before the deadline.

HAND-DELIVERY OF ARTWORK

All artwork selected for the physical gallery is expected to be hand-delivered.

Saturday, August 7, 2027 • 11 AM–5 PM
Earlier delivery is available by appointment.

Artwork selected for the online exhibition only does not need to be delivered.

PICKUP OF ARTWORK

Saturday, September 25, 2027 • 11 AM–5 PM
Tuesday, September 28, 2027 • 11 AM–5 PM

Artwork left beyond the scheduled pickup dates may be subject to a late fee of $50 per day and/or discarded by The Studio Door.

SALES OF ART

Artists receive 50% of the sale price, and The Studio Door retains 50%.

All portraits must be available for sale. Sold works must remain on exhibit for the duration of the show.

The Studio Door will mail artist commission checks within 30 days after the exhibition closes, no later than October 24, 2027.

PRICING CONSIDERATION

Artists are encouraged to consider price points when applying. Based on the gallery’s experience, sales remain strongest below $2,500, with $500 being an average first-time patron purchase.

USE OF IMAGERY

Participating artists grant The Studio Door permission to photograph accepted artwork and reproduce submitted artwork images in the exhibition catalog, online exhibition, and related marketing and publicity without compensation.

Artists must have permission to use any reference photographs or other material incorporated into their work.

ACCEPTED MEDIA

Eligible media include painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, assemblage, collage, mixed media, fiber art, artist books, and sculpture, provided the finished work functions as a portrait and meets the size and presentation requirements.

Performance art is not accepted. Video, film, installation, and works requiring an external electrical source require gallery approval before application.

SUSTAINABILITY NOTE

Artists are encouraged to use sustainable, environmentally responsible packaging when transporting artwork.

IMPORTANT DATES

QUESTIONS?

Email: forallweknow@thestudiodoor.com
Website: https://www.thestudiodoor.com

Local visual art organizations and galleries are invited to recommend potential portrait subjects for the gallery’s list. To make a recommendation or support the exhibition or catalog, please contact The Studio Door.

NONREFUNDABLE ENTRY FEE

Artists may submit three - five artworks to represent their artistry. The entry fee is a flat rate of $35 per artist.

Payments are processed through CaFÉ.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

April 3, 2027 • 10:59 PM Pacific Standard Time Equivalent to 11:59 PM Mountain Standard Time.

The complete application, including artwork images and payment, must be submitted through CaFÉ before the deadline.

ARTWORK MAXIMUM SIZE

Two-dimensional work: Maximum height of 60” and width of 40”, including the frame.

Three-dimensional work: Sculpture and small installation work are encouraged. Sculpture must fit through an average doorway and may not exceed 8 feet in height. Installation artists should reach out to The Studio Door before applying.

Contact forallweknow@thestudiodoor.com before submitting if you have questions about size or installation requirements.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In Good Company is open to SAN DIEGO COUNTY visual artists exclusively working in the exhibition’s theme.

This is considered a regional exhibition based in the San Diego region. 

Accepted media include painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, assemblage, collage, mixed media, fiber art, artist books, and sculpture. Oversized jewelry that can be presented as fine art is also eligible.

Glass, stained glass, ceramics, and stoneware are subject to the hand-delivery and pickup requirements stated above.

Performance art is not accepted. Video, film, installation, and works requiring an external electrical source require gallery approval before submission. Contact forallweknow@thestudiodoor.com to discuss these works.

All submissions must be the artist’s original work and available for sale.