Smack Mellon Emerging Artist Summer 2027 Open Call

Smack Mellon is a non-profit art space in Brooklyn, New York, known for supporting emerging and under-recognised artists. Its Emerging Artist Summer 2027 group exhibition is guest-curated by Alma Chaouachi, and the open call invites artists living and working in the greater New York City area to submit work. There is no submission fee, and the deadline is 1 December 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

The exhibition takes as its starting point Vishal Rawlley's Hauz-i-Shamsi (2010), and looks for works that consider site-specificity, infrastructures, systems and the conditions that let an artwork become a site for collectivity.

Who Can Apply?

Emerging artists living and working in the greater New York City area; there is no budget for shipping or travel. "Emerging" means at the beginning of a public artistic career: artists with widely recognised solo exhibitions, consistent opportunities, awards and press, or more than ten years of public exposure, are not considered emerging. Age is not a factor. Artists cannot be enrolled in a degree programme during the exhibition. It is particularly relevant to:

• Recent graduates and self-taught artists in New York
• Artists working with site, infrastructure and collective practice
• Video, installation and performance artists

Entry Fees

No submission fee is mentioned.

What Do Selected Artists Receive?

• Inclusion in a curated group exhibition at Smack Mellon in summer 2027
• A small stipend, set by the curator once all artists are selected
• Visibility with the New York art community and press

Submission Requirements

• Up to 3 images, named Lastname_Firstname_01.jpg
• Up to 2 video excerpts of 3 minutes each, for time-based, moving-image or performance work only
• An image list (PDF) with title, date, medium, dimensions and up to 100 words per work
• An artist statement (PDF) of 150–200 words
• A current CV (PDF)

Why Apply?

A group exhibition in a respected non-profit space is often the step that leads to solo shows, residencies and press. The space is well known in New York for giving emerging artists serious curatorial attention and a professional exhibition.

How to Make a Strong Application

Read the curatorial premise and choose works that respond to it directly: site-specificity, systems and collectivity. With only three images, each one must count; show finished works clearly, with good documentation. The statement should be specific about your practice and how it relates to the theme, not a general biography. For video, choose an excerpt that stands on its own in the first few seconds.

About Smack Mellon

The organisation is a non-profit in DUMBO, Brooklyn, that supports emerging, under-recognised and mid-career artists through exhibitions, studio programmes and artist services.

Understanding the Curatorial Premise

The starting point, Vishal Rawlley's Hauz-i-Shamsi, invites artists to think about how a work relates to the place and the systems around it: water, public space, shared resources, the infrastructure that makes gatherings possible. Works do not need to illustrate this literally. Projects about community gardens, public transport, neighbourhood networks or the hidden systems of a city could all respond in their own way.

After You Apply

Artists are notified in March 2027. If you are not selected, keep the application: the images, statement and CV you prepared can be adapted for other open calls in New York and beyond.

Things to Consider

• New York only: artists must live and work in the greater NYC area.
• Emerging status: check the definition before applying.
• Free to apply: no fee mentioned.
• Deadline: 1 December 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Apply to the Open Call

Ready to apply?

Apply to Smack Mellon

For the full call and submission details, visit the official Smack Mellon website.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 28, 2026