this place is strange

Midwest Nice Art is excited to announce our spring call for art for this place is strange, a virtual exhibition. for better or worse, the midwest has a “nice” reputation, with friendly smiles, polite small talk, and a whole lot of “ope, sorry!” But underneath that kind surface level, things can get a little… strange.

That’s what we want to see! The weird underbelly of place and practice. The stuff hiding just below the surface. Think folklore and local myths, rust belt decay, empty suburbs and boredom, uncanny moments, and outsider perspectives that tap into the darker, messier, more complex parts of everyday life. while we’re playing off a Midwest stereotype, artists from anywhere are welcome to submit, and the work doesn’t have to be about the Midwest at all. Show us what’s lurking beneath the nice of your practice. this exhibition will be juried by morgan laurens; visit Goblin market for some inspiration!

the exhibition will examine these ideas through a variety of mediums in art. any mediums are welcome, including but not limited to sculpture, painting, collage, photography, digital art, video art, installation, ceramics, performance art…anything you can think of! you may submit up to 3 artworks for a $5 fee, due march 20, 2026. artists will receive a notification a week after the deadline. students may submit for free with the code student26 (to use this, please use your school email when applying). the exhibition will go live april 2026.