50 Years Later: Davidson National Print and Drawing Competition

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the final Davidson National Print and Drawing Competition—an event that once brought some of the most compelling contemporary works on paper to Davidson College—the Galleries invite submissions from contemporary artists who incorporate different forms of printmaking and drawing into their work of any media.This exhibition honors the legacy of the competition, organized by Herb Jackson ’67, which relied on important contemporary art world figures as jurors, such as Marcia Tucker and Clement Greenberg. Through the competition, the college acquired more than 50 works for the Permanent Art Collection.

We are seeking work by artists who push the boundaries of traditional print and drawing practices. Submissions are open to professional and emerging artists working in any print media or drawing, including but not limited to: intaglio, lithography, screenprint, relief, monotype, digital print, graphite, ink, charcoal, mixed media, and experimental forms.

Process and Exhibition Details:

• Artists will submit sample artworks that properly demonstrate your work. 
• Panelists will review all submissions and collectively select up to 8 artists for exhibition:
  • Caitlin Haskell,  Gary C. and Frances Comer Senior Curator in Modern and Contemporary Art and Director of Ray Johnson Collections and Research a the Art Institute of Chicago. Haskell is an alum of Davidson College.
  • Maria Elena Ortiz, Curator, The Modern, Fort Worth, TX
  • TK Smith,  Curator, Writer, Cultural Historian, Atlanta, GA
• After panelists select finalists, Gallery Director/Curator Lia Newman will then work with each artist to determine what they will exhibit. Artists will have roughly the same space allocations, but the number of works will vary with media, scale, etc.

Eligibility Criteria:

Submissions are open to professional and emerging artists working in any print media or drawing, including but not limited to: intaglio, lithography, screenprint, relief, monotype, digital print, graphite, ink, charcoal, mixed media, and experimental forms.

Those currently enrolled in educational programs are not eligible for this competition.

Application Requirements:

• Up to 8 artworks created in the last three years that properly demonstrate your work. 
• Artist Statement
• Biography
• CV