July Open Call: Animalia

Industry:

Organisation:

Eligibility:

Not for profit:

Our July Open Call, “Animalia," has been created by our 34 Gallery Art Advisor Lawrence W. Lee to generate discussion on emotions that often defy words. Previous Winners can be found on the Open Calls page of our website. Our initiative aims to channel the power of art to explore monthly mental health themes through art therapy.  This month, we are particularly interested in works by artists who reduce mental health distress through self-care with the assistance of pets, guide/therapy animals and the natural world.

Why Animals Matter in Art

  • "Animalia" is scientific name for the kingdom that contains all animals, including humans.
  • Artists use animals in their art to show feelings they don’t want to say out loud. It’s like telling a secret to a pet who won’t judge you.
  • Animals and the nature depicted in art assist in the expression of fears, dreams, hopes, and the intangible.
  • This method can be utilized to explore often intangible concepts like instinct, aloneness, freedom, or the sublime.
  • For reference, a few examples of artists uses animals and nature as a form of expression: Frida KahloPablo PicassoDavid HockneyLouise BourgeoisDamien Hirst, & Banksy.

Themes: We ask artists to explore the connection between humanity and the natural world. We invite you to express your own connection with animals and nature.  It might be an old cat who shared your childhood bed or a wild bird of prey that represents the strength and freedom you are longing for. Show us what "Animalia" means to you!

Remember: Artists create Golden Ages. Join us in starting one! Let's remind humanity to embrace the light of who we are. Your artistic advocacy with us can and will make a difference. As a Mental Health Art Gallery, we are asking Creatives to mobilize to help save lives at this time. Someone seeing your work can be inspired to keep going with hope and resilience despite their mental health struggles. 

Requirements: Submit up to 3 artworks or poems by June 27th. Include the following questions in your cover letter: 

  • Your artist name, artwork titles, and website/social media links.  
  • 1 - 2 paragraphs describing the creative process regarding your work & how it fits with the Open Call Theme. 
  • 1 - 2 paragraphs describing how animals and nature play a role in your mental health routine or have helped you navigate difficult emotional circumstances. 

Selected artists will be notified by July 10th. 

Restrictions: 

  • Be advised that this open call also includes a global youth & adult audience. 
  • Works that are sexually graphic and/or advocate violence (self or others), discrimination, or hatred (societal/gender/religious/cultural) of any kind will be disqualified. 
  • Technique for this call is open but not limited to: Open Medium. Poetry, Audiovisual & A.I. Artwork Accepted.  
  • File Type: .MP4, .JPG, .PNG --File Size: Up to 100 MB for art & audiovisual submissions; Word, Google Docs, .PDF for poetry.
Prizes Details: 

The 34 Gallery is an international Virtual Arts Initiative based on UN Agenda 2030 SDG 3.4 and created by SimukaAfrica.org to promote global mental health. Selected Artists will work with our Curator M. for inclusion in our website gallery, Interludes interviews, social media campaigns and additional opportunities with UNV.org. As a Mental Health Arts Gallery, we represent our artists with care and precision while providing a therapeutic outlet for the 85% of the global population without access to mental health care services.  The 34 Gallery accepts no fees or payments of any kind for art sales. All inquiries are forwarded directly to our artists.

Event date: 
July 10, 2025
Location: 
34Gallery.org
Deadline: 
27/June/2025

Entry Fee:

Contact & Links: 
Call for Submissions

Chinwe Russell Art Gallery

#international #Global #online

Living Artists Contemporary Art Auction

25/June/2025

Call for Submissions

Goddessarts Magazine

Karlsruhe/Germany Online

Open Call for issue 18 of the Goddessarts Magazine - plus exhibition and interview

15/June/2025

Call for Artists

Studio 88 Artist Residency

Chiang Mai

SoulScapes: The Healing Arts Residency

15/June/2025

Call for Submissions

Gonzaga Gómez-Cortázar Romero

International

Films of Return: Filmmakers & Video Artists Face the Climate Emergency

15/June/2025

Call for Artists

Dominique Sahms

Beneath the Surface

15/June/2025

Call for Artists

Kevin Harris

Santa Clara

Expanding the Field; New Ideas in and Beyond Print

09/July/2025

Residency

Ucross Foundation

Clearmont

Spring 2026 Open Call Ucross Fellowship for Native American Artists

15/July/2025

Call for Submissions

Feixue Mei

Harrisonburg

Boundless Bound Symposium and Art Book Fair

01/July/2025

Call for Submissions

Kathryn Chapman

#international #Global #online

DREAMING

15/June/2025

Call for Submissions

Domio Gallery

London

Contemporaries – New Works 2025 – Part 1

12/June/2025

Call for Entries

VAA

Online

Visual Art Open 2025

12/June/2025

Call for Artists

Collect Art

Tbilisi

A Rainbow of Perspectives

18/June/2025

Residency

Studio 88 Artist Residency

Chiang Mai

SensoryScapes Performance Art Residency

30/June/2025

Call for Artists

Arte Laguna Prize

Venice

Arte Laguna Prize 20

31/July/2025

Call for Artists

Ten Moir Gallery

Kansas City

Ebb and Flow 2025 Art Competition & Exhibition

30/June/2025

Call for Artists

The Heart of Europe

DUBAI

Art Avenue mural project

15/June/2025

Call for Artists

GENIUS LOCI WEIMAR

Weimar

GENIUS LOCI WEIMAR | VIDEOMAPPING AND LIGHT ART COMPETITION

15/June/2025

Call for Artists

Hudson Valley Art Organization

Vernon Ct

32nd Annual Renaissance in Pastel

14/July/2025

Call for Artists

Culture Sower Global Media

usa, China

"Celebration of Being" Global Healing Art Contest and Exhibition

30/June/2025