Request for Submissions: Houston Reframed, Downtown Houston+ Storefront Digital Artwork Series

Deadline: Monday, October 20, 2025, 5:00pm CST
Artwork Budget: $2,000 to $8,000 per design, 10 designs selected 
Location: Downtown Houston various locations
Apply: PublicArtist.org

Project Overview
Downtown Houston+, in partnership with Piper Faust Public Art, invites Houston-based artists and galleries to submit designs for Houston Reframed, a temporary public art initiative that will activate 10 storefront windows across Downtown Houston.

Houston Reframed aims to highlight the strength and diversity of Houston’s creative community through a curated selection of large-scale artworks that reflect a wide range of voices, styles, and disciplines, contributing to the dynamic character of the downtown streetscape. Artists are invited to submit works that capture the spirit of Houston, drawing on its culture, neighborhoods, people, or landscapes, and folding the city’s many layers into the downtown experience.

Final artworks should be designed to translate effectively to large scale vinyl, which will be installed in high visibility, street level windows throughout the downtown core.

Budget
Each selected artist will receive a design stipend ranging from $2,000 to $8,000, based on the scale of the assigned site and the complexity of the adaptation. This fee covers the artist’s time, concept development, and delivery of a high resolution, print ready file.

Artists will be paid in two phases, 50 percent upon contract execution and 50 percent upon delivery of the final artwork file. All vinyl production and installation costs will be covered by the project partners and do not come out of the artist’s fee.

Eligibility
Open to artists and galleries based in the Greater Houston area, defined as the nine-county region of Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Liberty, Waller, Chambers, and Austin counties. Priority will be given to those who live and work in this region or have a meaningful connection to Houston through representation or practice.

Applicants must be 18 or older and eligible to work in the United States. Artists at all career stages and across all visual disciplines are welcome, including painting, photography, printmaking, digital art, mixed media, and sculpture adapted for print.

Artists may apply directly or be submitted by their gallery. Collaborative teams may submit one joint application. Selected artists will work with the project team to deliver a final high resolution digital file for large scale vinyl printing.

Site Information
This project will activate 10 ground level storefront windows throughout Downtown Houston with large scale vinyl artworks. Sites vary in size, ranging from approximately 100 square feet to more than 1,600 square feet, and are in high visibility pedestrian areas. Final artwork must be delivered as a high resolution, print ready file that matches provided vinyl specifications.

Artists will not be asked to request or select specific sites. Site assignments will be made by the project team based on visual composition, scale, and curatorial balance across all locations. Final site specifications and dimensions will be provided to selected artists during the file preparation phase.

Artist Selection and Review Criteria
A selection panel composed of art professionals and downtown stakeholders will review all eligible submissions and select artists. Submissions will be reviewed based on the following:

• Celebrate Houston’s Artistic Talent: Highlight the creativity and diversity of Houston based artists and galleries through large scale, high visibility artworks in the heart of downtown.
• Activate Public Space: Bring visual energy and vibrancy to the streetscape by transforming storefront windows into dynamic, curated art displays.
• Reimagine Underutilized Storefronts: Transform temporarily vacant or underused spaces through thoughtful, high quality art installations that engage the public and enhance the urban environment.
• Encourage Discovery: Create an accessible, walkable art experience that sparks exploration and connection among both locals and visitors.
• Reflect a Sense of Place: Support artworks that connect to Houston’s culture, people, and neighborhoods in ways that enhance the downtown experience.

Application Requirements

All materials must be submitted via PublicArtist.org by Monday, October 20, 2025, 5:00 pm CST.

Applicants must include:

1. Letter of Interest (up to 1 page)

Include your name, contact information, and website or social media. Briefly describe your artistic practice, how your work relates to this opportunity, and if relevant, how it connects to Houston’s identity in thoughtful or unexpected ways.

2. Résumé (1–2 pages)
3. Brief Artist Statement (up to 300 words)
4. Submission Images

Provide one of the following:

• Up to three images of existing artworks you would like considered for adaptation (with title, medium, year)
• Up to three concept sketches or renderings that illustrate the type of work you would propose if selected

*Note: only one artwork will be selected per artist. Final designs must be submitted as high resolution, print ready files that match provided vinyl specifications.

Contracting

Selected artists will enter into a non-exclusive license agreement with Piper Faust Public Art that outlines the scope of use, deliverables, and compensation. Artists retain all rights to their original work. This license grants project partners the right to print and publicly display the artwork at the assigned site for a specified duration.

Timeline

All dates are subject to change.

RFQ Release:                                                          Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Submissions Due:                                             Monday, October 20, 2025

Artist Notifications:                                            Week of November 3, 2025

Final Artwork Files Due:                                  December 2025

Vinyl Installation Begins:                                December 2025/January 2026

Public Launch:                                                       Early 2026

Contact
For questions and/or more information, please contact:
Piper Faust
piper@piperfaustpublicart.com