Call for Entries
CSI offers our members the opportunity to apply to public indoor and outdoor exhibitions via our numerous curators and venues AND offers exhibition opportunities through our Project Space gallery. Partnerships between CSI and various institutions allow members to apply for juried shows around the Chicago area. CSI members have exhibited at Midwest colleges and universities, Lincoln Park and Garfield Park Conservatories and Expo Chicago along with the Richard Wright Gallery of Art at The College of Lake County, Koehnline Art Museum, Ukranian Museum of Art, the Beverly Arts Center, Epiphany Center for the Arts, and Bridgeport Art Center among others. We support artists by giving them exceptional opportunities for exhibitions for professional advancement and growth.
Shadows: Group Exhibit
Shadows
Group exhibit at CSI Project Space
March 1 - April 25, 2025
Submission Deadline: Friday, February 7, 2025
Shadows are more than just the absence of light—they are symbols of the hidden, the fleeting, and the ambiguous. Across psychology, literature, art, and philosophy, shadows have long served as metaphors for the complexities of human experience. They invite us to explore what lies beneath the surface, confront the unseen, and embrace the mystery of what we cannot fully grasp.
Carl Jung’s concept of the “shadow self” speaks to the parts of ourselves we often deny or suppress—the fears, flaws, and truths that challenge our ideal self-image. Yet, in engaging with this shadow, we embark on a journey of self-discovery, finding strength in vulnerability and balance in the dualities of our existence.
Shadows shift, stretch, and dissolve, echoing the impermanence of our world. They remind us to savor the fleeting beauty of the moment, to find wonder in the transient, and to reflect on life’s fragile brilliance.
If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member
Learn more about requirements and submit your entry HERE.
Location:
CSI Project Space
1912 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL
(at the corner of Cortland and Damen avenues)
Gallery hours:
Fri. 2-6 pm*
Sat. 12–8 pm
Sun. 1-5 pm
or by appointment
*Open until 8pm on the 1st of every of every month for West Town’s First Fridays
For more info: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org
Sculpture in the Parks 2025-2027 exhibition season
Call for Entries:
2025-2027 Sculpture in the Parks
Chicago Sculpture International, in collaboration with the Chicago Park District and parks in the Chicagoland area, is inviting artists to submit proposals for the 2025-2027 Sculpture in the Parks exhibition season (Park Cultural Centers and Arts in the Parks initiatives).
Works must be large-scale and suitable for outdoors. They will be installed on hardscape or softscape (grass), so artists must be prepared for, and make provisions for, either type of installation. Only select sites have concrete pads; all other sites are softscape. Sculptures will be on view for two years, from October 2025 to October 2027 (exact dates to be determined).
Each sculpture will receive a stipend of $4,200.
Application Deadline: Thursday, March 20, 2025, 11:59PM CST
Eligibility:
This call is open to professional artists who are at least 18 years of age. Artists whose proposals are accepted will be asked to join CSI if they are already not a member. There are many membership benefits, including exhibition and networking opportunities, a presence on our website and access to valuable professional information. See what we’re all about at: chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member.
Also, exhibitors must have Commercial General Liability Insurance (Primary and Umbrella) on an occurrence basis with limits not less than $1,000,000 single limit per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage.
How to apply:
Artists can submit one or two sculptures for review. Your submission should consist of:
• Two digital images per sculpture. Please send .jpg images (1.5MB in size or less), and use the following filename convention: 1. Lastname_title.jpg (e.g., 1. Rodin_The Thinker, front view.jpg; 2. Rodin_The Thinker, backview.jpg).
• A Completed Application
Put images and application into a zip folder and send it to info@chicagosculpture.org. Your subject line will be “Submission: Sculpture in the Parks 2025-2027”.
2025 CSI Biennale at Evanston Art Center
Call for Entries:
Chicago Sculpture International 2025 Biennale
Materiality in Sculpture: A Dialogue Between Substance and Form
This exhibition explores the interplay of materials in the realm of sculpture, showcasing works that challenge, celebrate, and redefine our understanding of material substance.
To connect your own work to this theme, consider how your choice of medium and subject matter can simultaneously reflect the physical and conceptual aspects.
Formats include freestanding, wall hung, interactive, installation & video. Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
About the Juror
Debra Favre is an artist who has exhibited in the Washington, DC and the Chicago areas. She is the past Chair of the Board of the Evanston Art Center and has been a juror on the Evanston Art Center’s Exhibitions Committee for the last 14 years. She studied Fine Arts at McDaniel College in Maryland and at the Corcoran School of Art and Design in Washington, DC.
Submission Deadline: Sunday, August 3rd, 2025, 11:59pm
If selected for the exhibition, artists must be a current CSI member or sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member
Required:
1 submission / 3 JPEG images
2D & 3D work accepted – sculptural installation work also encouraged
JPEG files 1800 x 1800 pixels, 300 dpi preferred
Image Label: ChrisSmith_title_image1.jpg
Brief Bio (100 words)
Artist statement (250 words)
Contact Info: name, address, phone, email
Website link / Instagram handle (optional)
Purchase price or NFS
Insurance value
35% of sales goes to Evanston Art Center
Artist required to add return postage if necessary
Important Dates:
Exhibition: September 27th, 2025 through November 9th, 2025
Opening Reception: Sunday, September 28th, 2025
Submission Deadline: Sunday, August 3rd, 2025, 11:59pm
Notification Date: Monday, August 25, 2025
Exhibition Location:
Evanston Art Center
1717 Central St.
Evanston, IL 60201
Questions? Contact info@chicagosculptors.com
Little, but BOLD! CSI Member Benefit Art Auction - Call for Entries
Little, but BOLD!
CSI Member Benefit Art Auction
Submission Deadline: Sunday Nov, 3, 2024
Opening Night Live & Silent Auction: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024
Exhibition Dates: Dec. 7, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025
CSI Project Space announces an open call for the CSI Member Benefit Art Auction of small works at our member gallery space in Bucktown. On opening night, we will offer 5 art works for sale at a live auction and the rest of the art works will all be on a silent auction. Buyers get to take art home that night!
Little, but BOLD! is in celebration of all things un-monumental. Often flying under the radar, small things have the special ability to bridge private and public spaces. Within the sculpture field, there has been a projected narrative that bigger is better. We are here to assert that small things can hold the same importance as the largest monument.
Guidelines:
Applicants must be CSI members
All submissions must be smaller than 12 in. x 12 in.
2D and 3D work accepted - open theme small works
Wall mounted sculptures or sculptural work encouraged
All work must be available for sale through the auction
Please note:
This is a fundraising benefit for CSI members. Each artist will receive a 50% commission of the sale price. But this is an auction, so please provide us with your minimum bid price. For example, if the piece is valued at $500 then the minimum bid could be $250 and the piece could sell for $250 and you the artist needs to be okay with that selling price, so please price accordingly. We are requesting exhibiting artists to help with Opening Auction Night and/or to cover 1 or 2 gallery sitting shifts during the duration of the exhibition.
Submission Instructions:
Please submit 1 image only and all information on this Google submission form here: tinyurl.com/littlebutbold2024
Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
One (1) jpeg ONLY: Title, size, medium, and priced for 50% to artist and 50% to CSI
Important Dates:
Submission Deadline: Sunday Nov, 3, 2024
Notification: Sunday, Nov 10, 2024
Drop off artwork: Sat. Nov. 30 and Sun, Dec 1
Opening Night Live & Silent Auction: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024
Exhibition Dates: Dec. 7, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025
If your artwork is Unsold. Pick up artwork Saturday, January 27th or Sunday, January 28th, 2025
We look forward to viewing your submissions!
Holiday Cheers.
CSI Project Space is located at 1912 N. Damen Avenue in Chicago.
CSI Project Space
1912 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL
(at the corner of Cortland and Damen Avenues, in the Bucktown neighborhood)
Gallery hours:
Fri. 2-6 pm
Sat. 12–8 pm
Sun. 1-5 pm
or by appointment
Wearing masks in the gallery is recommended
For more info: projectspace@chicagosculpture.org
Existing is Political - Call for Entries
Existing is Political
Group Exhibit at CSI Project Space
Entry Deadline: Friday, September 27, 2024Existing is Political
Chicago Sculpture International Project Space
Entry Deadline: Friday, September 27, 2024
“Existing is Political” explores the notion that simply "being" - existing in one’s body, culture, gender, or identity - carries political weight and significance. In an era marked by a two-party system with sharply defined platforms, this exhibition examines how the principles "equality and justice for all" fit into contemporary society. By showcasing diverse voices and perspectives, it aims to inspire dialogue and foster a deeper understanding of existence as a political act in order to inspire action towards a genuinely inclusive society.
Applicants must be current CSI members. Click here to sign-up for a membership.
2D-3D work accepted – Sculptural installation work encouraged.
Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
Short paragraph statement about the work.
Artists must install their work.
Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
1 to 3 jpg images (+ image details): Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation to CSI added
Submit on this Google form here: https://forms.gle/nhvWW3VKHjcGXZaGA
Exhibition Dates: October 19 – November 22, 2024
Notification: Saturday, October 5
Artwork Drop-off: Saturday & Sunday, October 12-13, from 1-5 pm.
Opening: Saturday, October 19, from 6-9 pm.
Artwork Pick-up: Saturday & Sunday, November 23-24, from 1-5 pm.
Please Note: We request exhibiting artists to cover 1 to 2 gallery-sitting shifts during the show.
Call for Entries: "Self | Portraits" group show
Self | Portraits
Chicago Sculpture International Project Space
Entry Deadline: Friday, May 3, 2024
Artists periodically ask themselves, “How am I doing?”. A closer look often inspires auto-biographical work. Objects are born of thoughts and feelings, then made from an examined life. Self | Portraits invites sculptors to check-in on their condition.
Curated by Thomas Plum
• Applicants must be current CSI members or If applicant is not a current member you will be required to join CSI if their work is accepted into the exhibit. To sign-up for membership: www.chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member
• 3D work accepted – Sculptural installation work encouraged.
• Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
• Artists must install their own work.
• An artist’s statement and short bio will be required for the accepted piece.
• Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
• 1 to 3 .jpg-formatted images (+ image details): Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation to CSI added
Submit on this Google form here: https://forms.gle/YaAdqMopfC4bhpUL7
Exhibition Dates: June 8 – July 12, 2024
Notification: Wednesday, May 29 & Thursday, May 30
Artwork Drop-off: Saturday, June 1 & Sunday, June 2, from 1-5 pm.
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 8, from 6-9 pm.
Artwork Pick-up: Saturday, July 13 & Sunday, July 14, from 1-5 pm.
Please Note: We request exhibiting artists to cover 1 to 2 gallery-sitting shifts during the show.
By Degrees III (2024)
Above (left to right): Fairy Ring by Greta Olson, Soil Samples by Kristina Rogers, Two-Headed Fawn by Ariana Hocking, and Rest Area by Stella Moon
By Degrees III (2024):
Call for Submissions
Often an artist’s most groundbreaking work comes from being immersed in a culture of study and intellectual pursuit. Chicago, home to some of the most globally revered academic arts institutions, could be considered a sort of proving ground for tomorrow’s most promising contemporary emerging artists.
Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) is calling for artists who are enrolled in, or recently (2023 or later) graduated from a degree-seeking program to submit works of sculpture, installation, and media work to be featured in the third annual juried group exhibition By Degrees, scheduled for September 14 - October 4, 2024, at CSI Project Space in Chicago.
Artists will be able to submit up to 3 works for consideration. There is no fee for entry.
Accepted artists will be granted a one-year non-transferrable student membership to CSI.
This call is not limited to students and graduates of Chicago-area institutions, but accepted artists will be required to gallery sit for at least one 4-hour shift during the exhibition run.
Application Requirements:
Applicants must be enrolled in, or recently (2023 or later) graduated from a degree-seeking program.
The artwork submitted must be able to fit within a normal-sized single-door storefront.
1-3 jpeg images, or links to media files. Image files should not be larger than 2MB. Each artist may submit up to 3 artwork entries.
Artwork information that corresponds with submitted images; including title of work, material, dimensions, year, and sale price, if offered for sale. CSI retains a 30% commission on sales.
Artist Statement.
Contact information including email, address and phone number along with optional inclusion of website and Instagram handle.
Accepted artists must commit to gallery sitting one 4-hour shift during the exhibition run.
Application Form:
Please complete the application form here; https://forms.gle/ewBWZx4UaLwVyj6Q8
Important Dates:
Application Deadline: Sunday, July 28, 2024 Midnight Central Standard Time
Notification by: Sunday, August 18, 2024
Artwork Drop-Off Date: Sunday, September 8, 2024, 1-5 pm.
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 14, 2024, 6-9 pm.
Pick-Up/Deinstall Artwork: Sat/Sun, October 5-6, 2024, 1-5 pm.
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, September 14 - Friday, October 4, 2024
For any questions contact projectspace@chicagosculpture.org
Unfavorable Conditions
Unfavorable Conditions
February 17 - April 19, 2024
Unfavorable Conditions prompts reflection on the human ability to navigate storms, both internal and external, and emerge on the other side transformed.
This exhibit examines the resilience inherent in the human spirit, encouraging a collective acknowledgment of the strength that arises when faced with life's challenges.
2D and 3D work accepted - Sculptural work encouraged
Open interpretations of the exhibit theme are welcomed.
Contact Info: Name, address, phone, email, website
1 to 3 .jpg images: Title, medium, size, price with 30% donation added
Entry Deadline: February 2nd, 2024
Notification: Weds, Feb. 7-8
Artwork Drop-off: Sat/Sun, Feb. 10-11, from 1-5 pm.
Opening: Saturday, Feb. 17, from 6-9 pm.
Exhibit Dates: Feb. 17 – April 19, 2024
Artwork Pick-up: Sat/Sun, April 20-21, from 1-5 pm.
Please Note: We request exhibiting artists to cover 1 or 2 gallery-sitting shifts during the show.
Click here to apply
Sculpture in the Parks 2024-2026 season
RFP: 2024-2026 Sculpture in the Parks
Chicago Sculpture International, in collaboration with the Chicago Park District and parks in the Chicagoland area, is inviting artists to submit proposals for the 2024-2026 Sculpture in the Parks exhibition season.
Works must be large-scale and suitable for outdoors. They will be installed on hardscape or softscape (grass), so artists must be prepared for either type of installation. Only select sites have concrete pads; all other sites are softscape. Sculptures will be on view for two years, from October 2024 to October 2026 (exact dates to be determined). Each sculpture will receive a stipend of $3000.
Application Deadline: Thursday, March 21, 2024, 11:59 PM CST
Eligibility: This call is open to professional artists who are at least 18 years of age. Artists whose proposals are accepted will be asked to join CSI if they are already not a member. There are many membership benefits, including exhibition and networking opportunities, a presence on our website and access to valuable professional information. See what we’re all about at: chicagosculpture.org/become-a-member.
Also, exhibitors must have Commercial General Liability Insurance (Primary and Umbrella) on an occurrence basis with limits not less than $1,000,000 single limit per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage.
How to apply:
Artists can submit one or two sculptures for review. Your submission should consist of:
· Two digital images per sculpture. Please send .jpg images (1.5MB in size or less), and use the following filename convention:
1. Lastname_title.jpg
(e.g., 1. Rodin_The Thinker, front view.jpg; 2. Rodin_The Thinker, back view.jpg).
· A completed application.
Put images and application into a zip folder and send it to info@chicagosculpture.org.
Your subject line will be “Sculpture in the Parks 2024-2026.”