2026 Photography Exhibit

The Black Swamp Arts Center is hosting a Photography Exhibit from January 16 – February 27, 2026, at Black Swamp Art Center in Archbold, Ohio. Photographers may submit a maximum of 5 photographs for consideration, with no more than 2 per category. Photographs must be the artist's original work with no photographer's names, logos, or titles visible on the front. Only one photo per image or frame is permitted.

The exhibit features six categories: Human Stories (portraits, candid moments, documentary-style images, daily life, emotion-driven work); Landscapes & Environments (natural scenes, rural and urban landscapes, environmental textures, sense-of-place imagery); Abstract & Experimental (patterns, macro shots, minimalism, motion blur, unconventional perspectives, artistic experimentation); Stillness & Objects (still life, architectural details, found objects, quiet scenes focusing on form, shape, and composition); and Light & Shadow (high-contrast studies, black-and-white work, dramatic lighting, mood-driven photography).

All accepted works must be framed with a sturdy wire hanger securely attached. Conventional frames (enclosed on all four sides) are mandatory, with screw eyes or metal eyes and wire required. The minimum visible print size is 25 united inches (length plus width of visible print), and the maximum is 66 united inches (length plus width of outside frame measurement). Submit original, high-quality JPEG files at least 1500 pixels on the longest edge with a maximum file size of 30 MB. Images should be cropped to show only the artwork itself.

Awards include Best of Show ($300), Outstanding Awards (3 at $150 each), Merit Awards (3 at $50 each), People's Choice ($50), and Honorable Mentions (3). Entry deadline is January 2, 2026. Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the deadline. For questions, contact [email protected].