Answer As Question, Juried Exhibit in Partnership with Seattle Art Museum

Answer As Question is Columbia City Gallery's 17th Annual Juried Exhibit, inspired by and in response to Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei, on view at SAM from March 12 – September 7, 2025. The exhibit invites artists of all mediums to lean into investigation as a form of artistic expression. José Carlos Diaz, SAM's Susan Brotman Deputy Director for Art, will jury and curate this exhibit. Columbia City Gallery and SAM are inspired by Ai Weiwei's relentless pursuit of questioning authority through his work, particularly his Citizen's Investigation following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, which uncovered details on student casualties and led to iconic works demonstrating the heartbreaking reality of lives lost.

All artists working in 2D and/or 3D media are encouraged to submit artwork completed within the past three years that reflects the theme Answer As Question. The exhibit invites rigorous examination, emphasizing work rooted in research, asking questions, and uncovering hidden perspectives through investigation. For a $30 entry fee, you may submit up to 3 pieces of artwork. Please submit between 1-5 photos per piece and up to 1 video per piece. Awards: $500 First place, $300 Second place, and $200 Third place.

Entry deadline is June 16, 2025, 11:59 p.m. MDT. Notifications will be emailed by June 24, 2025. The exhibit runs from July 23 - August 31, 2025. Accepted artwork must be delivered by Monday, July 21, 2025, 11 a.m. PT. The Artists' Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. PT. All unsold artwork must be picked up between August 31 after closing and September 2, 2025. All artwork in the exhibit must be for sale; the Gallery will take 50% commission on works sold. 2D works must be properly prepared for exhibiting with wire securely attached. Sculpture must be able to stand on its own without wobbling. Each accepted work must arrive with a label with your name, artwork title, dimensions, material, and price securely attached to the work. Write-ups about the work are recommended to help communicate the theme and the general idea of artist as investigator. This application is open to artists worldwide, though shipping costs are the artist's responsibility. The first 15 artists who reach out to [email protected] with interest in applying will receive free admission to Ai, Rebel at SAM.