call for art – this place is strange

Midwest Nice Art is announcing a spring call for art for "this place is strange," a virtual exhibition. The exhibition explores the weird underbelly of place and practice—the stuff hiding just below the surface. Artists are invited to submit work exploring folklore and local myths, rust belt decay, empty suburbs and boredom, uncanny moments, and outsider perspectives that tap into the darker, messier, more complex parts of everyday life. While the call plays off a Midwest stereotype, artists from anywhere are welcome to submit, and the work does not have to be about the Midwest.

Any mediums are welcome, including sculpture, painting, collage, photography, digital art, video art, installation, ceramics, performance art, and more. Artists may submit up to 3 artworks for a $5 fee. The submission deadline is March 20, 2026. Students may submit for free using the code student26 (school email required). Artists will receive notification one week after the deadline. The exhibition will go live in April 2026. The exhibition will be juried by Morgan Laurens.