Larger Than Life: The Everyday Made Big - Sculpture Exhibition

The City of Roanoke, through the Roanoke Arts Commission, is accepting submissions for freestanding sculpture responding to the theme "Larger than Life." The installation celebrates the 15th anniversary of the public artwork Trojan Dog by artist Ann Glover, with a call for oversized reimaginings of everyday objects. Both proposed work and finished pieces will be considered. The two-year lease of each work (not to exceed $4,500 per piece) will be funded through Roanoke's Percent for Art fund.

This invitation is extended to all artists 18 and older or supervised student groups under an applicant instructor or institutional program. Regional artists and teams with connections to Roanoke are strongly encouraged to apply, as are women and artists of color. Innovative approaches are welcomed, including partnerships between emerging and established artists or between artists and fabricators.

Works must be of a scale and material suitable for outdoor display, designed to withstand an outdoor, high traffic, unmonitored environment, require little or no maintenance for the two-year duration, be original, suitable for family viewing, and constructed to be securely anchored. The Art Walk includes up to seven available pads, each 6' by 6' and capable of holding up to 1,500 lbs. Work cannot exceed 15' tall or 6' wide. Anchor bolts are required and must be set at least six inches from the edges of the pads.

Each artist may submit up to 3 proposed sculptures or concepts. Submissions must include: an artist statement (300 words max), a project statement (500 words max) describing the response and demonstrating understanding of the community, concept or sculpture images, an illustration of how the piece will be anchored, an anticipated project budget (maximum $4,500), and contact information for two professional references. Selected artists will be notified by February 23, 2025. Installation is scheduled between May 5-15, 2025. Works are to be picked up between April 26 and May 6, 2027. There is no entry fee.