Naturalist Gallery Square Format Collection

The Square Format Collection at Naturalist Gallery of Contemporary Art examines how contemporary artists engage the square not merely as a neutral container, but as an active constraint shaping decision-making, perception, and meaning. The collection considers how symmetry, centering, repetition, fragmentation, and containment operate when orientation is withheld and balance becomes provisional rather than resolved. Works may approach the square through formal rigor, conceptual framing, material economy, or perceptual disruption. Submissions are reviewed with attention to how the square format is integrated into the work's conceptual logic and formal resolution. Evaluation prioritizes coherence, intentionality, and contextual relevance rather than novelty of format alone.

This open call is international and welcomes artists working in all visual media, excluding video. All submitted works must be square in format (height and width equal). Artists must be 18 years or older. The application fee is $30. Submissions may include a minimum of 1 artwork and a maximum of 20 artworks.

Selected works will be documented and archived as part of the Square Format Collection, presented within the collection's public presentation for a minimum of 60 days, and made available for sale under Naturalist Gallery's net pricing model. Selected artists may also be considered for optional institutional placements, including Featured Collection Placement, New Arrivals Curated Placement, and Institutional Publication Inclusion. Additional fees apply for these optional placements. All submissions are reviewed by Naturalist Gallery's curatorial team. Exhibition dates: 2/17/26 – 4/18/26.