Priority: International Juried Exhibition

Charles Adams Gallery invites artists worldwide to submit flat, unframed, two-dimensional artwork for Priority: International Juried Exhibition, juried by Leslie Moody Castro. This open-themed exhibition embraces the full range of 2D practices—across media, scale, and intent—while emphasizing immediacy, material presence, and global exchange. In a time of increased nationalism, political division, and narrowing borders, Priority affirms the importance of maintaining international artistic partnerships. Whether artworks travel thousands of miles or come from just down the street, each submission represents an act of connection and dialogue. By welcoming works through the mail, this exhibition honors the democratic nature of sending and receiving art: individual pieces converging into a broader global conversation. Packaging elements and postal ephemera may be preserved and integrated into the installation as part of the visual and conceptual narrative.

Open to artists worldwide aged 18 and older, Priority invites submissions of unframed, original flat 2D works in any medium, including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, collage, and mixed media. Eligible work must measure between 2" x 3" (A8) and 18" x 24" (B2) and must have been completed within the last five years. Works may be on paper, canvas, panel, metal, wood, or any alternative flat surfaces. Both traditional works and mail-art formats are welcome. Works must arrive exhibition-ready with installation hardware included, preferred installation method noted, or acceptance that the gallery may install using clips, magnets, putty, or other non-damaging methods. All artwork must be for sale, with Charles Adams Gallery retaining a 40% commission in the event of a sale.

The exhibition opens October 3, 2025, in conjunction with First Friday Art Trail, a monthly event that brings thousands of visitors to downtown Lubbock. Winners will be announced during the opening reception, with award details including cash prizes to be announced by mid-July. The juror will select all award recipients, including a Best in Show honoree who may be considered for a solo exhibition at Charles Adams Gallery in 2026. Entry fee is $35.00 plus $5.00 media fee. International artists located outside the United States may apply for a $30 coupon code by August 15, 2025. Early bird applications submitted by August 3, 2025 receive $10 off using coupon code "EarlyBird." Accepted artists are responsible for all shipping costs to and from the gallery. All accepted work must arrive between September 1 and September 27, 2025. After the exhibition, artists may choose to have unsold work returned at their own expense or donate it to the gallery.