Above, Around, Below

Van Der Plas Gallery invites artists to submit work for "Around, Above, Below," a contemporary group exhibition exploring spatial perception. Selected artists will exhibit in our Lower East Side gallery as part of our ongoing Open Call Program, which supports emerging and established contemporary artists working across all mediums.
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On view: October 1st - October 15th, 2026.
Opening reception: October 1st, 2026, 6 - 8 pm
Submission deadline: September 17th, 2026.
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Submission Details
Open to all artists • Up to 4 artworks • Application fee required ​

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see. — Edgar Degas

"Around, Above, Below" is a group exhibition exploring perception and the experience of daily life as we move through urban environments, rural landscapes, and the spaces in between. By translating these perspectives into art, artists can share a deeper understanding of our human experience and the countless ways we interpret the world in and around us.

Artists are invited to participate and share their individual creative process with a palette of unique color combinations and gestural brushwork. A fluid line of penmanship, or a unique meditative lens, gives each artwork endless possibilities and uniqueness.

The exhibition embraces a dialogue between the built environment and the natural world, encouraging artists to explore a balance between tension and harmony and how these relationships can contribute and coexist.

Artists working in all media are encouraged to submit, including painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, mixed media, and digital art.