Calls for Entries                                  newsletter

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Dolling up the lens: Barbie

A curated international photography exhibition

December 14, 2023 – January 6, 2024  

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The Barbie phenomenon, spanning over six decades, has left an indelible mark on our culture. It has been a source of inspiration, sparking imaginations, while also evoking strong criticism for its potential impact on body image, self-perception, and identity. Unlike traditional dolls, Barbie emerged as an adult figure, presenting a complete spectrum of allure and sexuality, thus embodying a symbol of beauty and desire. Barbie's world-building transcended mere play; it resembled the art of theater production and film direction, akin to the creative process behind staged photography. Barbie, in her own right, can be seen as an early physical avatar, foreshadowing the virtual avatars prevalent in today's digital realm. Even contemporary video games draw upon the imaginative foundations laid by Barbie. In this call, we invite photographers to explore the multifaceted world of Barbie, embracing both its positive and critical dimensions. Our upcoming exhibition will proudly feature the works of two distinguished anchor artists, Luca Gőbölyös (https://lucagobolyos.net) and Suzanne Nagy (http://www.suzannenagy.net) alongside carefully curated selections from the submissions we receive.

 

PH21 Gallery invites photographers to submit their work for a group exhibition themed Dolling up the lens: Barbie. We are looking for submissions from all photographers who are interested in this subject and would like to share their work with a wider international audience through the exposure of PH21 Gallery. The theme is broadly construed; we are looking for photographs that address the Barbie phenomenon from any angle. Indeed, we are interested in all possible creative photographic interpretations of the theme.

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Submission deadlines:

• Early bird deadline: October 9, 2023

• Final deadline: October 16, 2023

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Read more and submit your work here.

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​Light and Shadow – Barcelona

A curated international photography exhibition

December 11-17, 2023, PH21@Barcelona

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A PH21 Gallery Exhibition in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

 

Creating unique effects with light and shadows captured by a camera is, according to many, one of the most intriguing means of photographic expression. Photographers have relied on the possibilities offered by the creative use of light and shadows throughout the history of photography. In some cases, light and shadows are used to create a formal compositional element; in others, their role is to guide our gaze or focus our attention on specific parts of the image. Some images that rely on the interplay between light and shadow are dark-toned, while others present brightly lit scenes. The ways in which light and shadows contribute to photographic meaning depend solely on the imagination of the photographer.

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PH21 Gallery invites photographers to submit their work for a group exhibition themed Light and Shadow. We are looking for submissions from all photographers who are interested in this time-honoured photographic subject and who would like to share their work with a wider international audience through exposure of PH21 Gallery. The theme is broadly construed; we welcome submissions from all photographic genres, including abstract compositions. We are interested in all possible creative photographic interpretations of the theme.

 

Please note that this PH21 Gallery exhibition will be presented in Barcelona, Catalonia Spain, in collaboration with Valid World Hall Gallery, a renowned centre for the visual arts.

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Submission deadlines:

• Early bird deadline: October 30, 2023

• Final deadline: November 6, 2023

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Read more and submit your work here.

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Solo exhibition opportunity

January 11 – February 2, 2024     

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PH21 Gallery invites photographers to submit their work for a solo exhibition opportunity. Please submit a coherent portfolio suitable for a solo exhibition, an artist statement, and a short bio. The portfolio should consist of a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 35 images. The submission may include one or two series, provided that the two series are suitable for a joint presentation in a single exhibition. There are no generic, stylistic, or thematic constraints; photographers working in all photographic areas, genres, and styles are welcome to submit their work.

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• The winner of this competition will be awarded a solo exhibition from January 11 to February 2, 2024.

• PH21 Gallery will cover all printing and installation costs for the solo exhibition. In addition to the brick-and-mortar solo exhibition, the winner's work will also be presented on a dedicated page of our website. The web page will include the artist statement and the photographer's bio, along with critical reviews by the curators.

• Up to 10 other photographers will have the opportunity to present a mini-series of three photographs from their portfolio in the "Photographic Visions" group exhibition. Photographic Visions is a biannual exhibition at PH21 Gallery that showcases mini-series of works by selected artists who submitted their portfolios for our solo exhibition competition. The Photographic Visions exhibition will also be presented on a dedicated page on our website.

• We will publish a catalogue for the solo exhibition. The exhibition catalogue will be available through Blurb Books.

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Submission deadlines:

• Early bird deadline: November 6, 2023

• Final deadline: November 13, 2023

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Read more and submit your work here.

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