OPEN CALL 2026

ANNUAL EXHIBITION AND FUNDRAISER

Proceeds from the 2026 MEPAINTSME Open Call Exhibition and Fundraiser will be donated to:

Al Otro Lado, RAICES, and The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)

These important national and regional organizations provide essential legal aid and humanitarian support to immigrants and refugees in the United States. Scroll down to learn more about these organizations and their great work.

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS

This is a competition-based opportunity. All submissions will be reviewed by mepaintsme. Selected artworks will be included in the 2026 Open Call Exhibition and posted on @mepaintsme.

Please read the following instructions carefully. Submissions sent by email or DM will not be reviewed.

Early Submission Deadline: March 31, 2026

FINAL Submission Deadline: May 2, 2026

Notification: May 22, 2026

Exhibition Dates: July 9 - August 12, 2026

Eligibility

Open to International Artists over the age of 18. Limit (1) submission of 1-3 Artworks, per Artist.

ARTWORKS are required to meet the following criteria to be eligible. Artworks that are too large, or made prior to 2025 will be disqualified.

in any media (painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, etc…)
of any subject matter (figurative, abstract, landscape, etc.)
2D artwork: less than 40 inches (100 cm) in length and less than 40 inches (100 cm) in width.
3D artwork: less than 20 inches (50 cm) and less than 20 inches (50 cm) in width.
made within the last year (2025 or 2026)
available for sale on mepaintsme.com during the run of the exhibition, and for 2 months thereafter

Sales/Commission

For any sales, the artist is responsible for packing and shipping the Artwork to the client using a prepaid shipping label. Mepaintsme pays for all shipping expenses including a stipend for packing materials. The Artist/Gallery commission split is 60/40 with the Artist receiving 60% of the Sales Price for sold Artworks. Artists are not obligated to, but may choose to donate a portion or all of their commission to this year’s beneficiary organization (see below).

Submission Fee

Early Deadline (March 31): $20 US artist / $25 international artist (VAT included)

FINAL Deadline (April 30):$25 US artist / $30 international artist (VAT included)

In addition to supporting the below listed charitable organizations, the submission fee helps to support MEPAINTSME’s programming and to make opportunities like this possible. If you're experiencing hardship and cannot pay the application fee, please email us at mpm@mepaintsme.com. We have waived and reduced fee applications available to artists in need.

Submission Instructions

Submissions can be made via the online Submission Form.

You will be asked to submit:

Artist Information: Name, mailing address, phone, email, website (optional), instagram handle (optional)

Artwork Images: Your best quality image(s) at a minimum of 2400 pixels wide. One image per artwork.

Artwork Caption: Title, Year, Medium, Dimensions, Price (in USD) for each artwork

Artist Statement (optional): A short paragraph about your work.

You will be notified of your acceptance or non-acceptance no later than May 22, 2026. Accepted artists will be asked to provide a short bio, artist CV and additional images of their artwork.

Before entering your Submission, please review the complete Open Call 2025 Terms & Conditions, which contains important information regarding sales & shipping, insurance and copyright.

If you have any questions, please contact mpm@mepaintsme.com.

APPLY NOW

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

MEPAINTSME's Annual Open Call is a juried exhibition and fundraiser aimed at providing a platform for emerging and mid-career artists, while also supporting important social and humanitarian causes. Since its inception in 2022, the Open Call program has featured the artworks of 160 international artists, and raised over $20,000 support to important charitable causes. Proceeds from the 2026 MEPAINTSME Open Call Exhibition and Fundraiser will be donated to national and regional organizations working to provide legal aid and humanitarian support to immigrants and refugees in the United States.

We developed the Open Call program because we care deeply about providing equal opportunities for artists to expand their audience and reach. As the gallery does not accept unsolicited submissions, the annual Open Call is the best way to submit your artwork for consideration by the artist and curator, mepaintsme. A number of artists selected for Open Call Exhibitions were invited by mepaintsme to join future group and solo exhibitions at the gallery.

2026 BENEFICIARIES

Proceeds from the 2026 MEPAINTSME Open Call Exhibition and Fundraiser will be donated to national and regional organizations working to provide legal aid and humanitarian support to immigrants and refugees in the United States. Please join us in supporting our friends and neighbors at this critical time.

Al Otro Lado

Al Otro Lado’s mission is to uplift immigrant communities on both sides of the border by defending the rights of immigrants, refugees, and people who have been deported against systemic injustices and fighting for all families that have been torn apart by unjust immigration laws.

Al Otro Lado prioritizes providing holistic legal and humanitarian support to the communities they serve in both the U.S. and Mexico through a multidisciplinary, client-centered, harm reduction-based practice. Their work is centered on using legal expertise and zealous advocacy to fight for a system of migration that is humane and human-centered rather than militarized and based in racism, classism, sexism, and injustice.

LEARN MORE | AL OTRO LADO

RAICES

Since 1986, RAICES’ legal and social service providers have modeled what a humane immigration system could look like in the U.S.

Without free and low cost legal services and access to holistic, trauma-informed care, most of their clients, including children of all ages, would have to go to court alone, with zero representation. Families with legal representation are up to 10 times more likely to have a favorable outcome in immigration court than unrepresented families — and are given a real chance to plant roots in their new home.

RAICES fights in the courtroom, the halls of Congress, and alongside their community for a more just immigration system.

LEARN MORE | RAICES

National Immigrant Justice Center

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) is dedicated to ensuring human rights protections and access to justice for all immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. With offices in Chicago, Indiana, San Diego, and Washington, D.C., NIJC provides direct legal services to and advocates for these populations through policy reform, impact litigation, and public education.

The NIJC’s advocacy and legal services teams keep families together, free people from the dangers of immigrant detention, and prevent asylum seekers and long-time community members from being deported based on unjust laws and illegal government actions.

LEARN MORE | NIJC