OPEN CALL 2026

ANNUAL EXHIBITION AND FUNDRAISER

ON VIEW: JULY 9 - AUGUST 12, 2026

ANNOUNCING SELECTED ARTISTS

Congratulations to the 50 artists selected for this year’s open call exhibition. It was an exceptionally strong group of applicants this year! Thank you to everyone for applying and for contributing to this year’s fundraiser to provide legal and humanitarian aid to immigrants and refugees.

Alessandro Palese
Alfonso Barrera
Alyssa Zoe Putnam
Andrzej Rafałowicz
Anna Sophia Moltke
Ben Walker
Benjamin Andersson
Brian Uhl
Camille Stora
Cary Hulbert
Christina Zimpel
Daisy Rodriguez
Dave Daverman
Deborah Druick
Deniz Ozuygur
Dylan England
Eleanor Aldrich

Emelie Zetterberg
Emily Tironi
Francisco Lopez
Jack McRaven
Jamie Steele Griffiths
Jane McKenzie
Jennifer Caroline Campbell
Jim Torok
Jovi Schnell
Julia Bollinger
Karina Akopyan
Karolina Szwed
Leslie Giuliani
Linda Meli
Lizz Freeman
Mark Timmins
Matt Jones

Mayumi Nakao
Pamela Smith
Patrick Kelly
Robert Medvedz
Robert Sherratt
Robin Gammons
Ruth Jeyaveerans
Saira McLaren
Sarah von Sydow
Simone Pellegrini
Skyler Simpson
Sophie Duez
Vanessa Powers
Yann Leto
Yolanda Shashaty
Zhizi Wu

Notification emails were sent to all applicants. If you did not receive one, or have questions, please email mpm@mepaintsme.com.

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 to support 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