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CALLING ARTISTS FROM ACROSS THE MIDWEST

Day of the Dead, is a holiday in Mexico that honors deceased loved ones and making peace with the eventuality of death by treating it familiarly, without fear and dread. It is typically observed on November 1 and 2. Though often compared to Halloween because of their proximity on the calendar, Día de Muertos is distinct in both origin and meaning, rooted in Indigenous cultures that celebrate death as a continuation of life.                                 

 

Because of its spiritual and cultural significance to Indigenous communities in Mexico, the Day of the Dead was inscribed to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.

 

We invite artists to submit artworks that capture the spirit of this traditional celebration.

 

Dates: 

Call Announcement: June 15, 2026 
Final Submission Deadline: August 1, 2026 11:59 PM CT
Email Notification:  August 15, 2026
Exhibition: November 7, 2026 - November 8, 2026 
Opening Reception:  Friday November 7, 2026 

Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location of Exhibition: Common Wealth Gallery
100 South Baldwin, Madison, WI 53704

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Submission Requirements

Artists must reside in the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan and be at least 18 years of age.

No entry fee is required.

Work must be original and created by the artist. No AI generated images.

By submitting, artists grant permission for images of their work to be used for exhibition promotion with full credit. Here is the link to submit:

• Artwork may be existing or newly created, but must align with the exhibition theme

• Up to three (3) images of artwork (JPEG or PNG, high resolution)

• Maximum artwork submission size: 30 x 40 x 2 inches 

• Artwork details for each piece: title, year, medium, dimensions (inches, HxWxD), sale price, or Not For Sale (NFS)

• Artist statement (100–250 words)

• Artist bio (75 words max)

• Contact information (name, pronouns, email, socials, website, and city/state)

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About the Curator:

Oscar Mireles is the Founder/Director of LOUD and has organized several dozen art exhibitions for the past several years at multiple galleries featuring over 100 different visual artists. He has served on the Board of Directors of Madison Museum of Contemporary Arts (MMOCA) and created the Latino Advisory Group for the "Caja de Visiones" Exhibition in 2021. Mireles is the former Poet Laureate of Madison (2016-2020) and is the Editor of three anthologies titled 'I Didn't Know There Were Latinos in Wisconsin".     

 

About LOUD:

Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development (LOUD) is a statewide initiative focused on promoting collaboration between Latino arts and service organizations, artists, and the communities in which they operate. At LOUD, we are driven by a shared vision of a more vibrant, inclusive, and culturally rich Wisconsin as we continue to celebrate Latino arts, support our talented artists, and foster meaningful connections within our diverse community. For more information, please visit LOUD.

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Gallery Space:

The Common Wealth Gallery is a 2,000 square foot community art gallery space on the 3rd floor of the Madison Enterprise Center, which provides show space to solo or group artists. For more information, please visit Gallery Rental – Common Wealth Development

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