Submission Deadline: 9.09.2025 23:45

Location: The Blue Verve, Neitsytpolku 8, Helsinki, Finland

Exhibition Dates: 18.09 – 5.10.2025

Submission Fee: No submission fee

Participation Fee: €70 for 1 artwork, €120 for 2 artworks, €150 for 3 artworks

Sales Commission: 20%

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Discount 20% for art school/university students, Fun Design members, and HIAA members

What do faces think when we are not looking?

The Blue Verve invites artists working in all visual media to submit works for Faces, an upcoming group exhibition exploring the psychology, presence, and hidden narratives of the human face.

We are seeking artworks that go beyond traditional portraiture - works that suggest the interior life behind the gaze, the weight of emotion carried in a glance, the subtle codes of expression, or the silence of a face turned away. Whether revealing joy, worry, longing, or something unspoken, the face becomes a surface of meaning, mystery, and presence.

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We welcome interpretations that explore:

• Eyes as truth-tellers, or keepers of secrets

• Faces revealing or concealing inner states

• Identity, masks, and the performative face

• Abstraction and fragmentation of the facial form

• The face as witness, mirror, or enigma

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Eligibility:​

• Artists working in painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, textile, mixed media, performance, and installation (sculpture, video, and sound are accepted if the artist has the required equipment)

• Both emerging and established artists are encouraged to apply

• Open to artists based in Finland and internationally

• All works must be original and provided for the exhibition on the agreed installation date, ready-to-hang / install

Selected Artists Will Receive:

• Participation in a professionally curated exhibition at The Blue Verve Gallery

• Exhibition in a prime location within Helsinki’s Design District

• Promotion through our gallery’s PR and communication channels

• Sales support during and 30 days after the exhibition

• A professionally produced opening event hosted by the gallery, including guest invitations and onsite coordination

• Documentation and inclusion in the gallery’s exhibition archive

Submission Guidelines:

Please submit the following materials:

• Artist bio (max 250 words)

• Artist statement, related to the exhibition theme (max 250 words)

• CV

• Up to 3 artworks (images, videos, documentation), with title, year, dimensions, medium, weight, and price (if for sale)

• ​Please make sure that the dimensions and weight of framed artworks are the same as those you stated in the application

• If applying for installations, video/sound works, or performance pieces, please include: a clear description of the work, technical requirements (equipment, space needs, setup time, etc.), and documentation, if available (photos, videos, or links)

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Installation Guidelines:

• Please note that we use wall hooks for hanging, so your artwork mounting system must be suitable for them - ideally, hanging wire

• If your artwork is framed and the frame is bigger than A3, please remove the glass - we have weight limitations

• Please test the performance of the frame before bringing it for installation - some frames tend to bend while hanging, which creates a safety issue

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