Where feelings have no name

Submission deadline 26.1

Submission Deadline: 26.1.2026 23:59

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

Exhibition Dates: 5.2-15.2.2026

Submission Fee: No submission fee

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

Sales Commission: 20%

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

The Blue Verve invites artists to submit works for a group exhibition exploring the experience of being unable to articulate the weight of one’s inner world.

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It is about the mixed moods, raw impulses, and subconscious currents that defy clarity. The exhibition welcomes work that touches the blurry, tangled, and unresolved: emotional contradictions, mental static, dream logic, and the messy headspace between serenity and chaos.

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We are interested in works that address:​

• the subconscious and instinctive responses

• emotions that defy logic and articulation

• internal fragmentation, ambiguity, disorientation

• messiness and complexity

What becomes of the feelings we cannot describe?

What happens to the feelings we cannot name, and how do they shape us?

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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 200 words)

• Artist statement, related to the exhibition theme (max 200 words)

• CV

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

• We encourage applicants to express their own ideas and artistic vision in all materials. While you may use AI tools (such as ChatGPT) as a reference or for drafting, please ensure that your submission reflects your personal voice and genuine thoughts. Overly relying on AI-generated text without adaptation may affect how your application is evaluated.

• ​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​