Emerging Artists Open Call

Starting this summer, Seyff plans to host rotating solo and group exhibitions of contemporary work, with a focus on mixed-media, abstract, and experimental painting from Brooklyn artists (but open to all types of work). Exhibitions run 2–6 weeks each, typically with 10–20 total exhibitions per year, depending on applications received and Seyff's success in its corporate programming. The next open call cycle begins May 15, 2026, and ends June 30, 2026.

Selection is by open call. There is NO cost to apply. Selected artists pay no commission on sales — Seyff takes 0%. The artist sets their own prices, and 100% of any sale goes directly to the artist. Seyff funds its local artist initiative from earnings made from its corporate experience offerings. More information regarding exhibit opportunities for experienced artists can be found here.

We accept work in any medium, with a preference for two-dimensional work that engages physically and conceptually with the studio environment. Work that resonates with the spirit of the painting practice — sensory, slow, deliberate — tends to be a strong fit, but we welcome work that challenges those frames as well.

Open call status, current and future exhibition information, and application instructions are below.

Open Call Information

Eligibility:

To be eligible to apply, an artist must meet all of the following:

Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
Be a Brooklyn-based artist — defined as currently living, maintaining a studio, or having a substantial ongoing creative practice in Brooklyn. Artists who grew up in Brooklyn and have since moved within New York City are eligible. Artists with primary studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Industry City, the Old American Can Factory, ESKFF, Recess, or similar Brooklyn-anchored studio communities are eligible regardless of residential address.
Be the original creator and current rights holder of all submitted work.
Be willing to commit to the exhibition timeline (2–6 weeks), including installation week, opening reception, and de-installation.
Be willing to sign Seyff's standard exhibition agreement (one page, plain language — terms summarized below).

The following are not eligible:

Work created collaboratively with someone who does not also meet the Brooklyn-based criteria, unless the collaborator is identified as a co-applicant.
Work primarily generated by AI image-generation tools, unless the AI use is conceptually central to the work and clearly disclosed in the application.
Work that has previously been exhibited in commercial Brooklyn galleries within the past 24 months. (We're prioritizing artists whose Brooklyn exhibition history is light, not those already in the gallery rotation.)
NFTs, edition prints without an original component or commercial reproductions.
Work that depicts or sexualizes minors, includes hate imagery, or otherwise violates the Seyff Code of Conduct.

What we're looking for:

Selection is curatorial, not first-come. We review all complete applications after the submission deadline and select a small number of artists per cycle. We're looking for work that:

Is conceptually serious. We want to see work where the artist has thought through the why, not just the what.
Engages physically with material. Painting, mixed media, drawing, collage, sculpture, photography, fiber, ceramics. Two-dimensional work is preferred but not required. Work where the materials and process are visibly part of the meaning tends to be a strong fit.
Has a coherent body, not a sampler. We want to see 6–10 pieces that read as related — a series, a project, a continuous investigation. Single standout pieces are less compelling than a clear ongoing practice.
Stands up to a quiet room. The Seyff studio is a sensory-designed space — warm light, calibrated sound, slow pace. Work that needs noise, motion, or theatrical presentation tends not to land well here. Work that rewards extended attention does.
Shares a sensibility with the studio's creative practice without imitating it. Sensory, slow, deliberate, attentive — these are the qualities we're drawn to. We're not looking for work that matches the painting practice of the founder; we're looking for work that shares the underlying sensibility.

We're not looking for work that:

Is primarily commercial illustration, design portfolio work, or branded content.
Reads as derivative of a single dominant influence without a personal voice.
Requires significant special infrastructure (large-scale installations needing structural mounting, work requiring climate control beyond standard gallery conditions, work with significant electrical or audiovisual requirements that exceed the studio's capacity).
Is purely reproductive — open editions, limited prints of digital files, photographs of others' work.

Application Requirements:

Submit the following through the online application form below:

Artist name, email, phone, current address (residential or studio).
A statement of Brooklyn ties — where you live, where your studio is, how long you've been in the borough, and what your relationship to Brooklyn's creative community looks like.
An artist statement addressing the body of work being submitted, not your overall practice.
A brief bio — education, exhibition history, residencies, awards, anything else relevant. New artists with limited histories should not pad this section; we read past it.
At least 4 image submissions of the work being proposed for exhibition. JPEG or PNG, minimum 1500 pixels on the longest side, maximum 15MB per file. Each image is labeled with title, year, medium, and dimensions. More can be sent once you hear back from us.
- Note, we can accommodate large pieces! Please state if you have larger pieces in the additional information section of the application.
One additional image of your studio or work environment (optional, but helpful for context). This can be sent via email once you hear back from us.
A list with the proposed selling price for each piece. The artist sets the pricing; Seyff takes a 0% commission on all sales. This can be sent via email once you hear back from us.
Three reference links (optional but encouraged) — your website, Instagram, prior exhibition press, anything else that shows the work or practice in context.

No application fee.

It is free to apply! Our local artist exhibition program is fully subsidized by our corporate and private classes. Our mission is to provide access to local emerging artists so that exhibiting their work is one less headache they have to consider when navigating the heavy seas of what is the art world.

Selection process and timeline:

The selection process:

Applications are reviewed after the submission deadline by George Seyffert and a small rotating curatorial panel (composition disclosed at the time of each cycle).
Initial review for eligibility and completeness.
Curatorial review of remaining applications. We discuss each application as a body of work, not just a set of images.
Selected artists are notified by email. Non-selected artists are also notified — a yes or a no, not silence.

What selection looks like:

Solo exhibitions: Several per year, given to artists with a strong, cohesive body and a clear point of view.
Group exhibitions: 8–12 per year, typically 3–6 artists per show, organized around a theme that emerges from the applications received.
Most successful applicants are placed in group shows; solo shows are rarer and reserved for the strongest work.
The work will be on display during the exhibition period, during which the space is used for classes and events.
The work may be removed or reorganized to accommodate a private event (upon request and at additional cost to the attendee) and will return to its initial position after the event. The artist is not responsible for any removal or reorganization due to accommodation for a private event.
Seyff is not open to the public during business hours. Any interested collectors can visit by making an appointment. Neither the artist nor potential collectors will have access to the space unless an appointment is made. Seyff will use its best commercial efforts to accommodate appointment requests on a rolling basis.

Timeline (per cycle):

Application opens: announced 6–8 weeks before the deadline
Application deadline: a fixed date (see below), no late submissions
Selection notifications: within 2 weeks of the deadline
Exhibition: scheduled 1–3 weeks after notification (depending on the calendar)
We run 4 open call cycles per year, with each ending at the end of each fiscal quarter (March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31).

What happens if you're selected:

Seyff provides:

The exhibition space (Unit 307, 247 Water Street) for 2–6 weeks. 600 square feet.
Curatorial conversation with the artist about installation choices.
Installation hardware (hanging system, lighting adjustment, basic mounting).
Opening reception (one evening, typically a Thursday or Friday) — Seyff handles invitations through the studio mailing list, social, and press outreach. Depending on budget limitations, wine and light refreshments will be provided.
Press outreach for the exhibition (Seyff sends a press release to a curated list of Brooklyn art press contacts and our mailing list; coverage is at the discretion of the publication).
Communication coordination — facilitates the introduction of interested collectors with the artist, and coordination with the buyer for delivery or pickup.
100% of any sale price goes directly to the artist. Seyff does NOT facilitate the sale of any piece.

The artist provides:

The work itself, including framing or mounting (Seyff can advise but does not pay for framing).
Transportation of the work to and from the studio (Seyff can recommend art handlers, but does not cover the cost).
A short artist statement and bio for the exhibition wall text and online press materials.
Attendance at the opening reception (strongly preferred).
An installation walkthrough with the curator before opening.
Standard exhibition agreement signed before installation.
Insurance during transport (Seyff carries gallery insurance for work on display, but transport is the artist's responsibility).

Exhibition agreement summary:

Selected artists sign a one-page exhibition agreement that covers:

Dates of the exhibition and installation/de-installation windows.
Confirmation that the artist owns the rights to the work and authorizes Seyff to display, photograph, and promote it during the exhibition period.
Sales terms — artist sets prices, Seyff takes 0% commission, artist handles all payments.
Insurance — Seyff covers work during the exhibition period; the artist covers transport.
Damage and loss — standard gallery liability terms; in case of loss or damage, Seyff and the artist work in good faith to resolve based on the artist's stated insurance value.
Photography and likeness — Seyff may photograph the installed exhibition for marketing; the artist retains all rights to images of their own work.
Termination — standard mutual termination provisions for breach.

The full agreement is available on request or sent automatically to selected artists upon notification.

Equity, access, and committments.

The Seyff Gallery is a small, founder-run program with limited capacity and a deliberate point of view. We aim to make it accessible:

The 0% commission structure means selected artists keep more of any sale than they would at almost any commercial Brooklyn gallery.
The studio is wheelchair accessible; please flag any accommodation needs at application.
We respond to every application — yes or no, not silence.
We are committed to representing artists whose work or background may be underrepresented in commercial gallery programming. We do not use formal demographic quotas, but we actively review whether our selections over time reflect a meaningful range of artists and perspectives.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I apply if I'm not from Brooklyn, but my studio is here? Yes. The eligibility criterion is current creative practice in Brooklyn, not the artist's place of birth.
Can I apply if I grew up in Brooklyn but live in Queens now? Yes, if you have an ongoing creative connection to the borough — current studio, recent exhibitions, participation in Brooklyn-based artist communities, or substantial creative practice still anchored here.
Can I apply if I've been in a Brooklyn gallery in the last two years? Generally, no — we're prioritizing artists whose Brooklyn exhibition history is light. Exceptions are case-by-case; flag this in your application if it applies.
What's the typical price range of work that sells at Seyff? Sales history is too early to publish reliably. The space holds work in the $300–$8,000 range comfortably; very low or very high price points are workable on a case-by-case basis.
Can I propose a specific show concept? Yes. The application form has an optional field for proposed exhibition framing. We don't promise we'll honor it, but it gives us useful curatorial context.
How many applications do you receive per cycle? Hard to say at launch. Plan accordingly.
Can I reapply if I'm not selected? Yes — every cycle, no waiting period. We may select artists on their second or third application as the work matures or our programming shifts.
Who reviews applications? George Seyffert is the lead curator. Each cycle may include 1–2 rotating panelists drawn from Brooklyn's curatorial community — names disclosed at the time of each cycle for transparency.
Is the studio accessible for the installation of larger work? The space is approximately 600 square feet, on the third floor, with elevator access. We can comfortably hold work up to roughly 60 inches on the longest side; larger work is case-by-case.

Open Call Application

Please complete this form to apply to exhibit your work at Seyff.