Connections Student Juried Art Exhibit

Description

"Connections" Student Juried Exhibit at the MU
About the Exhibit
Student artists, apparel designers, and writers are invited to submit up to three entries for consideration in this multimedia exhibition, to be presented in the Memorial Union Art Gallery from February 18 - March 11, 2026. The theme of the show is “Connections”, and participants are asked to submit a short statement (no more than 750 characters) that addresses the following for each submission:
Elaborate on the strongest connection you have to this piece. For example, does it convey a specific emotion, recall a memory, reflect a dream, or represent the creation of a fictional character or setting?How do you hope the viewer connects with the piece?
Eligibility
This exhibit is open to current Iowa State University students of any major, and each person may submit up to 3 works for consideration. Art can be any two-dimensional or three-dimensional media, including non-traditional gallery media such as (but not limited to) apparel design, poetry, graphic design, and scale models. However, all artwork must be original and not previously displayed in a past MU exhibit. Poetry must be original and not previously displayed in a past MU exhibit.
Deadline 
Entries must be uploaded by Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at noon. No late entries will be considered.
Jurors
Visual art and Apparel Design  will be juried by Nicole Sara Simpkins. The cross-disciplinary work of Simpkins combines printmaking, writing, and drawing to explore entanglements of culture, ecosystems, and personal healing. She holds an MFA in Printmaking from Indiana University - Bloomington and a BA in English and Creative Writing from Macalester College. She has taught courses in Drawing and Printmaking at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Macalester College, University of Wisconsin—Stout, and Indiana University. She has exhibited her work locally and nationally. Her work has been supported by 2024 and 2019 Minnesota State Arts Board grants, a 2022 Mcknight Fellowship in Printmaking, a 2023 fellowship to attend the Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute in St. Andrews, Scotland, as well as by artist residencies and fellowships across the U.S.
Poetry will be juried by Rachel Morgan. Morgan is the author of the chapbook, Honey & Blood, Blood & Honey (Final Thursday Press), and her work recently appears in Best New Poets 2024, Prairie Schooner, Alaska Quarterly Review, Journal of the American Medical Association, Beloit Poetry Journal, and Shenandoah. She is the winner of the 2020 Fineline contest and a recent finalist in the National Poetry Series and the Berkshire Poetry Prize. She is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Currently, she teaches at the University of Northern Iowa, serves as an Editor for the North American Review, and is a 2024-2025 Iowa Artist Fellow
Notification
Artists will receive a notification e-mail by the evening of Thursday, February 5, which will give them the status of their submission(s). If you entered more than one piece, you will receive an e-mail for each entry seperately. The email will let you know whether the piece has been selected for the exhibit or not, and outline the next steps.
For Accepted Works
Artwork must be delivered to the MU in ready-to-install condition, which means that pieces need to have considerations made for things like matting, framing, hanging mechanisms, stability for sculpture, and general presentation. Two-dimensional art (not on stretched canvas) must be framed and matting is highly recommended. Talk to your professor or look up information online about ways to mat and frame your artwork. We don't want you to blow your budget, but if you can step up from the cheapest frame, you will be happier with the outcome. Another option is to take it to a professional framer, however, you will need to do this before you enter your piece in the exhibit, as most place take 2-3 weeks for this service. A secure hanging mechanism is requried, and we prefer a hanging wire.. Works on stretched canvas do not have to be framed, but the sides of the canvas do need to be finished (painted). A hanging wire (or D-rings for oversized works) is required.Fiber pieces that are meant to be hung on the wall must including casings and hanging rods.Any other artwork that is meant to be hung on the wall must have a secure hanging mechanism. 3D/sulptural works must be stable when freestanding. The MU Gallery will provide pedistals and have small display stands for jewelry.Apparel design should include a dress form provided by the artist but if you don't have access to one, contact us and we will try to assist in securing one for the exhibit. If a smaller piece is accepted (hat, accessory, etc.), we will provide a display case for the piece.Poetry does not need to be dropped off. We will use the submission's text on an 11" x 17" page with similar formatting as the entry, and will mount the poem on foamcore for the exhibit. We will show writers a proof of poem before printing.Any accepted pieces that are not accurately depicted in the entry images may be rejected by the Gallery Coordinator at the time of the exhibit installation. The Gallery Coordinator may also refuse to accept or exhibit objects improperly prepared for display or pieces priced or valued above what the Memorial Union is willing to insure. If your artwork doesn't fit in the above categories or if you are unsure, we can talk about options for presentation in advance of the art delivery time.
Delivery of Accepted Works
Accepted pieces may be delivered on Thursday, February 10, Time TBA to the Memorial Union Art Gallery, Room 1568 on the first floor. If you cannot deliver at the designated time, you may make arrangements in advance for an early drop-off by e-mailing letitia@iastate.edu. No late pieces will be included in the exhibit, without exception, so please plan accordingly.
Exhibit & Reception
The exhibit will be held in the Memorial Union Art Gallery February 18 - March 11, 2026. Hours are Monday - Friday from 11am-4pm and Sunday from 1-4pm. A public reception will be held shortly after the opening to announce award winners. The exhibit and reception are open to everyone, so we encourage artists to invite their family and friends.
Awards
The jurors will determine the Best of Show in visual art/apparel design, and poetry with awards of $200 and a runner up in each category with awards of $100. The Memorial Union Gallery Coordinator will choose a Purchase Award winner. This is a piece that will be purchased by the MU and added to our Permanent Art Collection. Only pieces listed for sale can be considered for the Purchase Award.
Sales
When entering your information online, you will need to indicate whether artwork or apparel is for sale or not for sale. Poetry entries can enter $0.Pricing artwork can be challenging, so if you aren't sure , consider the following: your experience and what comparable artists are charging, material costs, time spent creating the piece, and whether or not the piece is reproducible. For example, is this a photograph you can reprint or a one-of-a-kind piece? Remember that the Memorial Union receives a 20% commission on all art sales, so account for this in your final sale price.  If your piece is not for sale, you will still need to list an insurance value. You can use the above to help determine the value of your piece.We encourage you not to undersell yourself, but the prices and insurance values must also be reasonable as our coverage is limited and at the discretion of the Memorial Union.All inquires about sales must go through the Memorial Union Art Gallery during the exhibition.
Liability
When you submit entries to this exhibition it means that you are accepting the rules and conditions stated here and on ArtCall.The Memorial Union reserves the right to photograph accepted work for publicity and/or inventory purposes.All entries will be handled in a professional manner while in the care of the Memorial Union staff.Insurance will be provided while artwork is in the possession of the MU and will cease on March 13, 2026.
Pick Up of Exhibited Artwork
Artwork must remain in the MU Gallery for the duration of the exhibit. Artwork may be picked up on Wednesday, March 11 from 4-5pm or Thursday, March 12, time TBA. Unclaimed artwork will become property of the Iowa State Memorial Union.
Contact
Any questions regarding the exhibit may be directed to Letitia Kenemer, Workspace and Art Programs Manager at letitia@iastate.edu.
Tutorial for Setting Up a Profile & Uploading Submissions