Cowgirl Artists of America Signature Membership 2026

Description

Cowgirl Artists of America
Signature Member Application 2026
STOP! You must be a CGA member, and have completed your orientation  before applying to Signature. You can also get more information and step by step guides in the member space at here.
Signature Membership is Cowgirl Artists of America’s highest juried tier, reserved for artists working at a consistently professional level with a strong body of work and a history of exhibitions and engagement in the Western art field.Signature Members demonstrate excellence not only in their artwork but also in their presentation, professionalism, and commitment to their careers. They serve as representatives of CGA’s values and standards—artists whose work and presence reflect the depth, quality, and integrity of Western art at its best.
 ⚠️ If receiving a rejection from Signature Membership would cause you to lose your confidence, stop creating work, send a rude email, argue about the outcome, or generally behave in a way that would be unprofessional or harm your creative practice you are not ready to apply. Artists working at this level understand that rejections happen. They don't take it personally, and when applicable, use it as a reason to keep growing. If you are not there yet, that's okay. Lean into the part of your journey that you are in. We encourage you to continue to work on growing your confidence, professionalism, and or skill before applying to this tier. 
Call Opens April 1 (12 AM Central)Call Closes April 30 (11:55 PM Central)$50 Application Fee
Artists hoping to become Signature Members must submit 5 pieces of work created within the last 2 years. Please follow the submission instructions found at the end of this page.
Requirements for works submitted:Images are submitted in JPG format with a minimum of 1920 px and a max of 4800 px. and max of 10 MB
No works created under instruction or during a class workshop.
No works created using AI. 
Work must have been completed in the last two years.
Each submission may only include one disciple (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.) You may submit multiple applications if you wish to be juried in for multiple disciplines.
The work does not need to be available for sale, but should be indicative of the artist's current style.
Artist will also submit documentation showing their professional and exhibit history, along with an artist statement. Artists whose application makes it past the initial stage will have their website and social media accounts viewed before finalizing acceptance. For Signature Membership the committee is looking for a high level of professionalism, and consistency in style and quality of work. Getting juried in as a Signature Member is a very high honor in CGA. It is a rigorous process. We expect the highest level of professionalism when submitting your application. We understand that tech issues happen, but artists who wait until the last minute to submit their application may not have access to tech help. We do not recommend that new artists apply for Signature Membership. Without a professional history it is unlikely you will be accepted at this level. Artists who are working professionally, but not yet ready for Signature Membership may apply for Pro Membership.Many Signature Members have applied multiple times before getting accepted. Your application needs to be impeccable, as errors or lack of professionalism in any portion can prevent you from being accepted. It is further recommended that you take a look at the work of current Signature Members to see the level and type of work that is being accepted. Further, ensure that your website is professional and up-to-date. Jury process and evaluation:Applications are reviewed by a jury of board members and jury committee members. Fine and traditional artists are welcome to apply. Artwork submitted will be evaluated on its first impression, composition, style, technique, craftsmanship, and cohesiveness as a body of work. Further, traditional and realist work will be evaluated on accuracy of representation, while contemporary work will be evaluated on appearance of purposeful decision-making in composition and color choice. We want to see a strong voice, vision, and unique style for Signature Membership. 
We only accept artists working in the western genre into juried tiers of Cowgirl Artists of America. The Western genre is expansive and we do not have a preference for contemporary vs. traditional western art, or fine vs. traditional art. Further, we consider Indigenous cultural art and art by indigenous artists documenting the American West/ Western culture part of the Western genre, and welcome Indigenous artists to apply. Finally, jurors will also take into account professionalism of documentation provided, the artists website, presentation of work (see below), and whether or not the artist followed submission instructions. Remember, Signature Membership is a selective professional distinction. Approach your application with care and thoughtfulness.​Images should be clear, sharp, and well-lit. Submissions of 2-dimensional work should be of the work only. (You should submit what you would sent to a printer for a reproduction.) Artists working in 3 dimensional media should photograph their work in a professional manner. Backgrounds should not be distracting. Think about how can you show off you work in the best way. Artists submitting 3-dimensional work may be asked to submit additional photos, upon review.Artists may be asked for additional documentation or information should the jury require it to make an informed decision.Your application fee is non-refundable, and acceptance is not guaranteed. Newer artists working at a professional level are strongly encouraged to apply for Pro, not Signature Membership.We do our best to provide individualized feedback to artists who are not accepted, if we feel we have feedback that would be valuable. We do not guarantee that you will receive individualized feedback. If you don't receive individual feedback it is usually because one of the two following: 1- Your application was incomplete, had errors, or your documentation (such as your bio) needed work or 2- You need to continue honing your skills and developing your consistency. All applicant will receive notice of the status of their application by June 15th.Please email info@cowgirlartistsofamerica.org with questions.A note on reapplication: If you are not accepted this year, we encourage you to reapply in the future. Signature Membership is a professional milestone, and many members have reached it after several years of development and previous applications. 
Submission Instructions and Tips
* Ensure that you upload a clear, sharp, well lit image*You will submit all images as one submission. Please ensure that you follow the instructions. You will be able to edit any portion of your application and until the call closes.
Step 1: Create or update your account information (includes- name, contact, bio, statement, CV, etc.) (Note: The system automatically times out after 60 minutes. Do not leave your application, unsaved. It is not recommended that you write your bio statement or CV within the application fields; rather copy and paste them from your master copy so you do not risk losing information if the system times out.)Step 2: Begin your application-For "Title" put your name. Media- Applicants may submit one application per primary discipline. Applications are evaluated within the selected discipline. Acceptance does not automatically apply to other disciplines/media. Artists wishing to be recognized in an additional discipline must submit a separate application.**In the "Description" field, list the title and size of each work submitted. You may also include a brief one to three sentence description if you feel that it is needed for the jury to understand your work.Pay your submission fee.Step 3: Upload 5 images of current work samples in the discipline selected. These should be good examples of your style and skill. Image attachment types max 10mb. Work samples from the past 2 years only. No works created under instruction or during a class workshop. No works created using AI. (All 5 images will be uploaded under one submission, so ensure you follow the instructions for the "title' and "description" section found in step 2.)Photos of your work should be only the work (not the work with the frame or behind glass).
**Please note: Signature Members may only exhibit work in the discipline(s) in which they were juried for signature specific opportunities. The CGA Signature logo and mark represent recognition of artistic excellence within a specific juried discipline. Members may only use the Signature logo, and Signature mark in association with work created within the discipline in which they were juried. Use of the logo or mark on work in other disciplines is not permitted unless the artist has been separately juried in that discipline.
Technical Notes:
Files must be 10 MB or less jpg filesNo specific file name requirementsPrimary Discipline Categories:Drawing and Pastel (Graphite, Charcoal, Ink, Colored Pencil, Pastel, Scratchboard)Painting-Oil and Acrylic (Oil, Acrylic)Painting- Watermedia (Watercolor, Gouache, Casein, egg tempera)PhotographyPrecious Metal  (Silver, gold, western jewelry, engraving)Sculpture- Cast ( Bronze and other cast metals)Sculpture- Carved (Wood, stone)Sculpture Assemblage/Mixed Media (mixed media, found object, constructed sculpture)PrintmakingTraditional Indigenous ArtsLeather (boots, chaps, saddles, tack, leather accessories)Rawhide