Afro-Centric/Eclectic: Exploring Black Diasporic Identities 2025 Exhibition

Purpose and Theme:

This exhibition seeks to merge Afrocentrism—a worldview that recenters people of African descent in historical, cultural, and artistic narratives—with eclecticism, an approach that embraces diverse influences, styles, and mediums. Inspired by Molefi Asante’s philosophy of reclaiming African diasporic identity, this exhibition creates a space for BIPOC artists to explore, celebrate, and challenge perceptions of Blackness across time, space, and artistic expression.
We invite artists working in all mediums to submit works that reflect the depth and multiplicity of Black diasporic identities—seen and unseen, shared and personal, historical and futuristic. This exhibition encourages a dialogue on how Blackness is experienced, imagined, and expressed across different cultural landscapes.

Submission Deadline: Saturday, May 31st, 2025, at 12:00 PM.

Exhibition Details:

• Exhibition Dates: July 2nd – July 19th, 2025
• Venue: FOK Studios, Lowertown, Saint Paul, MN
• Opening Reception: July 5th, 2025 | 6 PM – 9 PM
• Artist Talk: July 11th, 2025 | 6 PM – 8 PM
• Artwork Drop-Off: June 28th – June 30th, 2025
• Installation: Selected artists will receive communication regarding installation times.
• Artwork Pickup: July 20th, 2025 (exact time TBD)

Eligibility and Submission Guidelines:

• Who Can Apply:
  This open call is for BIPOC artists whose work aligns with the themes of Afrocentrism and eclecticism. We welcome artists who explore Black diasporic identities—seen and unseen, historical and contemporary—through diverse artistic practices. Artists of all experience levels are encouraged to apply.
• Types of Work Accepted:
  We welcome submissions across various mediums, including but not limited to:
  • Painting
  • Sculpture
  • Photography
  • Mixed Media
  • Digital Art
  • Video/Film
  • Installation Art
  • Performance Art (must provide documentation and/or proposal)
• Submission Requirements:
  Please submit the following materials for consideration:
  • 1-3 high-resolution images of the work (JPEG or PNG, 300 DPI)
  • Artist Statement (200-300 words) describing how your work connects to the exhibition theme
  • Artist Biography (150 words)
  • Artwork Description (Title, dimensions, materials, and conceptual focus)
  • For Video/Performance Art: Provide a link to video documentation (YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive preferred)
  • Artist Contact Information:
    • Full Name & Artist Name (if applicable)
    • Email Address
    • Phone Number
    • Social Media and/or Website showcasing your artwork
• Deadline for Submissions:
  Saturday, May 31st, 2025, at 12:00 PM

Application Fee:

To help offset administrative costs, there is a sliding-scale application fee of $5, $10, $15, or $20. Please send your chosen fee amount via Venmo to @Rajine-Williams.

• Please note: The application fee is non-refundable.
• Please use the same name on your application and payment so both can be easily matched up. In the subject line of your payment, include the name you used for your submission to ensure proper tracking.
• Submissions are not considered complete until the application fee is paid.
• If you prefer another payment option, please contact Rajine Williams at RajinetheQueen@gmail.com.

Additional Information:

• Artwork Drop-Off:
  Will take place from June 28th – June 30th, 2025.
  Selected artists must confirm their drop-off date and time. Failure to confirm will result in removal from the exhibition.
• Artists’ Responsibility:
  Artists are responsible for delivering and retrieving their work. Shipping arrangements (if applicable) must be handled by the artist.

Selection Criteria:

Submissions will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to the Theme: How well the work engages with the exhibition’s themes of Afrocentrism and eclecticism, and its exploration of Black diasporic identities—both seen and unseen.
• Artistic Quality: The overall quality of the work, including technical skill, creativity, and originality.
• Conceptual Depth: The strength of the artist’s concept and their ability to communicate an engaging and thoughtful narrative through their chosen medium.
• Diversity of Expression: We aim to showcase a wide variety of artistic perspectives and practices, and encourage works that reflect different experiences within the Black diaspora.
• Presentation: How well the work is presented and its potential to fit within the exhibition space.

Selected artists will be notified by June 10th, 2025, and will receive further details on installation and exhibition logistics.

Exhibition Terms and Conditions:

• Installation:
  Accepted works must be ready to hang or display upon arrival. Installation assistance will be available for large or complex works, but artists are responsible for the overall installation of their work. Artwork that is not installation-ready will not be accepted and will not be included in the exhibition.
• Insurance:
  A release of liability waiver will be provided to all selected artists. The exhibition is not responsible for any loss, damage, or theft of artwork during the exhibition. We recommend that artists insure their work if they feel it is necessary.
• Sales:
  Artists are welcome to sell their work during the exhibition. Artists keep 100% of the proceeds from any sales that occur during the show. If you intend to sell your work, please indicate the sale price when submitting your application.

Contact Information:

For questions, please contact Rajine Williams at RajinetheQueen@gmail.com.