---
title: "Open Call: After Love"
description: Radically inclusive group exhibition at OVADA Warehouse, Oxford, inviting UK artists to respond to romantic heartbreak. All eligible works shown. £15 fee.
url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/7d59bf06-3482-42c5-b234-4bbac49bf806
type: program
status: closed
createdAt: "2026-09-04"
updatedAt: "2026-09-30"
programType: Exhibition
organization: OVADA
organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/ovada
deadline: "2026-09-22"
entryFee: 15 GBP
location: OVADA Warehouse, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
isOnline: false
disciplines:
  - painting
  - drawing
  - mixed media
  - collage
  - textiles
  - printmaking
  - ceramics
  - sculpture
  - photography
careerStages:
  - Emerging artist
  - Established
---

# Open Call: After Love

**Hosted by:** OVADA

**Type:** Exhibition | **Location:** OVADA Warehouse, Oxford, England, United Kingdom | **Deadline:** September 22, 2026 | **Entry fee:** £15

## About This Program

> "Romantic heartbreak, relationship breakdown, and survival strategies in the aftermath of romantic endings"

What happens when the excitement, happiness, and comfort of romantic love have gone, leaving only emotional devastation behind? What does it mean to have a broken heart? After Love: Broken Hearts & Broken Bodies invites artists to respond to romantic heartbreak, and the ways we survive love's endings. The exhibition is part of a major research project by historian Dr Sally Holloway, exploring how experiences of romantic heartbreak have changed through history and shaped modern ideas of emotional loss.

Artists of all experience levels are welcome to submit works into this radically inclusive exhibition where all eligible works will be shown. A group exhibition which invites artists to share their creative responses to the experience of romantic heartbreak, relationship breakdown, and survival strategies in the aftermath of romantic endings. Funded by a Research, Development and Engagement Fellowship from the Arts & Humanities Research Council, the project partners with a range of organisations including Oxfordshire Mind; the Oxford Visual Arts Development Agency (OVADA); the visual artists Jill Mueller and Julie Light, and the Poetry Pharmacy.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Career Stage:** Emerging artist, Established
- **Geographic Eligibility:** National
- **Disciplines:** painting, drawing, mixed media, collage, textiles, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, photography
- **Age Requirements:** 18+ years old
- **Note:** Any artist over the age of 18, who is resident in the UK may submit work to the exhibition.

Submissions must respond to the themes of Dr Sally Holloway's After Love Project: drawing on ideas and experiences around romantic heartbreak. The artwork must be able to be dropped off at OVADA Warehouse, 14a Osney Lane, OX1 1NJ on Saturday 3 October between 10am-3pm and collected on Sunday 18 October between 5pm-7pm or Monday 19 October between 10am-1pm; submissions cannot be accepted via post (you are welcome to send someone in your stead). Entries must be original, not copies or derivatives based in any way on other copyrighted or published paintings, photographs or other artistic work.

Works must be made by the artist and not AI generated. All works must be able to be wall hung or free standing; very limited plinths available. Performance submissions require additional logistical support — email afterromanticlove@gmail.com to discuss. All artists agree to images of their work being used on the After Love project website and digital version of the exhibition made using the ArtSteps platform; all works will be credited and copyright resides with the artist.

No work containing harmful substances, or deemed offensive to/containing hate speech against a minority culture and/or group; nothing sexist, homophobic, racist, transphobic, ageist or ableist.

## Timeline

- **Opens:** September 4, 2026
- **Deadline:** September 22, 2026
- **Program Start:** October 7, 2026
- **Program End:** October 18, 2026

## Contact

**Email:** afterromanticlove@gmail.com

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://www.ovada.org.uk/afterloveopencall