---
title: The Unseen -What Lies Beneath the Surface
description: Juried exhibition at Artspace Gallery in Richmond, VA exploring hidden forces and unseen systems; cash prizes up to $300.
url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/c36f0ac7-426c-4950-bfbb-a7c2ebf92cf4
type: program
status: open
createdAt: "2026-10-16"
updatedAt: "2026-10-16"
programType: Exhibition
organization: Artspace
organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/artspace
deadline: "2026-12-04"
entryFee: 35 USD
location: Artspace Gallery, Richmond, VA, United States
isOnline: false
compensationRange: Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, plus a solo exhibition for the 1st place winner and possible honorable mentions.
---

# The Unseen -What Lies Beneath the Surface

**Hosted by:** Artspace

**Type:** Exhibition | **Location:** Artspace Gallery, Richmond, VA, United States | **Deadline:** December 4, 2026 | **Entry fee:** $35

## About This Program

### Opportunity Summary

Enter **The Unseen: What Lies Beneath the Surface**, a Juried Exhibition, for a chance to exhibit your artwork at Artspace's gallery located at 2833-A Hathaway Rd., Richmond, VA 23225. This exhibition invites artists to explore hidden forces, dreams, memories, spirituality, mystery, imagination, and unseen systems that shape our experience of the world.

Artspace Gallery is a non-profit organization that prides itself on support and development of artists from all backgrounds.

**Notification of acceptance:** December 19.

**Juror: Robert Stuart**

Robert grew up mostly overseas his father worked for USAID and UNESCO. He attended Boston University's School for the Arts, a rigorous, traditional program with much figure drawing. Philip Guston was a major influence there.

After living in Guam for eighteen months, Boston again, then Virginia, he had a Teaching Assistantship and earned an MFA at James Madison University. Following this he launched a career as a painter of landscapes and still lifes. He enjoyed success in galleries and was selected for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Un/Common Ground exhibit.

After ten years established in this representational style, but with episodes of experimentation in abstraction, his response to abstract painting became so evident that he could no longer deny it. Discovering Agnes Martin's paintings and writings was crucial. Finally, after a trip to Japan visiting Zen gardens, a vivid dream of a large, red, abstract painting was so compelling that he set out in a new direction. Soon after the move to abstraction, he was chosen for the New Orleans Museum of Art Triennial, and not long after that, he received an Academy Award in Art from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Recently, Robert has honed his curatorial experience as a one of the directors at Gallery 22 in Staunton, VA.

### Prizes

- 1st Place: $300, plus a solo exhibition at Artspace.
- 2nd Place: $200.
- 3rd Place $100.
- Also, at the discretion of the juror, up to three honorable mentions.

### Entries & Fees

All entries must be submitted through CaFÉ.

$35 non-refundable proposal fee required. Proposals will not be reviewed before finalized payment is received thru CaFÉ unless the fee presents a hardship for the proposer.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Geographic Eligibility:** National
- **Disciplines:** All disciplines
- **Age Requirements:** 18+ years old
- **Note:** The Unseen is open to artists 18 years and above.

Submissions are open to artwork in all genres, 2D and 3D.

Artwork creation date should be 2022 or later.

Only selected artwork will be included in the exhibition. No substitutions allowed.

Selections will be made without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, or national origin. Every reasonable effort within the capacity of Artspace will be made to accommodate artists with disabilities or accessibility needs.

### Additional Requirements

- 1 to 3 images
- An Artist Statement
- For video entries, artists must provide display equipment if work is selected.
- Artwork size: all work must be able to get through our door, 33 inches width by 82 3/4 inches height with a diagonal of 88 inches. The height of gallery walls is 96 inches.

## Compensation & Benefits

Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, plus a solo exhibition for the 1st place winner and possible honorable mentions.

**Includes:** Prize

1st Place: $300, plus a solo exhibition at Artspace. 2nd Place: $200. 3rd Place: $100. Also, at the discretion of the juror, up to three honorable mentions.

## Timeline

- **Opens:** October 9, 2026
- **Deadline:** December 4, 2026
- **Program Start:** January 24, 2027
- **Program End:** February 22, 2027

## Contact

**Email:** artspaceexhibitions@gmail.com

**Phone:** 804.232.6464

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://artist.callforentry.org/agreetoterms.php?ID=18313