--- title: Art Without Borders description: >- Virtual international juried exhibition for artists/photographers worldwide, no set theme. Awards: $300, $200, $100 + up to 4 honorable mentions. url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/f15527d6-1654-4625-99ba-9f401d0e876b' type: program status: open createdAt: '2026-09-05' updatedAt: '2026-09-29' programType: Exhibition organization: LELA International organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/lela-international' deadline: '2026-10-10' entryFee: 45 USD location: 'Los Angeles, CA, United States' isOnline: true compensationRange: >- $300, $200, and $100 cash awards for 1st-3rd place, plus up to four honorable mentions, judged by juror Betty Ann Brown, Ph.D. disciplines: - drawing - painting - mixed media - collage - printmaking - fiber art - photography - digital art - sculpture --- # Art Without Borders **Hosted by:** LELA International **Type:** Exhibition | **Location:** Los Angeles, CA, United States | **Deadline:** October 10, 2026 | **Entry fee:** $45 ## About This Program > "No specific theme or subject matter requirement — open to work reflecting the artist's personal experiences, imagination, culture, environment, identity, or vision of our interconnected world." ### Opportunity Summary LELA International invites artists and photographers from around the world to participate in Art Without Borders, a virtual international exhibition celebrating the power of art to transcend borders and connect people across cultures, countries, languages, and experiences. Art has no borders. It allows us to share our stories, express our ideas, honor our differences, and discover the connections that unite us. Through this international exhibition, LELA International welcomes artists to present their unique perspectives and contribute to a global conversation through visual art. Artists are invited to submit original works that reflect their personal experiences, imagination, culture, environment, identity, or vision of our interconnected world. There is no specific theme or subject matter requirement. We welcome diverse artistic voices and encourage artists to share work that represents their individual creativity and perspective. ### Awards - 1st place: $300 - 2nd Place: $200 - 3rd Place: $100 - Up to Four Honorable Mentions Award-winning artists will be selected by the exhibition juror. ### Juror Betty Ann Brown, Ph.D. LELA International is honored to welcome Betty Ann Brown, Ph.D. as the juror for Art Without Borders – A Virtual International Exhibition. Betty Ann Brown, Ph.D., is an art historian, critic, and curator currently living in Turlock, California. A professor of art history at California State University, Northridge since 1986, she has been active in art world politics and has served as President of the Board for both the Los Angeles Woman's Building and the Southern California Women's Caucus for Art. Among the many exhibitions she has curated are retrospectives for Hans Burkhardt, Roland Reiss, Linda Vallejo, and John M. White. "Sages," Brown's most recent curatorial project, honors artists who have both exhibited and taught for over 40 years. Among her published books is Afternoons with June: Stories of June Wayne's Art & Life (Midmarch Arts Press, 2012). With her extensive experience as an art historian, critic, curator, educator, and advocate for the arts, Dr. Brown brings a distinguished and thoughtful perspective to the selection of artists and awards for Art Without Borders. ### Eligibility Art Without Borders is open to all artists and photographers worldwide. Artists of all nationalities, backgrounds, and levels of experience are encouraged to apply. ### Important Dates - Open Date: August 29, 2026 - Entry Deadline: October 10, 2026 - Notice of Acceptance: October 17, 2026 - Award Winners Notified: October 19, 2026 - Exhibition Opens: November 6, 2026 - Exhibition Closes: January 1, 2027 The exhibition will remain available on the LELA International website under Archived Exhibitions indefinitely. ### Submission Criteria and Content - Entries must be original artwork created and executed by the submitting artist. - Artists may not submit work that violates copyright laws or infringes upon the intellectual property rights of another person. - Artwork created and completed under the direct supervision of an instructor is not eligible. - Once artwork is submitted, it may not be substituted or withdrawn by the artist. - All accepted artwork must remain online for the duration of the exhibition. - No AI-generated artwork will be accepted. ### Artwork Format, Presentation & Requirements Each artist may submit up to three (3) original artworks in the following media: Drawing, Painting, Mixed Media, Collage, Printmaking, Fiber Art, Photography, Digital Art, Sculpture. All submitted images should accurately represent the artwork. No AI images are allowed. Artwork should be photographed and submitted unframed unless framing, mounting, or matting is essential to the artistic presentation. If framing or a special presentation is an important part of the artwork, this should be explained in the artwork description. ### Format for Digital Images (JPG/JPEG) All entries must be submitted as high-quality digital JPG or JPEG files, approximately 1–5 MB each. Images should clearly and accurately represent the submitted artwork, be properly cropped to remove unnecessary backgrounds or presented against a clean black background without a mat, not be photographed through glass or Plexiglas, and be well lit, focused, and professionally presented. ### Entries & Fees Artists may submit up to three (3) artworks. - LELA International Members: $35 for up to three entries - Non-Members: $45 for up to three entries Payment is made through EntryThingy via credit card. All entry fees are non-refundable. Payment of the entry fee does not guarantee acceptance into the exhibition. ### Sales Artwork may be offered for sale at the artist's discretion. Prospective buyers may contact the artist directly through the contact information provided with the artwork. All sales will be handled directly between the artist and buyer. LELA International will receive no commission on any artwork sold through or as a result of this exhibition. Artwork submitted without a sale price will be considered Not for Sale (NFS). Artists are responsible for collecting and paying any applicable sales tax. Shipping and insurance arrangements are the responsibility of the artist and buyer. ### Exhibition Location Art Without Borders is a virtual exhibition and may be viewed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the LELA International website. After the exhibition closes, it will remain available indefinitely on the Archived Exhibitions page. ### Application Requirements For each artwork, applicants should provide: - Artist's name - Artwork title - Medium - Dimensions - Year created - High-quality JPG/JPEG image - Sale price or NFS (Not for Sale) - Artwork description, if requested ### Contact Information LELA International, Los Angeles, California. Phone: 818-324-2101. ## Eligibility & Requirements - **Geographic Eligibility:** International - **Disciplines:** drawing, painting, mixed media, collage, printmaking, fiber art, photography, digital art, sculpture - **Note:** Open to all artists and photographers worldwide, of all nationalities, backgrounds, and levels of experience. Entries must be original artwork created and executed by the submitting artist, and must not violate copyright or infringe on another person's intellectual property. Artwork created and completed under the direct supervision of an instructor is not eligible. No AI-generated artwork will be accepted. ### Additional Requirements Submit 1-3 original artworks (maximum 3 entries per artist) as high-quality JPG/JPEG images (approx. 1-5MB each for final submission; max 50MB per upload). For each artwork provide: artist's name, artwork title, medium, dimensions, year created, sale price or NFS, and artwork description if requested. ### Entry fee LELA International Members $35 for up to three entries; Non-Members $45 for up to three entries, paid via EntryThingy by credit card (non-refundable). ## Compensation & Benefits $300, $200, and $100 cash awards for 1st-3rd place, plus up to four honorable mentions, judged by juror Betty Ann Brown, Ph.D. **Includes:** Prize Award winners selected by the exhibition juror: 1st place $300, 2nd place $200, 3rd place $100, plus up to four Honorable Mentions (no monetary amount stated for these). LELA International takes no commission on any artwork sold as a result of the exhibition. ## Timeline - **Opens:** August 29, 2026 - **Deadline:** October 10, 2026 - **Program Start:** November 6, 2026 - **Program End:** January 1, 2027 ## How to Apply Apply at: https://app.entrythingy.com/lelainternational/art-withouth-boarders