CRITERIA
Women & Their Work (W&TW) seeks artists who create innovative, contemporary art that breaks new ground in its approach to form, content, and ideas. Selections are based on an evaluation of work samples submitted and ideas proposed; we look for a strong, consistent aesthetic vision. Recently created work in all media will be considered. We strongly encourage selected artists to create new work for their exhibition at W&TW; no work that has previously been exhibited in Austin will be accepted for exhibition. The work in the application should demonstrate that you are capable in vision and scope of creating a powerful solo exhibition that can command an approximately 1,700 square foot gallery space.
We seek to ensure that women are equitably and inclusively represented in art; that we foster the artistic growth of women by nurturing their development within the context of their communities and with work that responds to the moment; and share the art of our time with our audience.
ELIGIBILITY
Women artists living anywhere in Texas who have not had a solo exhibition at W&TW within the past ten years are eligible.
Emerging, mid-career, and established artists are invited to apply. Our curatorial priority is to present diverse experiences and perspectives. We strive for each exhibition season to represent a geographically, culturally, racially, and ethnically diverse group. Women of color are especially encouraged to apply. We use an inclusive definition of woman and welcome any artists who identify as women, including those from LGBTQIA communities. Applicants cannot currently be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate education. Membership with W&TW is not a requirement nor is it a consideration in the application process.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
- Proof of residence – Applicants must be living and working in Texas at the time of application and expect to remain within the state for the 24-25 exhibition season.
- 10 work samples – All 10 samples may be images of 2D/3D work, or up to 4 samples may be videos of time-based work. We will only be able to view 3 minutes of each video so please prepare files accordingly. Select your images/videos with great care as they are the primary basis of our selection process. Prioritize recent, strong work that communicates well through documentation and that is emblematic of the quality of work proposed.
- Artist Statement – Include no more than a one-page (2000 character including spaces) statement describing your work.
- Proposal – Your aesthetic vision for a future solo exhibition with W&TW (2000 character including spaces).
We encourage artists to create new work. - Resume – Upload a current resume or CV.
- Application Fee – A $15 processing fee is required. This fee helps us offset platform costs.
EXHIBITION SPACE
Our current gallery space is approximately 1,700 square feet with 12′ high ceilings, track lighting, and two moveable walls (8×8′ & 8×10′). Projectors, media players, and sound equipment are available. Floor plan available here 3D renderings available here.
JURY PANEL
The 2023 jury panel is comprised of W&TW artist alumnae Joey Fauerso, Aryel René Jackson, and Ann Johnson. Every application is carefully reviewed, considered, and discussed.
Joey Fauerso (she/her) is a 2022 Guggenheim Fellow in the Fine Arts. She received an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BFA from the University of Iowa-Iowa City. Her work consists mostly of painting, video, installation and performance addressing issues of gender, humor and family. Recently her work has been exhibited at the Visual Arts Center at the University of Texas, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, MASS MoCA, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Drawing Center in New York, and New Mexico State University Art Museum. Fauerso has been the recipient of multiple grants and residencies, including a 2020 Joan Mitchell Grant for Painters and Sculptors, a 2021 Sustainable Arts Foundation grant, the Golden Foundation Grant, Dallas Museum of Art Kimberough Grant, the RAIR artist in residence grant, Yaddo, MacDowell, and Kunstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin. Fauerso is a Professor in the School of Art and Design at Texas State University.
Aryel “Ariel” René Jackson (they/them) is a multi and interdisciplinary artist storyteller. Through film and installation, their process incorporates tenets of play and magic into a filmmaking practice. With an interest in agriculture and meteorology, Jackson appropriates tools through sculpture and performance, and creates mixed media using found objects, stills and organic material. They are an alum of The University of Texas at Austin (2019), the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (2019), the Royal College of Art Exchange Program (2018), and The Cooper Union (2013). Their films have screened at the Museum of Modern Art, New York (2022); the Baltimore Museum of Art (2021); and The Momentary (2020). Jackson’s work has been exhibited at Artpace, San Antonio (2022); Women & Their Work, Austin (2022); IDEA Lab, Art Gallery at Black Studies at UT (2021); Dallas Contemporary (2021); Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle (2021); SculptureCenter, New York (2019); New Museum, New York (2019); Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans (2018); and the Studio Museum in Harlem (2016).
Ann “Sole Sister” Johnson (she/her) was born in London, England and raised in Cheyenne, WY. Johnson is a Professor of Practice at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, where she also received a BS in Home Economics. She has received an MA in Humanities from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, as well as an MFA from The Academy of Art University in San Francisco with a concentration in printmaking. Primarily a mixed media artist, Johnson’s passion for exploring issues particularly in the Black community has led her to create a series of works that are evocative and engaging, including The Hoop Dreamin Collection and It Is The Not Knowing That Burns My Soul. The latter was included in an exhibition and catalog for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian titled: Indivisible. In 2010 she received the Teaching Excellence Award at Prairie View A&M University, and was awarded Art Teacher of the Year in the School of Architecture. In 2011 she received the distinguished Presidents Faculty of the Year award.
NOTIFICATION
Applicants will be notified via email by December 5, 2023. Please do not seek information on the status of your application prior to the notification date.
HONORARIUM
- Honorarium – Women & Their Work will award selected artists an honorarium of $2,000. Our gallery staff will work with the artist to help them achieve all aspects of their vision.
- Curatorial Advisor – We provide a modest honorarium for a Curatorial Advisor of the artist’s choosing. This may be someone who meets with the artist for studio visits as the work develops, offers guidance on installation of the work, or offers other assistance.
- Catalog – We will publish a color catalog for the exhibition featuring a commissioned essay and images of the artwork.
- Video – We will produce a six-minute video of the artist discussing their work which is featured as supplemental material in the gallery and on our website.
- Public Program – With the artist’s guidance, we will organize a public program to take place during the run of the exhibition. This could be a panel conversation, performance, workshop, etc.
SALES
Artists receive 75% of the sale price of any work sold during their exhibition. There is no requirement to make work available for sale or to make “sellable work.”
LIABILITY & AGREEMENT
Women & Their Work agrees to insure artwork while in its custody. Artists are responsible for transportation of artwork to and from W&TW gallery. Artists agree to exhibit work that has not previously been shown in Austin.
APPLICATION SUPPORT & DEADLINE
Please upload your application by October 27, 2023 at 11:59pm. Late applications will not be accepted. We encourage you to begin your application early.
All applications must be submitted online here. We can not accept or review emailed or paper applications.
For clarification on guidelines, encouragement, or internet access, contact Jordan Nelsen at W&TW for support during weekdays 10am-6pm at nelsen@womenandtheirwork.org or (512) 477-1064. We appreciate this opportunity to view your work.
ABOUT US
Women & Their Work fosters the artistic growth of women artists by encouraging them to make new, adventurous work and develops audiences for whom contemporary art is meaningful. Our mission is to ensure that diverse women artists are equitably represented in all forms of art. For 45 years, Women & Their Work has been a cornerstone of the Austin arts community and has actively developed the careers of more than 2,000 women artists, presenting hundreds of visual art exhibitions, music, dance and theater events, film festivals and education programs. Nationally recognized for the quality of its work, Women & Their Work has played an important role in the development of the visual and performing arts in Texas.
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