Organizer Information
Midwest Nice Art is a contemporary artist-run collective co-founded by Epiphany Knedler and Tim Rickett in Aberdeen, South Dakota, United States. The platform operates as both a curatorial initiative and exhibition organizer, with a strong focus on surveying contemporary artistic practices that engage with social, cultural, and personal narratives.
Epiphany Knedler is an academic and editor working in art history and photography criticism, while Tim Rickett is a practicing artist and academic specializing in 3D media and exhibition direction. Together, they curate exhibitions that highlight emerging and established voices in contemporary art, particularly through open call formats that emphasize inclusivity and current artistic discourse.
Their annual exhibition series, nice;04, functions as a critical snapshot of contemporary art production, reflecting evolving visual languages and sociopolitical contexts.
Title & Description
nice;04 Annual Contemporary Juried National Exhibition (Open Call)
The nice;04 Exhibition is a juried open call organized by Midwest Nice Art, inviting artists to submit works for inclusion in a nationally focused contemporary group exhibition held at the JFAC Gallery at Northern State University.
This Exhibition serves as a curated survey of current artistic production, highlighting works that engage with complex personal narratives, social commentary, and contemporary cultural conditions. Unlike thematic exhibitions, this open call is intentionally non-themed, allowing the selected works to collectively form a reflection of current artistic trends and socio-political realities.
The exhibition will be juried by the collective’s co-founders, and selected works will be displayed in a professional gallery setting from July to September 2026.
Artists selected through this Competition will have their work exhibited in a university gallery context, gaining institutional exposure and inclusion in a curated contemporary survey show.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Photography
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Installation
- Mixed Media
- Contemporary Art
- Curatorial / Exhibition-Based Practice
- New Media (if applicable works submitted)
Eligibility
- Open to national and international artists (juried national exhibition format; international submissions implied accepted unless restricted at submission stage)
- Suitable for emerging, mid-career, and established artists
- Artists working in contemporary visual practices
- Works must meet physical exhibition requirements (size, weight, installation readiness)
- Work must be under 8 feet tall, 5 feet wide, and under 30 pounds
Program Benefits & Awards
- Award Structure (Prize-based Competition):
- $300 First Place Prize
- $200 Second Place Prize
- $100 Third Place Prize
- Four $50 Honorable Mentions
- Exhibition Opportunity at JFAC Gallery (Northern State University, USA)
- Institutional exposure in a juried contemporary exhibition
- Inclusion in Midwest Nice Art’s archival exhibition documentation
- Potential collector visibility (no commission charged on gallery sales)
Additional considerations:
- No exhibition commission on sales
- Artists retain full copyright over their work
- Documentation and promotional exposure through institutional channels
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Artwork submission (images of completed works)
- Entry details through the online submission system (“submit here”)
- Installation instructions (if applicable)
- Framing and presentation readiness (wired or install-ready works required)
- Work specifications compliance (size/weight limits)
- Prepaid return shipping label for accepted works
- Reusable shipping packaging
- Artist contact and work documentation
Additional constraints:
- Works must be original, and previously submitted work cannot be substituted after acceptance
- Accepted works must remain for the full exhibition duration
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 20 May 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: 1 June 2026
- Artwork Arrival Deadline: 30 June 2026
- Exhibition Dates: July 13 – September 11, 2026
- Closing Reception: 10 September 2026
- Return Shipping Begins: 21 September 2026
Location
Aberdeen, South Dakota, United States
Additional Details
- Artists are responsible for shipping both to and from the gallery
- No insurance is provided by organizers; artists are responsible for insuring their own works
- Damage compensation (if applicable): $200 flat reimbursement per damaged work
- Works must be exhibition-ready upon arrival (framed, wired, or properly installable)
- Midwest Nice Art handles installation and curation
- The organizers reserve the right to refuse work that differs from the submitted images
- All works remain installed for the full exhibition period
- Condition reports will be issued for any damaged or affected works
- Artists must provide specialized installation equipment if required
- No C.O.D. shipments accepted
- Sales inquiries are directed to artists; no gallery commission applies
- Organizers may document and reproduce works for promotional and archival purposes while artists retain all rights