Short Description
GLIMMER is a call for works about revelations, sudden comprehension, and epiphanies from within the mundane.
In the repetition of the everyday, the smallest glimmer can cut through like a bolt of lightning—or arrive more gently, through a subtle but irrevocable shift. A whisper. Despite its brevity, it appears at just the right moment to change you. And changed, you may see everything differently.
Glimmers usually come unbidden. They find us in the shower, while preparing a meal, walking the dog, or sweeping the studio floor. Magic arises from the mundanity of life—the neutral backdrop against which something unexpected and transformative can emerge. These flashes of the divine reach us when we are open enough, still enough, to receive them.
This exhibition will showcase works that emerge from or reflect on such moments of insight—when the everyday becomes fertile ground. A half-finished sketch, a broken vase, an old object, a glance out the window, a shimmer of light through a glass of water: each can become a door to something more.
We’re interested in the impact of these experiences on the artist—and on the artwork. Epiphanies not born of spectacle, but of stillness. Whether abstract or representational, conceptual or intuitive, submissions should resonate with the idea of revelation from within the ordinary—glimmers that changed something, if only for a moment.
Eligibility
GLIMMER is open to everyone internationally. The only limitation is that entries must represent original works that address the broad theme described above.
Open to all traditional and non-traditional genres and media.
Manifest’s carefully assembled juries change from project to project and have no collective predisposition towards any particular kind or style of art.
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits & Awards
Each participating exhibitor will receive a $50 honorarium. The honorarium has no strings attached (other than full participation in the relevant exhibit). It is a modest thank-you for collaborating with us as we chart our future. However, we realize it may also be helpful as practical support for shipping, framing, delivery, or travel to attend the Manifest exhibit reception events.*
Since Manifest’s 13th season the annual Grand Jury Award has recognized one exhibited work each year with a significant jury-determined cash prize, representing the ‘best of the best’ shown in Manifest’s many exhibits that year. To mark our transition into Manifest’s 20th season as an arts organization by artists, for artists, we made a major a change.
The Grand Jury Award format now results in the awarding of $1,000 to one work during each of our nine exhibition periods. This expands our support from one to up to nine exhibiting artists each year, and allocates 80% more funding to recognize the merits of exhibited works.
Entry Fee
Entry Fee: $45 for up to three entries. $5 per each additional entry.
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 29 August 2025
Website Link: https://www.manifestgallery.org/season22/glimmer/
