Organizer Information
Phantasmal Gallery is a hybrid contemporary art gallery founded in 2023 by artist Daisy-Drew Smith following their graduation from Bath Spa University. The organization was established in response to a perceived lack of dedicated platforms for horror, uncanny, surreal, and macabre-focused art practices.
Phantasmal Gallery operates both online and through physical exhibition spaces, functioning as a hybrid model that supports digital dissemination and in-person curatorial experiences. Its mission is to cultivate a space where artistic expression connected to liminality, horror aesthetics, and the “strange” is not only accepted but actively celebrated.
The gallery also maintains a strong social media presence, using platforms such as Instagram and TikTok to expand visibility for selected artists and foster a growing international audience. Its programming includes frequent open calls and exhibitions—approximately monthly—positioning it as a continuously active platform for emerging and independent creatives.
Title & Description
Liminal Magazine – Open Call (Second Edition)
This open call invites submissions for the second issue of Liminal Magazine, a curated publication dedicated to artists, writers, makers, small businesses, and events engaging with themes of liminality, the uncanny, horror, surrealism, and psychological or atmospheric strangeness.
The magazine is designed in a photo-book aesthetic and combines visual art, written content, interviews, puzzles, and editorial features into a cohesive curated publication. The aim is to construct a multi-sensory printed and digital experience that reflects transitional states, eerie atmospheres, and unconventional narratives.
Selected works will be integrated into a themed publication that explores how contemporary creators interpret the boundaries between the familiar and the unsettling. The project is not limited to fine art alone but expands into cultural production more broadly, encouraging interdisciplinary participation.
Accepted contributors become part of a curated editorial ecosystem where their work is contextualized alongside other artists engaging with similar conceptual frameworks. The publication also serves as an archival object distributed internationally.
Categories
- Visual Art (Painting, Drawing, Illustration)
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Fashion / Wearable Art
- Writing (Fiction, Poetry, Essays, Reviews)
- Articles and Critical Texts
- Interviews
- Small Business Contributions (creative or art-adjacent practices)
- Mixed Media / Experimental Formats
Eligibility
- Open internationally (global submissions accepted)
- Emerging, mid-career, and independent artists welcome
- Writers, visual artists, designers, and interdisciplinary practitioners are eligible
- No explicit age restriction stated (assumed adult submission recommended)
- Particularly suitable for artists working with horror, surrealism, uncanny aesthetics, liminality, or experimental narrative forms
- Small businesses aligned with creative or conceptual themes may also apply
Program Benefits & Awards
- Inclusion in Liminal Magazine (curated publication)
- One free physical copy of the magazine (including international postage; import fees may apply depending on country)
- Digital and social media promotion via Phantasmal Gallery’s Instagram and TikTok channels
- Exposure to a growing international audience of curators, collectors, and horror/surrealism enthusiasts
- Inclusion in a themed curated publication distributed through preorders, online sales, and art fairs
- Long-term visibility through continued circulation of the magazine
This opportunity functions primarily as a publication and exposure platform rather than a competitive award program.
Application Fee
£15 participation fee applies only if accepted
Application Requirements
- Artist name
- Instagram handle and/or website
- Artist statement
- Response to prompts:
- “Do you like scary movies? If yes, which ones?”
- “What is the biggest influence in your practice?”
- “What level of the Backrooms would you face?”
- Submitted works (up to 6 pieces)
- For visual works: title, medium, year, and dimensions (if applicable)
- Any additional writing submissions (articles, reviews, stories, etc., if applicable)
How to Apply?
Applications must be sent via email to: phantasmalgallery@gmail.com
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 June 2026
Location
United Kingdom
Additional Details
Phantasmal Gallery emphasizes thematic alignment with horror, uncanny, liminal, and surreal aesthetics. The curatorial approach is highly conceptual and editorial, integrating not only artworks but also personality-driven Q&A sections designed to provide insight into each contributor’s inspirations and cultural references.
The magazine is structured as a hybrid between art publication and collectible photo-book, and accepted artists gain visibility across both print and digital ecosystems. The project strongly values narrative identity, thematic coherence, and experimental approaches to storytelling and image-making.
Applicants are encouraged to engage directly with the conceptual prompts, as these form part of the final editorial presentation and contribute to the contextual framing of their work.