Organizer Information
SILA VIII (also operating in affiliation with POWER VIII) is an international contemporary art gallery dedicated to exploring the mystical traditions of the West, East, and ancient archaism. Based physically in Moscow, Russia, the gallery serves as an active research space where symbols are treated not merely as passive cultural references, but as active, vital forms of knowledge. The institution's overarching mission centers on collecting and exhibiting original contemporary works that give archaic visual languages a modern resonance, building a bridge between historic esoteric frameworks and contemporary artistic expression.
Title & Description
SILA VIII International Open Call and Creative Support Program.
Submissions are officially open for this digital exhibition and artist grant cycle. The gallery explicitly seeks works that engage deeply with metaphysical, symbolic, and spiritual systems. Rather than treating mystical lineages as static museum artifacts, the program positions these traditions as a living source of imagery capable of transforming modern human perception. Selected entries will be curated into an international digital group showcase, expanding global visibility for alternative visual research.
Categories
Visual Arts, Painting / Canvas Art, Sculptured
CURATORIAL THEMES & ARTISTIC ARCHITECTURE
The selection panel evaluates portfolios based on their alignment with specific mystical, esoteric, and archetypal fields of inquiry:
- Metaphysical Art & Archetypal Painting
- Symbolism, Power Symbols, and Elements
- Tarot Art and Arcanology
- Ritual Geometry & Energetic Abstraction
- Shamanism, Totemism, and Runic Art
- Gnosticism and Christian Mysteries
- Ancient Egyptian, Slavic, Buddhist, Taoist, and African Spiritual Systems
Eligibility
Open to emerging artists, painters, and sculptors worldwide. There are no restrictions regarding age, nationality, or formal academic background. Artworks must be of high artistic quality and fully suitable for physical transportation.
Program Benefits & Awards
The support program provides successful applicants with significant financial backing, acquisition avenues, and market representation:
- Artistic Support Grants: Three (3) selected artists will each receive a €5,000 financial grant to directly support and sustain their ongoing creative practice.
- Artwork Acquisition Contracts: Selected works from the exhibition pool will receive direct purchase and acquisition offers of up to €1,000 per individual piece.
- Gallery Representation: Outstanding participants will be formally evaluated for long-term, exclusive gallery cooperation and representation contracts with the international gallery network.
- Exhibition Placement: Inclusion of chosen pieces in the curated international group exhibition featured on the SILA VIII digital gallery platform.
Fees
- Application Fee: None (Completely free to register portfolios and submit imagery via email for panel vetting).
Application Requirements
Submissions must conform to strict physical sizing parameters to ensure long-term transport viability:
- Paintings / Two-Dimensional Works: Executed on canvas, measuring strictly 40×60 cm or larger in dimension.
- Sculptures / Three-Dimensional Objects: Must stand a minimum of 40 cm in height or larger.
How to Apply?
Compile your high-quality artwork images into a digital portfolio. Draft an introduction or statement mapping your alignment with the gallery's themes, and email your application directly to the curation desk at sila8gallery@gmail.com.
Submissions must adopt a strict, mandatory subject heading line: "Open call submission".
Key Dates
- Application Submission Period: May 1 – August 1, 2026
- Jury Evaluation Phase: August 2026
Location
Online / Virtual Exhibition Hub open internationally, with physical organizational headquarters based in Moscow, Russia
Additional Details
The selection process focuses on the conceptual depth and formal execution of the submitted visual material, prioritising creators for whom symbols function as deep forms of knowledge rather than simple ornamental references. Physical gallery spaces operate Tuesday through Sunday from 12:00 to 20:00 JST/MSK for secondary research.