Dear Friend:

In response to the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and in conjunction with the Jan/Feb 2023 group exhibition, ROE 2.0, Woman Made Gallery is asking for your voice by sharing your abortion story. This is an on-going project and there is no entry due date. We'll exhibit the stories as they come in, and we feature them on WMG's website.  

We know that there are dozens of reasons why abortions are necessary and it is never a decision taken lightly.

“It was the right decision for me and for the children I already gave birth to.” “I was not ready to be a mother.” “I got my life back.” “It allowed me to complete my education.” “I was able to leave my bad relationship.” “It secured my future.” “It saved my life.” “It was medically and mentally necessary.” “I did not want to be pregnant.”

Whatever the reasons, the most outrageous part of all of this, is that half of the population has been told that they no longer have rights over their own body and that they are now 2nd class citizens.

When I had my abortion, I could not be more unprepared. I was using contraception. yet I accidentally became pregnant. I had no job and I had just been admitted to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to receive my Master’s degree which made a tremendous difference in my life and my career, receiving the credentials necessary to teach.

There are a thousand stories. I had pretty much forgotten mine, pushed it aside. When it was over, I moved on, taught college Art, exhibited my work, and promoted other Women artists.

Even if you have not had an abortion, you know someone who has. You may have driven them to the appointment. You may remember the feelings of that day and many years afterward.

We are soliciting those personal stories now not to exceed more than 500 words. You may sign your name or stay anonymous. With your permission, your story together with others is shared on WMG’s Website.

You have a choice to sign your name, or to be anonymous and your identity will be omitted. There is no entry fee to submit your story. By clicking the checkbox in this application, you accept and agree to the Acknowledgment and Grant of Permission. If you do not agree to the Acknowledgment and Grant of Permission, you should not submit your experience to Woman Made for the Online Project: My Abortion: My Choice. 

Regards, Marcia Grubb

Lifetime WMG Member | Past President of Woman Made Gallery

Keywords:  Roe v. Wade, Reproductive Rights, Pro-Choice, Feminism, Feminist, My Body, My Choice, Planned Parenthood, Abortion Is Healthcare, Womens Rights

Woman Made Gallery (WMG) is seeking entries for Drawing Resistance: The Artist’s Dilemma in Political Conflict, a virtual group exhibition open to women and non-binary artists. 

Virtual Platform The exhibition will be hosted online and accessible worldwide. WMG will actively promote the exhibiting artists and their work by creating a dynamic, immersive virtual gallery with space for artist statements and viewer engagement via social media.

Accessibility and Inclusion Submissions in multiple languages are welcome. If you need assistance with formatting or translation, please contact us at general@womanmade.org. We are committed to making this exhibition inclusive, accessible, and reflective of a global artistic community. Artists may submit up to three works plus an artist statement related to the exhibition theme. ALL accepted works with statements will be viewable online.  

EXHIBITION DESCRIPTION In a world increasingly shaped by political unrest, censorship, and global crises, artists are often confronted with a critical question: What is my responsibility in the face of conflict? Must art speak truth to power—or is silence also a choice?

“Drawing Resistance: The Artist’s Dilemma in Political Conflict” is a virtual group exhibition that explores the tensions artists face when navigating their creative practice in politically charged environments. The title plays on the dual meaning of “drawing”—as both a visual act and a metaphor for tracing boundaries, beliefs, or courage.

We invite women and non-binary artists from around the world to submit work that confronts, reflects on, or challenges political realities—whether global or deeply personal. Submissions may explore war, migration, censorship, social justice, protest, surveillance, gender-based oppression, or the quiet defiance of everyday survival. We are especially interested in works that wrestle with the dilemma of making art in a time of unrest: how to act, what to say, and what it means to resist.

This virtual exhibition welcomes all mediums, including but not limited to: painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, photography, sculpture (documented virtually), digital art, video, performance (video or audio), and written word (poetry, short text, or manifesto). Artists may submit up to three works per entry. All submissions must clearly relate to the exhibition theme.

WMG's Program Committee will select the works which will be presented in an online gallery alongside artist statements to offer context and deepen audience engagement. 

Please include a short artist statement (100–250 words) for each work submitted. Your statement should explain how your piece relates to the exhibition theme of political conflict, resistance, or the artist’s role in times of unrest. Share what inspired the work and how you see it engaging with activism, dissent, or personal/political struggle. The statement will appear alongside your work in the virtual exhibition to provide context and deepen viewer understanding.  

This virtual exhibition is open to artwork in all media that has not been previously exhibited at WMG.

IMPORTANT DATES

VIRTUAL EXHIBITION DATES: August 16–November 15, 2025 

ENTRY DUE DATE: Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 11:59 PM CST 

NOTIFICATIONS: Saturday, July 19, 2025 

ENTRY FEE $15. Only one submission may be entered per artist. Each submission may include 1 to 3 artworks. Artists are guaranteed one inclusion if the work addresses the theme of the show. Entry fee is non-refundable. 

ELIGIBILITY Woman Made Gallery is a space for women and non-binary artists, including trans women and femme/feminine-identifying genderqueer artists. This exhibit is open to artists from the local, national, and international communities. Drawing Resistance: The Artist’s Dilemma in Political Conflict will be an on-line only exhibition, viewable on Woman Made Gallery’s website and social media channels. Please note:  "Woman Made reserves the right to refuse entries that do not comply with the entry requirements.

ART SALES Accepted work may be listed for sale, though it is not required. Sales and shipping arrangements are the responsibility of the artists. WMG will not take a commission for any sales. 

WHAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE While this exhibition encourages bold expression and critical engagement with political themes, submissions must uphold standards of respect and responsibility. Artwork that incites violence, promotes hate speech, or targets individuals with slander or malicious intent will not be accepted. Gratuitously graphic content without clear artistic or political context, cultural appropriation without thoughtful engagement, and plagiarism are also grounds for exclusion. 

Keywords:  Drawing Resistance, Political Art, Art and Activism, Women Artists, Non-Binary Artists, Protest Art, Social Justice Art, Virtual Exhibition, Call for Art, Art in Conflict, Art as Resistance, Contemporary Feminist Art

The Ways We Care

Cultivating, tending, tracking, nurturing, repairing, and maintaining. All are words and actions that conjure the love and attention – and the worries and struggles – that go into care, whether for ourselves, others, our families, and our communities. 

Building from a rich feminist art history centered around a politics of care (e.g. Wages for Housework, Maintenance Art, and Mother Art, c. 1970s), this exhibition defines care expansively while taking it as the base of our collective life. From child rearing to mobilizing a grassroots social movement, to care for someone or something is to imagine and invest in the present for the sake of a better future, however big or banal.

This exhibition also recognizes the gendered, ableist, classed, and racialized terms of care, and the often-invisible nature of care work as work. As such, this exhibition gives space to see and explore different experiences and interpretations of care, including but not limited to reproductive labor, affective labor, domestic work, care work, and/or any facet of social, political, cultural, and ecological caretaking.

Exhibition Description:

This exhibition, "Acts of Care: Nurturing the Present, Shaping the Future" is open to women and non-binary artists, including transgender women and femme/feminine-identifying genderqueer artists. 

Please submit images of up three works in all mediums that include a visual element and have not been previously exhibited at WMG. Artists must address the theme of this exhibition in their work and in their artist statement.

About the Juror: Kristen Carter is an assistant professor of art history at Florida Southern College. She holds a PhD in modern and contemporary art from the University of British Columbia and a BA in art history from DePaul University. Her research concerns different modes of relationality, care, and institutional critique with an emphasis on artistic praxis and pedagogy in the 1960s and 1970s. She has presented and published on a range of topics, including performance, body art, and dance, histories of art and pedagogy in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, and the changing relationship between art and politics. Her research has been supported by fellowships from the University of British Columbia and the Getty Research Institute. 

Committed to collaborative and inclusive pedagogy, Carter serves on the College Art Association’s Education Committee, advocating for undergraduate research and innovative teaching.

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The exhibition will be held from July 12 to August 16, 2025 at Woman Made Gallery, 1332 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607.

First Entry Due Date: May 14, 2025, 11:59 PM CST | Final Entry Due Date: May 21, 2025, 11:59 PM | Entry Fee: $35

Calendar 

Exhibition Dates: July 12 – August 16, 2025 

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 12 from 4 to 7 PM CST 

Artist Walkthrough: Saturday, August 16 from 2 to 4 PM CST 

First Entry Due Date: May 14, 2025, 11:59 PM CST 

Extended Due Date : May 21, 2025, 11:59 PM CST 

Notification: May 30, 2025

Entry Fee 

The entry fee is $35. Each entry requires a minimum of one artwork, though up to three artworks may be considered per submission. Entry fees are non-refundable. 

Members at the Enhanced Artist Level ($100) and above receive one free entry annually. Please email general@womanmade.org to receive your one-time code for free entry redemption. 

WMG offers up to 30 fee waivers per exhibition. To acknowledge the historic inequities of wealth distribution, they are mainly reserved for ALAANA/BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+. If you require a fee waiver simply email us explaining your need and we will assist you. Please email WMG at general@womanmade.org to request a fee-waiver. 

Eligibility Woman Made Gallery is a space for women and nonbinary artists, including trans women and femme/feminine-identifying genderqueer artists. We welcome art from women and non-binary artists from our local community, regionally based, and around the world. 

Due to wall size restrictions, artworks must be no larger than 6’ horizontally and under 75 pounds in weight, unless delivered to and picked up from our gallery by the artist. Artists may be additionally responsible for the installation of oversized works. 

New media artworks are eligible. To be considered, artists must submit a sample .mp4 or URL under 10 mins for purposes of consideration. For exhibition, WMG requires a digital transfer (Google Drive, Vimeo downloads, WeTransfer) as well as a USB formatted in .mp4 file format delivered to the gallery. WMG can provide a limited number of screens and projectors with basic speakers. All other new media needs are the responsibility of the artist. 

Art Sales Accepted work may be listed for sale or be not for sale (NFS). WMG will retain a 40% commission on sold works. Work remains the property of the artist until sold. Sold artworks shall remain in the exhibition until the end of the exhibition. Artists will be paid no later than 30 days after the close of the exhibit. Artists may donate any portion of their commission to WMG. 

Terms of Exhibition An artist contract with full terms of the exhibition will be administered at the time of acceptance notification. Artists need to retrieve their work by the date noted in the artist contract or make alternate arrangements. WMG is unable to store work beyond the pick-up date. Artists may donate their art to WMG's fundraising efforts if unable to pick it up. WMG is happy to talk through preparations, offer advice, and recommend resources as requested.

The Midwest Open is an annual exhibition at WMG that highlights the achievements of women and nonbinary artists living in the American Midwest. According to the United States Census Bureau, the 12 states in the Midwest include Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

The exhibition encourages artists to expand their materials, push the boundaries of medium and texture, and explore innovative approaches. It seeks the most provocative work each artist has to offer, fostering a Midwest exhibition that challenges perspectives, sparks dialogue, and leaves a lasting impact. Artists may submit up to three works in any visual medium, provided they have not been previously shown at Woman Made Gallery.

Cash prizes are awarded to three artists in the exhibition, as designated by the juror.   

Awards: 1st place: $300 | 2nd place: $200 | 3rd place: $100 | 4th place: Honorable Mention
 

About the Juror:  Kimberly Oliva (b. 1978, Chicago) is a Chicago-based Midwest curator. She received her Bachelor of Art degree from Loyola University in 2001. She is the owner of Oliva Gallery and has curated over 150 interdisciplinary exhibitions. In 2019, Oliva Gallery exhibited at SOFA, and in June 2025, it will be presenting at Door County Contemporary. Kimberly is the founder of the Mozart Park Mural Program and co-chair of Mozart Park, Chicago Park District.Kimberly focuses on established Midwest artists and has been immersed in the art scene for over two decades. For more information, visit https://www.olivagallery.com.

The exhibition will be held from August 30 to September 27, 2025 at Woman Made Gallery, 1332 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607.

Calendar 

Exhibition Dates: August 30 - September 27, 2025 

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 30 from 4 to 7 PM CST 

Artist Walkthrough: Saturday, September 27 from 2 to 4 PM CST 

First Entry Due Date: June 20 | 11:59 PM CST (entry fee: $35) 

Final Entry Due Date: June 27 | 11:59 PM CST

Notification: July 18, 2025

Entry Fee 

*The entry fee is $35 per entry. Each entry requires a minimum of one artwork, though up to three artworks may be considered per submission. Entry fees are non-refundable. 

Members at the Enhanced Artist Level ($100) and above receive one free entry annually. Please email general@womanmade.org to receive your one-time code for free entry redemption. 

WMG offers up to 30 fee waivers per exhibition. To acknowledge the historic inequities of wealth distribution, they are mainly reserved for ALAANA/BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+. If you require a fee waiver simply email us explaining your need and we will assist you. Please email WMG at general@womanmade.org to request a fee-waiver. 

Eligibility Woman Made Gallery is a space for women and nonbinary artists, including trans women and femme/feminine-identifying genderqueer artists. We welcome art from women and non-binary artists from our local community, regionally based, and around the world. 

Due to wall size restrictions, artworks must be no larger than 6’ horizontally and under 75 pounds in weight, unless delivered to and picked up from our gallery by the artist. Artists may be additionally responsible for the installation of oversized works. 

New media artworks are eligible. To be considered, artists must submit a sample .mp4 or URL under 10 mins for purposes of consideration. For exhibition, WMG requires a digital transfer (Google Drive, Vimeo downloads, WeTransfer) as well as a USB formatted in .mp4 file format delivered to the gallery. WMG can provide a limited number of screens and projectors with basic speakers. All other new media needs are the responsibility of the artist. 

Art Sales Accepted work may be listed for sale or be not for sale (NFS). WMG will retain a 40% commission on sold works. Work remains the property of the artist until sold. Sold artworks shall remain in the exhibition until the end of the exhibition. Artists will be paid no later than 30 days after the close of the exhibit. Artists may donate any portion of their commission to WMG. 

Terms of Exhibition An artist contract with full terms of the exhibition will be administered at the time of acceptance notification. Artists need to retrieve their work by the date noted in the artist contract or make alternate arrangements. WMG is unable to store work beyond the pick-up date. Artists may donate their art to WMG's fundraising efforts if unable to pick it up. WMG is happy to talk through preparations, offer advice, and recommend resources as requested.

Exhibition Description:

This Call is open to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a university in Illinois, as well as students who have graduated in Spring 2025.

Woman Made Gallery invites artists to submit work for Finding My Way, an exhibition exploring the profound transformations that shape our lives—particularly the journey from childhood to adulthood. Through this theme, we seek artwork that captures the physical, emotional, and psychological changes that define these formative years.

How do we navigate the path of growing up? What moments of loss, growth, and self-discovery shape who we become? We encourage submissions that reflect on personal or collective experiences of transition, whether through memory, identity, relationships, or the challenges of finding one’s place in the world.

All mediums are welcome. We look forward to seeing how you interpret Finding My Way.

About the Jurors: 

Corinne Pompéy (b. 2000) is a fine art photographer based in Chicago, IL. She holds a Bachelor of Art in Photography from Columbia College Chicago. Her work explores themes of identity, feminist issues, and body image, with a particular focus on the intersectionality of womanhood and the Black experience. Through her photography and self-portraiture, Pompéy explores the complexity of social, cultural, and personal narratives, using visual storytelling to engage with broader societal issues. Pompéy’s work has been exhibited at EXPO Chicago (11th Edition), the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition in the Museum of Science and Industry, Bridgeport Art Center, and Woman Made Gallery. She is currently the Program Coordinator at Woman Made Gallery.

Diana Vallera is a faculty member in the Photography Department of Columbia College Chicago. her subjects are wide ranging including the exploration of body and form and work on the construction of ideal gender roles. Vallera's exhibition, "Women, Work, and Gender Roles", explores the history of these roles and how women have challenged the confines. She is an active supporter of labor and human rights.

Calendar 

First Entry Due Date: August 8, 2025, 11:59 PM

Extended Due Date: August 15, 11:59 PM

Exhibition Dates: October 11–November 8, 2025

Opening Reception: Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 | 4–7 PM

Artist Walkthrough: Saturday, November 8, 2025 | 2–4 PM

Notification: August 29, 2025

Entry Fee 

The entry fee is $20. Each entry requires a minimum of one artwork, though up to three artworks may be considered per submission. Entry fees are non-refundable. 

Woman Made Gallery Members at the Enhanced Artist Level ($100) and above receive one free entry annually. Please email general@womanmade.org to receive your one-time code for free entry redemption. 

Eligibility This open call is open to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a university in Illinois, as well as students whose graduation date is in May 2025.

Woman Made Gallery is a space for women and nonbinary artists, including trans women and femme/feminine-identifying genderqueer artists. We welcome art from women and non-binary artists from our local community, regionally based, and around the world. 

Due to wall size restrictions, artworks must be no larger than 6’ horizontally and under 75 pounds in weight, unless delivered to and picked up from our gallery by the artist. Artists may be additionally responsible for the installation of oversized works. 

New media artworks are eligible. To be considered, artists must submit a sample .mp4 or URL under 10 mins for purposes of consideration. For exhibition, WMG requires a digital transfer (Google Drive, Vimeo downloads, WeTransfer) as well as a USB formatted in .mp4 file format delivered to the gallery. WMG can provide a limited number of screens and projectors with basic speakers. All other new media needs are the responsibility of the artist. 

Art Sales Accepted work may be listed for sale or be not for sale (NFS). WMG will retain a 40% commission on sold works. Work remains the property of the artist until sold. Sold artworks shall remain in the exhibition until the end of the exhibition. Artists will be paid no later than 30 days after the close of the exhibit. Artists may donate any portion of their commission to WMG. 

Terms of Exhibition An artist contract with full terms of the exhibition will be administered at the time of acceptance notification. Artists need to retrieve their work by the date noted in the artist contract or make alternate arrangements. WMG is unable to store work beyond the pick-up date. Artists may donate their art to WMG's fundraising efforts if unable to pick it up. WMG is happy to talk through preparations, offer advice, and recommend resources as requested.

Woman Made Gallery is looking for poets and writers to grace the stage for Come (Out) As You Are, a vibrant showcase celebrating queer joy and identity. We’re especially excited to uplift the voices of UIC students but all are encouraged to apply. Help us create a night of radical visibility. This is a space to honor the ways we come out, show up and show out just as we are. We’re seeking eight performers, each with up to ten minutes of stage time. All experience levels and identities are welcome. We want your stories, your poems and your truths. Please submit up to 3 poems for consideration.

This event will take place during Pride month on June 20 at 6pm at Woman Made Gallery. 

About the Juror:  Le’Trice Buckingham is a Chicago based multi-disciplinary artist whose practice weaves together visual art, storytelling, and poetry to subvert and conjure. Rooted in the transformative power of art, her work engages with ancestral memory and the fluid intersections of history and imagination. Through bold abstract imagery and layered symbolism she creates spaces for reflection, resistance, and reimagining. As a storyteller, Buckingham draws from oral traditions, folklore, and lived experiences, infusing her narratives with rhythm, movement, and historical resonance. Her work has been featured in literary journals, exhibitions, and community-based art initiatives, and she continues to cultivate spaces for creative expression through Art Conjure, a collective dedicated to Black storytelling and visual artistic conjuration.

Calendar 

Submission Deadline: Saturday, May 31 | 11:59PM CST

Notification: Monday, June 9

Event Date: Friday, June 20 | 6-8PM