ENTRY DUE DATE: October 16, 2025
EXHIBITION DATES: November 22 – December 20, 2025
Woman Made Gallery, 1332 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL + online

Woman Made Gallery (WMG) invites current members to submit their work for our Annual Small Works Members Show, a vibrant group exhibition celebrating original, handmade works across diverse mediums. All work must be created by the submitting artist and for sale!

WHO CAN SUBMIT

•  Open to current WMG members (all genders welcome). 
•  Work must be original and handcrafted by the submitting artist. 
•  Not a member yet? Join or renew by October 16, 2025. 

ARTWORK GUIDELINES

• Size Limit: Each piece must be 20 inches or smaller on the longest side. 
• Price Limit: All work must be for sale and priced $400 or less. 
• How Many: Submit 3 artworks. One work is guaranteed to be included. 
• New Media: Submit a short (.mp4 or URL under 10 minutes). (Please note that video work in this exhibition is difficult to sell.)

IMPORTANT DATES

• Final Entry Due Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025 | 11:59 PM CST
• Notifications: Thursday. October 25, 2025
• Exhibition Dates: November 22–December 20, 2025
• Opening Reception: Saturday, Nov. 22, 4–7 PM
• Members / Volunteers Appreciation Party: Saturday, December 6, 2–4 PM
• Closing Reception: Saturday, Dec. 20, 2–4 PM
• In Person Art Delivery 1: Saturday, Nov. 8, 4–5 PM | Sunday, Nov. 9, 12–5 PM
• In Person Art Delivery 2: Thursday, November 13, 12–5 PM
• Shipped Art Due at WMG By: Thursday, November 13, 12–5 PM
• In-Person Pick Up #1: Saturday, December 20, 2025 | 4–5 PM 
• In-Person Pick Up #2: Sunday. December 21, 2025 | 12–5 PM 
• In-Person Pick Up #3: Saturday, January 3, 2026 | 12–5 PM 
• Art Ship Out: Unsold artworks will be shipped for return to artists by Friday, January 9, 2026.

SALES + COMMISSION

•  All work must be for sale. 
•  WMG retains 40% commission on sales. 
•  Artists are paid within 30 days of show closing. 
•  Collectors may take work upon purchase. 

OTHER DETAILS

•  No entry fee (but membership must be current). 
•  Work will be shown salon-style (gallery provides standard hanging tools). 
•  Artists must supply special hardware or supports if needed. 
•  Shipping costs to/from WMG are the artist’s responsibility. 
•  Deadline to submit a prepaid return label for unsold art: December 21, 2025. 
•  Art not picked up by January 17, 2026 becomes property of WMG for fundraising.  

REQUIRED WITH YOUR SUBMISSION

•  3 artworks (1 guaranteed inclusion) 
•  Brief Artist Statement (≤200 words) 
•  Brief Artist Bio (≤200 words) 

QUESTIONS?
general@womanmade.org | (312) 738-0400 | womanmade.org

The Small Works Members Show 2025 will be on display at Woman Made Gallery, 1332 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607 and on its website.

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

Exhibition Description:

This Call is open to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a university in Illinois or Indiana, 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 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.

History:

Founded in 2022 by Diana Vallera, Faculty in Photography, and Corinne Pompéy, BA 2022, For Women, By Women (FWBW) Art Gallery was created to establish a dedicated exhibition space at Columbia College Chicago for women and non-binary students. What began as a mentorship between Diana and Corinne in 2019 evolved into an annual showcase that has since exhibited the work of over 400 students across more than 25 disciplines. Hosted at venues like the Arcade and Hokin Galleries on Columbia's campus, FWBW has grown in scope and scale each year, recently gaining support from the President’s Office and a team of dedicated interns to meet its expanding production needs.

Calendar 

Entry Due Date: September 12, 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: September 20, 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 and Indiana, 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.