27th International Open

Exhibition Description: Woman Made Gallery seeks entries in all media by women and non-binary artists worldwide for its 27th International Open, on view from February 28–March 28, 2026.

Juried by artist and educator, Nirmal Raja, this open theme encourages entries that explore or challenge conceptual and material boundaries. The exhibition will be held at Woman Made Gallery, located at 1332 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607.

Prizes Awarded: 1st Place $500 / 2nd Place $250 / 3rd Place $100 | 4th Place Honorable Mention

About the Juror:  Nirmal Rajais an interdisciplinary artist who recently relocated to Cambridge, MA after living and working in Milwaukee for over 24 years. Before immigrating to the United States in 1995, she lived in India, South Korea, and Hong Kong.

She holds a BA in English Literature from St. Francis College in Hyderabad, India, a BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. In recognition of her accomplishments, she was named “Graduate of the Decade” by UW–Milwaukee. Other honors include the 2020 Mary L. Nohl Fellowship for Individual Artists and the 2022 Mildred L. Harpole Artists of the Year Award from the Milwaukee Arts Board.

Raja has exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions regionally, nationally, and internationally. She has participated in residencies at MASS MoCA, the Vermont Studio Center, and the Arts/Industry Residency at Kohler, among others. A collaborator by nature, she often works with other artists and curates exhibitions that bring together people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

At the core of her practice is a compelling refusal to be defined by others. She is committed to letting curiosity and experimentation guide her path. Her work revolves around understanding the impact of migration on women, the weight of cultural responsibilities placed on women while traversing geographic boundaries, and material culture as a witness and testament to these memories.

Raja is a member of the Boston Sculptors Gallery and is represented in Milwaukee by the Portrait Society Gallery.

For more information visit Nirmal Raja's website. 

Important Dates
Exhibition Dates: February 28–March 28, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 28 at 4–7 PM CST
First Entry Due Date: December 19, 2025 | 11:59 PM CST
Extended Due Date: December 26, 2025 | 11:59 PM CST
Notification: January 10, 2026

Entry Fee: $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 and above receive one free entry annually. Please email general@womanmade.org to receive your one-time code for free entry redemption.  

WMG offers fee waivers to those who request the need. To acknowledge the historic inequities of wealth distribution, they are exclusively reserved for ALAANA/BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+. Factors that result in an approved application include financial instability or low income status, student or recent graduate status, identification as ALAANA/BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+, or a demonstrated need otherwise. The WMG team will approve and send a fee waiver link within 2 days of artist's request. 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 fall within 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 media players, Epson projectors and TV monitors 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.

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.