Banner Detail: Monument or Memory, mixed media, Ashley Quintanilla for MFA’s America at 250: Be Revolutionary!

On Display at Circle Gallery June 25 – July 25, 2026

Virtual Awards Ceremony will be June 25, 2026 from 5:30 – 6:30 PM via Zoom

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Introducing America at 250: Be Revolutionary!

America’s Declaration of Independence marked a political and social revolution – the creation of a nation based on the ideals of natural rights, equality, and government by consent of the governed. “Be Revolutionary” is a dynamic exhibition created in honor of America at 250, celebrating two and a half centuries of bold ideas, cultural shifts, and transformative voices. We seek works that capture the essence of American history and cultural identity, challenge assumptions, and spark dialogue.

We invite creative interpretations in all media that pay tribute to 250 years of struggle and triumph in the pursuit of a more perfect union. Artists are encouraged to explore how social, political, personal, and artistic revolution continues to shape the American story today. “Be Revolutionary” will call audiences to reflect on the past, confront the present, and imagine the next era of American possibility.

MFA exhibitions are blind juried by professional and credentialed art experts. Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) invites all artists residing in any of the states or territories of the US, Canada, or Mexico to enter. Any original 2D and 3D artwork in any media will be considered. Works selected by the juror will be exhibited in Circle Gallery from June 25 – July 25, 2026. 

Click this icon to view and print the downloadable prospectus.

Juror: Lisa Lipinski, Art Historian

Lisa Lipinski is art historian and specialist in the fields of modern and contemporary art. She teaches courses in the history and theory of photography, 19th and 20th-century art in Latin America, the United States, and Europe, and Art Historiography. She has taught seminars on the history of exhibitions, the art of Marcel Duchamp and the Harlem Renaissance. Her education research is focused on pedagogy and assessment in higher education, and developing students’ skills in research and writing.

She has worked in major art museums: the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Phillips Collection and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. She provides regular guest lectures on art and diplomacy for the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State. Dr. Lipinski is also a licensed D.C. tour guide and a member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides, Washington, D.C. She is currently working on a book titled: Made in America: American Art and American Identity at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

Juror’s Statement

As the juror, I was privileged to select the works for the exhibition America at 250: Be Revolutionary! The works in the exhibition provide an open invitation to reflect on the state of our union today. Abundant, oblique, and layered references to pivotal moments in American history, from the Declaration of Independence to the recent No Kings marches, tell the complex and unfinished story of a nation built on the promise of liberty and justice for all. The exhibition presents images of the land, rural and urban, of the people, native and immigrant, along with familiar symbols of hope, sacrifice, and the rituals we perform as citizens.

In their focus on community and collective action, the selected works transcend individual perspectives, while recognizing important historical figures. Throughout the exhibition, you will see different and perhaps contradictory viewpoints. Each work offers a deeply felt meditation on our shared history and life in America, which despite our current moment of uncertainty and division, nonetheless contains the seed of hope for the future. In making my selections, I looked for works that were memorable and achieved sustained resonance, impact, and value. The prize-winning artworks paid homage to the past and addressed the present state of our democracy in original and inspiring ways.

– Lisa Lipinski

Awards

Best in Show

  • Partisanship by Merrill Smith Jr

Juror’s Choice

  • Big Chief Monk Boudreaux of the Golden Eagles by Cheryl Anne Grace
  • Our Fragile Democracy by Judith Peck
  • Freedom Bell, Union Station Plaza by Steve Ember

Honorable Mention

  • Mourning Glory by Maureen K Huffman
  • Turning Point by Jeff Conley
  • We Should Believe In Each Others’ Dreams by Linda Popp

Awards designated by the juror total $1,000.

Information for Accepted Artists

Exhibition Schedule

Exhibition Schedule:

  • Feb 24 Online Entry Opens for Submissions
  • Apr 29 Entry Deadline
  • May 28 Notification @ 5 PM
  • Jun 17 – 21 Accepted and Shipped Work Must Arrive at MFA Circle Gallery from 12 – 4 PM
  • Jun 25 Exhibition Opens
  • Jun 25 Virtual Awards Ceremony from 5:30 – 6:30 PM via Zoom
  • July 25 Last Day of the Exhibition and Closing Reception at MFA Circle Gallery from 4 – 6 PM
  • July 26 – 27 Pick-up Hand-Delivered Work from 11 AM – 4 PM
  • July 30 Shipped Work Will Be Sent

NOTE: Should Circle Gallery or any other exhibition space be closed for reasons beyond our control, MFA reserves the right to move a planned physical exhibit to our online gallery.

Delivery and Shipping

Delivery

  • All work delivered to the gallery must have the following information affixed to the non-viewing side of the artwork:
    • Artist Name
    • Address, phone number, and email
    • Title of the work, medium, and price. Be specific with medium descriptions (e.g., oil on hardboard or canvas, not oil; chromogenic print or archival inkjet print, not photography or digital print; oil pastel on paper, not pastel; etc.)
  • Work must arrive on scheduled dates.
  • Paintings must be dry.
  • Measure to ensure work meets size limitations before delivery, include outer edges of frames. Work not in compliance will not be exhibited. No exceptions.
  • All shipped work must include a bar-coded shipping label. Do not send by United States Postal Service (USPS). We prefer UPS but accept FedEx. No shipping peanuts allowed.
  • Please affix packing/repacking instructions to OUTSIDE of the shipping box.
  • Tips on shipping can be viewed on the RedDotBlog

Pickup and Storage

Pickup and Storage

  • Work may not be removed from the exhibition early for any reason. Artists may pick up their work on the specified dates, or at 6 PM after the Closing Reception.
  • Unless previous arrangements have been made, work placed in storage after announced pickup dates will be subject to a fine of $10 per piece, per week. Work left in storage longer than two (2) weeks shall become MFA property and may be disposed of, or used for fundraising purposes. There are no exceptions.

Liability

Liability

All work will be handled with all possible care, but pieces submitted for the exhibition are at the artist’s risk. In the event of damage or theft, MFA will not be held liable. If insurance is desired, the artist must carry it.

Sales

Sales

  • All work entered into any exhibition must be for sale unless prior agreements are made, and marked either with a price or POR for Price On Request.
  • Artists will retain 70% from sales (75% for MFA Members). MFA will retain 30% commission (25% for MFA Members) on any work sold through MFA.
  • The sale of artwork is taxable and all sales tax processing will be handled by MFA.
  • Sold artwork requiring shipment will be handled by MFA with costs collected from the buyer. Buyers will be asked if the work may be retained until the exhibit ends. If the buyer disagrees, the Gallery will let the work go, and the artist will be informed.
  • MFA asks that artists donate 20% from any sale made through a direct referral from MFA within three months. All donations are used to help defray operating costs of the Maryland Federation of Art and are tax-deductible by the artists to the full extent of the law.

Notification

All entrants will receive notification by email. Accepted artists will also be posted on MFA’s website. Artists who have unsubscribed from MFA emails will not receive notification. The notice to accepted artists will include specific details and could vary from the prospectus. Please set your email account to recognize eleanor@mdfedart.org and info@mdfedart.org. Contact Circle Gallery if you do not receive notice by 6 PM on the day of notification.