Notification will be made March 26, 2026

On Display April 15 – June 14, 2026

Awards will be announced on May 1 at 5 PM.

Introducing Human Expressions

Re-inventing the Portrait through Color, Form, and Composition

The portrait has long been a powerful medium through which artists explore identity, emotion, and the essence of the human condition. Human Expressions invites artists to reimagine and push the boundaries of this traditional genre, encouraging the exploration of new ways to convey the complexities of human experience. This exhibition seeks works that capture the depth of human expression through innovative approaches to portraiture, focusing on the transformative use of color, form, and composition.

We were looking for artists who are eager to break away from conventional representations of the human figure and create bold, evocative portraits that explore psychological, emotional, and conceptual facets of human identity. Whether through abstracted forms, unconventional color palettes, dynamic compositions, or mixed media, we encourage the use of any technique that can convey the intricacies of human expression in a compelling way. Any original 2D or 3D work that follows our exhibition guidelines was considered. Works selected by the juror will be exhibited in Maryland Federation of Art’s (MFA) second Human Expressions Exhibition through our Virtual Gallery from April 15 – June 14, 2026.

Click this icon to view and print the downloadable prospectus.

Juror: Marisa Stratton, Artist and Adjunct Lecturer at Georgetown University

Marisa Stratton is a painter whose work explores contemporary portraiture in the context of screens. Marisa holds a BFA in Communication Arts with a minor in Painting + Printmaking at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has shown in multiple group exhibitions including Virginia MoCA, (Virginia Beach, VA), Hamiltonian Artists (DC) and the Delaware Contemporary (Wilmington, DE). Stratton has been featured in New American Paintings and currently teaches painting at Georgetown University.

Juror’s Statement

To be published with the awards on May 1, 2026 at 5 PM.

Awards

Awards designated by the juror total $500.

Information for Accepted Artists

Exhibition Schedule

Exhibition Schedule:

  • Jan 6 Online Entry Open for Submissions
  • Feb 25 Entry Deadline @ 11:59 PM
  • Mar 26 Notification @ 5 PM
  • Apr 15 Exhibition Opens Online
  • May 1 Awards Announced @ 5 PM
  • Jun 14 Last Day of Online Exhibition

Liability

Liability

MFA shall not be liable for any special or consequential damages that result from the use of, or inability to use, MFA’s virtual exhibition gallery.

Sales

Sales

  • MFA’s Virtual Sales Gallery is provided to North American artists to sell their work. Only artists in the 48 contiguous United States may set a price. MFA will reimburse up to $35 in shipping costs to those artists for online sales shipments if a receipt is provided. All other artists must enter Price on Request (POR) and purchase inquiries will be referred by MFA to the artist.
  • Artists will retain 80% from sales (85% for MFA Members). MFA will retain 20% commission (15% 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. Artists will be responsible for fulfillment of sales.
  • 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 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 amani@mdfedart.org and info@mdfedart.org. Contact Circle Gallery if you do not receive notice by 6 PM on the day of notification.