Wisconsin Artists Biennial 2026

Online Entry Opens: June 15th, 2025

Entry Fees

$15 for Wisconsin Students - (must be 18 years old & actively enrolled) 
$30 for current Wisconsin Visual Artist members
$55 for non-members
Artists may enter up to three (3) pieces for jurying, although no more than two (2) artworks from any one artist will be selected for the exhibition. 

Entry Deadline:  September 30, 2025  at 11:59 pm via ArtCall link

Artist Notification: No later than November 7th, 2025

Results of juror selection will be emailed directly to the email the artist provides within the ArtCall entry form no later than November 7th, 2025. Artists can also log into their ArtCall account to see the results after November 7th, 2025. Accepted artists will be posted online at wisconsinvisualartists.org after November 7th, 2025.

Exhibition On View: February 7 – April 19, 2026
Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA), 205 Veterans Avenue, West Bend, Wisconsin 53095 

Opening Reception: Saturday, February 7, 2026

1:00-4:00pm | Reception
2:00pm | Jurors remarks
3:00pm | Awards 

AWARDS

• MOWA 1st Place Award cash prize of $5,000 and a solo exhibition at MOWA
• WVA  2nd Place Award $2000
• WVA 3rd Place Award $1250
• WVA 4th Place Award $1000
• WVA Lee Weiss Award for first time Biennial exhibitor $500
• Merit or Honorable Mention Award - $250

Eligibility

• All visual artists currently residing in Wisconsin
• Artists must be at least 18 years of age
• Students must be actively enrolled and produce documentation of enrollment
• All visual art processes are eligible except for reproductions of work originally created in another medium

Jurors  

We are pleased to have the following Jurors for Biennial 2026:

• NICOLE JACQUARD is Professor and Area Coordinator of the Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design Program at Indiana University
• TAYLOR JASPER is Susan and Rob White Assistant Curator of Visual Arts at the Walker Art Center
• MELISSA ORESKY is an Artist whose painting and collage based multidisciplinary practice is focused on consideration of plants as living beings and as kin

Read more about the Jurors here: Juror Bios

Artwork Guidelines

• No size or media restrictions 
  (Note: for pieces larger than 10' in any direction, WVA's Executive Director will contact you with any concerns prior to the jurying process)
• Must be original work; no reproductions of artwork will be accepted 
• Work must be completed within the last two years (2024 and 2025)

Submission Guidelines

• Artist's Statement
  • a 200 word maximum artist's statement is to be included in the registration
  • Do not include personal or biographic information (including your name) in the statement
• Image files:
  • Minimum 960 pixels on the longest side
  • Three images for each 2D work may be submitted: primary view, close view and view showing scale
  • Primary image should not include mat and frame unless they are integral to or a part of the artwork
  • Minimum file size is 1MB (1000kB); maximum file size is 5MB
  • Documentation imagery with blur or reflection will not be accepted
• Three (3) images or video (mp4 or mov) for 3D artwork will be accepted
• Performance videos
  • Video submissions must be monitor viewable (not projection)
  • Videos should be mp4 or mov format
  • A pdf with a link to a longer video is allowed. Please remove identifying information
• 2D work must include hardware for hanging. Two points of contact are preferred. No sawtooth hangers are allowed.
• Physical dimensions should include framing for 2D work
• PLEASE include any special assembly or installation requirements with submission
  • Note: Feasibility of ceiling-hung artwork, 2D or 3D pieces larger than 10' in any direction, or availability of specified display fixtures is not guaranteed by MOWA. WVA's Executive Director will contact you with any concerns prior to the jurying process.

Commitment to Exhibit 

With entry into the 2026 Wisconsin Artists Biennial, artists commit to exhibit their work, if selected as a finalist, for the duration of the exhibit. Withdrawing artwork after acceptance as a finalist disqualifies the artist from award consideration and from future exhibits. Artists are not allowed to “swap” out a piece of artwork that was accepted and no longer available. 

Any alteration of the artwork causing substantial deviance from the entered image(s) may disqualify the artwork from the exhibit at the sole discretion of WVA and MOWA personnel. 

Copyright

All artists are responsible for ensuring their subject matter does not include any copyright infringements. The artist waives MOWA & WVA of all legal responsibilities if an artist is challenged by another party for copyright infringement. By submitting your artwork you are confirming you have secured any required releases and are not in violation of any laws. 

Delivery & Pick Up of Artwork 

Full delivery/shipping instructions and dates to MOWA will be emailed to the finalists upon acceptance and posted on the ArtCall site. 

Image Use

By entering work in this exhibition, the artist gives WVA and MOWA the right to use images for digital and print promotional purposes. 

Communication 

Questions about entering the exhibition or for membership information please email WVA Executive Director Shannon Kupfer at: director@wisconsinvisualartists.org

Exhibition and Programming 

All questions regarding the exhibition, installation, and programming should be directed to Anwar Floyd-Pruitt at afloydpruitt@wisconsinart.org

Sales 

Work need not be for sale to be eligible for the exhibition. MOWA will contact the artists with sales enquiries, and coordination of the sales and delivery will be directly between the buyer and the artist. Artwork must remain on site until the final date of the exhibition.

Liability 

Artists are responsible for insuring their hand-delivered or shipped work. WVA is not liable for damage to artwork in transit or during the exhibit. MOWA is not liable for damage to artwork in transit, but appropriate insurance is provided during the exhibit. 

To Enter

Submissions will be made through ArtCall. New ArtCall users will be required to create an ArtCall profile with user login and password. Existing ArtCall users need only login and follow the process for a new submission.

The preferred method of payment is through a credit card on the ArtCall site (using Stripe). A Stripe account is not required for payment.

Checks are accepted by using the Promo Code "Check" at checkout. After you make the submission, you must mail a check to:

Wisconsin Visual Artists
PO Box 250699
Milwaukee, WI 53225

If a check is not received within 7 days of entry, the submissions will not be included in the jurying process.

Entrants selecting Student Fee must send proof of enrollment to director@wisconsinvisualartists.org. Entries will not be considered if the documentation is not received.

User Entry Process Tutorial

Watch a quick tutorial about using ArtCall here.