No Dead Artists — 31st Annual International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Art

Ferrara Showman Gallery invites artists from around the world to submit work for the 31st annual NO DEAD ARTISTS International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Art.

Founded in 1995 by Jonathan Ferrara, the exhibition was created to champion living artists — flipping the old adage that artists only achieve recognition after death. What began as a New Orleans-focused show has grown into a global call, selecting work by an ever-changing panel of three prestigious arts professionals drawn from museums, collections, and the international art world.

Grand Prize: One jury-selected artist receives a solo exhibition at Ferrara Showman Gallery the following year.

Exhibition dates: 11 September – 23 October 2027, with an opening reception on 2 October 2027, 5–8 pm, in conjunction with the Arts District New Orleans' First Saturday Gallery Openings.

How to apply:

• Submit exclusively via EntryThingy®
• Create a profile with biography, artist statement, CV, and up to 10 artworks/images
• Images must be in .jpg format; videos in .mov format (approx. 1MB)
• Entry fee: USD $40 per submission
• All submitted works must be available for sale; a 50% gallery sales commission applies to any works sold
• Artists are responsible for all shipping costs, including return shipping and any import/export duties

Key dates:

• 15 June 2027 — Submission deadline
• 24 July 2027 — Jury results / finalists announced
• 7 September 2027 — Deadline for artworks to arrive at gallery
• 11 September 2027 — Exhibition opens
• 2 October 2027 — Opening reception, 5–8 pm
• 23 October 2027 — Exhibition closes

Past jurors have included directors from the New Orleans Museum of Art, Whitney Museum trustees, MoMA board members, and founders of major art fairs. Past participants have gone on to receive national press coverage, gallery representation, art fair inclusion, and museum acquisitions.