ARTIST SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
ARTIST SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Full artist guidelines for submitting work for The Secret Show
Call to Artists
THE SECRET SHOW: CURATED BY EMMA HAPNER
Submission deadline: January 15, 2026
Secrets have always held allure. They live in the margins of letters, in glances across a room, in the space between what is spoken and what is withheld. For centuries, secrets have inspired artists, writers, and dreamers—an invisible thread binding us in mystery and imagination.
THE SECRET SHOW invites contemporary artists to explore the delicate art of concealment and revelation. From whispered confessions to secrets of state, from secret admirers to hidden chambers of memory, this exhibition asks: what is the role of secrecy in art, and how does the unseen shape what we allow to be seen? And who do we allow in to our secrets?
Taking cues from the opulence of Marie Antoinette’s 18th-century salons—spaces both intellectual and indulgent—artists are encouraged to draw from Rococo influences: lush ornament, pastel palettes, allegory, and play. Imagine a clandestine letter slipped into a silken glove, or a painting that reveals only under candlelight. The Rococo spirit of elegance, wit, and theatricality becomes the lens through which secrecy is reimagined for the contemporary moment.
Curated by artist Emma Hapner, THE SECRET SHOW will unfold in two layers: a full online exhibition, and a special in-person gathering in a secret location—either in Pennsylvania, New York City, or both. The physical exhibition will be revealed only to participating artists and select guests, keeping with the theme of hidden worlds and treasured confidences.
Artists working in painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, video, photography, or mixed media are invited to apply. Submissions should align with the exhibition’s theme and spirit, merging the mystery of personal secrets with the grandeur of Rococo imagination.
View our Secret Show inspiration board on Pinterest soon.
ABOUT THE CURATOR
Emma Hapner is a figurative oil painter based in New York City. She earned her Master of Fine Arts with a concentration in painting from the New York Academy of Art, after completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Ball State University in her home state of Indiana. Hapner primarily works in oil paint on canvas, creating figurative pieces that reclaim the language of classical painting through a contemporary feminine perspective. Find out more about Emma Hapner by clicking here.
Paintings, sculpture, video (under 10 minutes), photography and experimental works and installation will be considered.
Deadline to digitally submit work: January 15, 2026
Notification of acceptance: by January 25, 2026.
This is a digital and in person exhibition, with the art being up for sale on eracontemporary.com from February 14th, 2026 to April 1, 2026 and the artworks displayed in person on a more limited basis (for instance a weekend pop up show), to be determined. Some work may be selected just for the online exhibition.
ARTIST SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Paintings, sculpture, video (under 10 minutes), photography and experimental works and installation will be considered.
Deadline to digitally submit work: January 15, 2026
Notification of acceptance: by January 25, 2026.
This is a digital exhibition, with the art being up for sale on eracontemporary.com from February 14, 2026 to April 1, 2026.
Terms: 40/60 split, with 60% going to the artist. There is no need to ship the accepted artwork to the gallery if the work will be shown online only. If the artwork sells, it will be shipped from the artist’s home/studio and the artist can choose to have the collector pay for shipping or build in the cost of shipping into the price of the piece. If the work is accepted into the pop up (in person) portion of the exhibit, the shipping will be the responsiblity of the artist both to and from the address where the works will be held, at 449 Sharon Drive, Wayne, PA, 19087. A full disclosure of where the pop up exhibit will be held will be revealed closer to the event, as we are still working out those details. However, all work must be shipped to the Wayne address.
Entry fee: $35 per artwork. There is no limit to how many pieces you can submit.
We look for work with a distinctive style, technical mastery, and artists that are professional, timely and friendly to work with.
To apply, please follow these steps:
Copy and paste the following questions into the body of an email to Era Contemporary at eracontemporary@gmail.com with email heading “EXHIBITION NAME (example, THE SECRET SHOW) and (Your name)”. Attach image(s) of your artwork no larger than 3 MB and using the label format FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME_TITLE_SIZE_MEDIUM_YEAR_PRICE.
What is your legal name, and your public artist name (if different)?
Where are you based out of in the world?
What is the title(s) of this piece?
What is the medium of this piece? (example, oil on canvas)
What size is this work in inches
Is the work framed or unframed?
What is the price of this piece? Keep in mind the 40/60 split.
How does this piece relate to the theme?
What are your Instagram or social media handles?
What is your art website?
Next, please pay the submission fee of $35 for one piece, and $35 per additional submission to eracontemporary@gmail.com via Paypal. Please attach this receipt to the email. If you don’t have Paypal, you can pay the submission fee here.
All work will be kept on file and considered for future shows as well.
Image credits:
The Love Letter by Jean Honore Fragonard, early 1770s, public domain.
Emma Hapner in her studio in New York City.