UNDERSTORY art
Calls for Artists

Synthetic Truths

  • Status: Open
  • Deadline:

UNDERSTORY invites U.S. artists to submit conceptual work for SYNTHETIC TRUTHS, an exhibition on the synthetic, the substitute, and the not-quite-real.

We live among synthetic experiences and objects. A flavor is built without a fruit. Meat is grown without an animal. Each night, someone confides in a chatbot. A photograph shows something that never happened.

We invite artists to explore the space between the synthetic and the natural, and what happens when the stand-in is convincing. SYNTHETIC TRUTHS looks at the synthetic with a critical eye, without assuming the answer.

Questions you might consider

  • What is lost, and what is gained, when a substitute does the job?
  • What do we accept as true when we can't tell what was made?
  • Who benefits when something real is replaced with something convincing?
  • Can intimacy, memory, or care be synthetic and still count?
  • Where does "natural" end, and who draws that line?

These questions are starting points, not requirements. Please use these as a way to generate ideas or explore your perspective on the experience of the synthetic.

What we're looking for
Conceptual work that engages the synthetic as a subject: synthetic materials, media, intimacy, sensation, or territory we haven't thought of. We especially welcome experimental, installation, audio, and new media work, in addition to sculpture, painting, textile, and other forms.

AI and process disclosure
AI-assisted work is welcome. Because this exhibition is about what is real and what isn't, every artist is asked to briefly describe how their work was made, including any use of AI tools. Disclosure will not count against you; it will be part of the exhibition.

Eligibility
Open to artists residing in the United States, with priority given to artists within 100 miles of Cleveland. Artists at all career stages are welcome.

Space and technical notes
We expect to show 10-25 works by 5-15 artists. We can accommodate wall work, sculpture, work hung from the ceiling, screens, and up to two projections. Please describe your technical needs in your submission. File-based work (audio, video, new media) can be sent digitally and installed by UNDERSTORY.

How to apply

  • Apply online: https://reviewstar.io/f/synthetic
  • Submit one form per work, up to 3 works per artist.
  • Use the same name and email on every form so your entries may be reviewed together.
  • Each form asks for a primary image, optional supporting images and links, a short statement on how the work engages the theme (~150 words), a process note including any AI use (~100 words), and any technical needs.
  • Include a link to your website or portfolio in place of a bio or CV.

Key Dates

  • Submissions close: Sunday, November 22, 2026, 11:59 pm ET
  • Artists notified: Monday, November 30
  • Artists confirm participation: Friday, December 4
  • Shipped work received by: By Monday, January 4, 2027
  • Opening: Wednesday, January 13, 2027
  • Exhibition closes: Saturday, February 27, 2027
  • Artwork pickup: Sunday, February 28 or Monday, March 1 (Shipped work mailed the week of March 1)

Submission Terms

  • Selection: UNDERSTORY selects the work for the exhibition. Submitting does not guarantee selection.
  • Authorship and disclosure: You confirm that the work is yours and that the information you provide is accurate. You agree to describe how the work was made, including any use of AI tools. Your process note will be part of the exhibition.
  • Shipping: Artists are responsible for getting their work to and from UNDERSTORY. If your work is shipped, you pay shipping costs in both directions. Shipped work must arrive by January 4, 2027. Work that arrives later may not be installed for the opening.
  • Returns: Every shipped piece must include a prepaid return shipping label. Without one, UNDERSTORY will not ship unsold work back to you. Unsold work may be picked up on February 28 or March 1. Return shipping will be initiated the week of March 1.
  • Insurance: UNDERSTORY insures work while it is in the exhibition space. Artists are responsible for insuring their own shipments.
  • Sales: Work may be offered for sale, but this is not required. UNDERSTORY retains a 25% commission on sales.
  • Promotion: If your work is accepted, you grant UNDERSTORY permission to use images of the work to promote the exhibition.

Questions?
See the FAQ below or reach out to submissions@understory.art.

Apply

FAQ

Who can apply?

Artists residing in the United States, at any career stage. Artists within 100 miles of Cleveland receive priority, but artists anywhere in the U.S. are encouraged to apply.

Are there any fees to submit or exhibit?

There is no fee to submit. There are no participation fees if your work is accepted. We are committed to supporting and promoting artists and firmly against profiting from artist fees.

Does "synthetic" mean AI?

No. AI is one part of the territory, and we expect to see it, but the exhibition is just as open to synthetic materials, media, intimacy, sensation, and anything else you connect to the line between synthetic and natural.

Does my work have to be made from synthetic materials?

No. This is a conceptual show, so the idea matters more than the material. Work made with synthetic materials is welcome, as is work that is about the synthetic without using it.

Do I have to take a critical stance?

No. The exhibition looks at the synthetic with a critical eye, but we don't have an answer in mind. Work that is curious, ambivalent, funny, or unsettling is welcome.

What kinds of work are you looking for?

We especially welcome experimental, installation, audio, and new media work. Sculpture, painting, textile, photography, and other forms are also welcome.

Can I use AI to make my work?

Yes. AI-assisted work is welcome, and using AI will not count against you.

What do I need to disclose about my process?

A short summary (approx. 100 words) on how the work was made is part of the entry form. If you used AI tools, name them and say what they did. Your process note is for our review only; it will be part of the exhibition.

How many works can I submit?

Up to three. Submit one form per work, using the same name and email on each.

How should I submit video, audio, or performance work?

Upload one still or representative image as the primary image, then add a link to the video or audio (Vimeo, YouTube, SoundCloud, etc.) in the links field. Include the password in the comments if the link is private.

How many artists and works will be selected?

We expect to show 10-20 works by 5-15 artists.

What kinds of installation/display do you support?

We can accommodate wall work, sculpture, work hung from the ceiling up to 15 pounds, audio, screens, and projections. We have two ceiling mounted projectors, and two 48" OLED TVs. Describe your technical needs on the form.

Can UNDERSTORY install my video or audio work?

Yes. File-based work can be sent digitally and installed by UNDERSTORY.

When will I hear back?

Artists will be notified on Monday, November 30, and asked to confirm participation by Friday, December 4.

Can I ship my work if I'm not local?

Yes. Artists cover all shipping costs, both to send work in and to have any unsold work returned. A prepaid return shipping label is REQUIRED with every shipped piece. Without one, UNDERSTORY will NOT ship unsold work back to you.

Can my work be for sale?

Yes, but it's not required. UNDERSTORY retains a 25% commission on sales.

Is work insured while it is at UNDERSTORY?

UNDERSTORY insures work while it is within our exhibition space. UNDERSTORY does not insure work in transit to or from the gallery. Artists are responsible for insuring their own shipments.