DEADLINE EXTENDED: Finding My Way | Call for Student Artists in IL & IN

This Call is open to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a university in Illinois or Indiana, as well as students who have graduated in Spring 2025.

Woman Made Gallery invites artists to submit work for Finding My Way, an exhibition exploring the profound transformations that shape lives—particularly the journey from childhood to adulthood. Through this theme, they seek artwork that captures the physical, emotional, and psychological changes that define these formative years.

How do you navigate the path of growing up? What moments of loss, growth, and self-discovery shape who you become? They encourage submissions that reflect on personal or collective experiences of transition, whether through memory, identity, relationships, or the challenges of finding one’s place in the world.

All mediums are welcome. They look forward to seeing how you interpret Finding My Way.

About the Jurors

Corinne Pompéy (b. 2000) is a fine art photographer based in Chicago, IL. She holds a Bachelor of Art in Photography from Columbia College Chicago. Her work explores themes of identity, feminist issues, and body image, with a particular focus on the intersectionality of womanhood and the Black experience. Through her photography and self-portraiture, Pompéy explores the complexity of social, cultural, and personal narratives, using visual storytelling to engage with broader societal issues. Pompéy’s work has been exhibited at EXPO Chicago (11th Edition), the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition in the Museum of Science and Industry, Bridgeport Art Center, and Woman Made Gallery. She is currently the Program Coordinator at Woman Made Gallery.

Diana Vallera is a faculty member in the Photography Department of Columbia College Chicago. her subjects are wide ranging including the exploration of body and form and work on the construction of ideal gender roles. Vallera’s exhibition, “Women, Work, and Gender Roles”, explores the history of these roles and how women have challenged the confines. She is an active supporter of labor and human rights.

History

Founded in 2022 by Diana Vallera, Faculty in Photography, and Corinne Pompéy, BA 2022, For Women, By Women (FWBW) Art Gallery was created to establish a dedicated exhibition space at Columbia College Chicago for women and non-binary students. What began as a mentorship between Diana and Corinne in 2019 evolved into an annual showcase that has since exhibited the work of over 400 students across more than 25 disciplines. Hosted at venues like the Arcade and Hokin Galleries on Columbia’s campus, FWBW has grown in scope and scale each year, recently gaining support from the President’s Office and a team of dedicated interns to meet its expanding production needs.

Calendar

*Entry Due Date: September 12, 11:59 PM
*Exhibition Dates: October 11–November 8, 2025
*Opening Reception: Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 | 4–7 PM
*Artist Walkthrough: Saturday, November 8, 2025 | 2–4 PM
*Notification: September 20, 2025

Requirements

This Call is open to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a university in Illinois or Indiana, as well as students who have graduated in Spring 2025. You will be asked to provide your Student ID # and include a photo of your Student ID in your submission.

Entry Fee
The entry fee is $20. Each entry requires a minimum of one artwork, though up to three artworks may be considered per submission. Entry fees are non-refundable. Woman Made Gallery Members at the Enhanced Artist Level ($100) and above receive one free entry annually. Please email general@womanmade.org to receive your one-time code for free entry redemption.

Art Sales
Accepted work may be listed for sale or be not for sale (NFS). WMG will retain a 40% commission on sold works. Work remains the property of the artist until sold. Sold artworks shall remain in the exhibition until the end of the exhibition. Artists will be paid no later than 30 days after the close of the exhibit. Artists may donate any portion of their commission to WMG.

Application Instructions

Apply via provided Submittable Link.
Contact general@womanmade.org with questions.