Open Call 

Art Pan Gallery × KANA: The Next Narrative 2026 Solo Exhibition

Art Pan Gallery is inviting artists based in the New York and New Jersey area to apply for “The Next Narrative 2026,” a solo exhibition open call program. Designed to discover and introduce artists shaping new currents in contemporary art, the program offers a professional exhibition platform especially to artists working across diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences in the United States, and to artists building their own artistic language after completing their studies. Based on submitted portfolios and work, a panel of experts will jury the applications, and selected artists will each hold a solo exhibition at Art Pan Gallery in New Jersey in the latter half of 2026, expanding opportunities for artists shaping new narratives to enter a professional exhibition platform.

This open call is presented in partnership with KANA (Korean Association of New York Artists), an organization that has driven the growth of the Korean creative community in New York. Founded in 2012, KANA has continuously built networks within the local art ecosystem and supported artists; through this partnership, both organizations aim to strengthen ties with the local community and expand the program’s reach. Centered on the flow across New York and New Jersey, and between the next generation of artists and audiences, the two organizations share a goal of expanding the local art ecosystem and building a sustainable creative environment.

The open call is aimed primarily at artists active in and around New York and New Jersey who have at least one prior exhibition, including a BFA/MFA graduation exhibition. Accepted media are primarily flat-based works such as painting, drawing, photography, and printmaking, as well as flat-based mixed media or works combining flat and installation elements. The jury panel is composed of professionals across the field, including artists and curators, and applications will be evaluated comprehensively on originality, direction, and suitability for exhibition.

Applicants must submit a portfolio (PDF or website) or 3–5 representative works, an artist bio, an artist statement, and work information and contact details, via the QR code or link on the poster, through a Google Form.

The application deadline is August 31, 2026. Results will be announced on September 17, 2026, and selected artists’ exhibitions will run from October through December, each as an individual solo exhibition. The entry fee is $20, and each artist may submit up to 5 works. Inquiries about the open call can be directed to artpan.nj@gmail.com. 

Through this open call, Art Pan Gallery and KANA hope to create a new flow connecting the local art ecosystem with the next generation of artists, and to provide a meaningful growth opportunity for artists from diverse cultural backgrounds to expand their practice and explore new possibilities within the American art scene.

- Deadline: August 31, 2026

- Selection announced: September 17, 2026 (five artists)

- Exhibitions: October to December 2026, Art Pan Gallery (River Edge, NJ)

- Apply: https://forms.gle/kaAM6wnScYuqE6fH8