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All artwork submitted to The Kelly must follow the following guidelines and rules. Artworks and/or artists found not in keeping with the following may be removed from acceptance or display at any time at The Kelly’s discretion.
Artwork should be exclusively created by the submitting artist(s) from a concept or composition originally conceived by that artist(s) from draft to completion. If using copyrighted, licensed, or other reference materials, please refer to the language below for specific guidelines and restrictions.
Copyright infringement of any kind is not acceptable. This would include artwork produced using imagery or materials from someone else’s creation (drawings, paintings, photographs, artwork created with classroom instruction, etc.) without the original artist/owner’s express written permission.
Artists may use their own photos or reference materials without restriction. Artists using other sources of reference materials should ensure that they are using ethically sourced materials that are free of copyright, royalty, or other intellectual property rights. No direct copies of reference images are allowed, unless the artist provides The Kelly with proof of permission or proof of licensing purchase from the copyright owner.
The Kelly will consider artwork using stock or reference images as transformative – and thus does not need to be credited – if the artist:
Artwork or reference imagery generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not permitted. Entry/submission photos or digital art enhanced by AI are also not permitted.
Collaborative art made by two or more artists is allowed. Please provide the contact information for all involved artists, and be aware that The Kelly will default to making splitting payment equally to all artists, in the event a collaborative artwork sells.
Note: This does not include works made under teacher instruction. Please see “Copyright Infringement and Crediting Requirements” for details.
Unless otherwise stated, all our exhibitions are open to professionals and amateurs alike.
Some individual exhibitions may be closed from public entry, such as “Artful Discoveries” (our annual Elmore County high school art show), exhibitions featuring the Dixie Art Colony artists, or community organization shows (ex. Elmore County Art Guild or the Watercolor Society of Alabama).
All ages are invited to submit to The Kelly. Artists that are under the age of nineteen (19) years will need parental or guardian permission to apply, and all agreements must be signed by the parent/guardian. In the event of a sale, payment will be remit to the parent/guardian in care of the minor artist.
Each exhibit will have a different theme, and we ask all entries to be related to that theme. Unless specified otherwise, our exhibition opportunities do not typically have expectations for medium, style, or techniques.
The Kelly does not charge any fee to submit to our exhibitions; however, there is a flat rate fee of $25 per artist if your submission(s) is/are accepted into an exhibition. As such, we encourage artists to submit up to the exhibition’s entry limit. This fee is due upon Drop Off. Cash and check are not subject to credit/debit surcharge, but payments made with card will be charged an additional 3% ($0.60). A link will be made available to accepted artists before the Drop Off date for convenience, if preferred.
Entry fees are WAIVED for membered Kelly artists of any membership level. Memberships are available for as low as $50 a year, so if an artist is interested in entering multiple exhibitions, we encourage them to consider becoming a Kelly member.
Ready to submit your art entries for an upcoming exhibition? There are several ways to submit your application.
Online: You may also fill out an application online at https://thekelly.org/exhibitions/application
Email: You may email a copy of your filled out PDF application and artwork photos to us at [email protected]
Entries received any other way are NOT considered valid. This includes applications sent via text, Facebook messenger, Instagram messenger, or any other delivery method.
HIGH QUALITY: When applying, please ensure that your photos of your artwork entries are high quality, well-lit, in focus, straight on (not tilted), completely in frame, and with proper white balance set. These images should best represent your entry for a juror to review. These images will also be posted on our website, so make sure to put your best foot forward with clear and precise images.
LABELED: Your artwork files or physical photos MUST be labeled with your name and the artwork title, so that the juror(s) can tell which artwork is which.
DIGITAL FILES: For digital files, please share your photos as either PNG, JPEG, TIFF, RAW, or PDF files. Your files should be high-quality, so please ensure that your photos are at least 1920×1080 and/or 300 DPI. We do not have requirement for a maximum file size. You may submit up to two photos per entry (ex. artwork without frame and artwork with frame, or 3D sculpture from the front and from the back).
There are plenty of tutorials online for how to photograph your artwork, such as: https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/4-steps-to-photographing-your-art-like-a-professional
A common question artists have is “How much should I sell my art for?” Unfortunately, there’s not a clean-cut answer. Prices vary depending on many factors: your level of experience, your material costs, how large or small the artwork is, the amount of time you spent on your artwork, artistic merit, among other things.
There’s no right or wrong way to price your work. But for more tips and tricks about pricing your work, check out online resources like: https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/seven-rules-for-pricing-your-artwork
Oftentimes, we receive more submissions than we have space. So we will review all submissions and then contact all artists back with which pieces are accepted for the exhibition by the Art Notification date on the prospectus. Everyone will receive a response from us, whether your art is chosen or otherwise, so if you do not receive any reply from us by the Notification date, please reach out to us.
Finished Edges or Framed: All 2D artworks must be gallery-wrapped or properly framed. In the case of gallery-wrapped art, all edges must be finished and dry. If the edges of your artwork are blank or raw, we reserve the right to refuse acceptance.
Gallery Wire: 2D artworks must also have galley/picture wire installed in order to be accepted. Please ensure your D-rings and gallery wire are properly rated to the weight of your artwork and frame and properly secured. The Kelly reserves the right to refuse artwork with improper gallery wire installation.
Like most art organizations, we require picture/gallery wire to be installed on all 2-D artworks.
The Kelly collects a 25% commission for each artwork that is sold. The Kelly handles the art sales, including sales tax, and adds a 3% credit/debit surcharge to the buyer (if applicable), so the artist is remit a true 75% of their artwork’s sale. Please account for this 25% in your pricing.
Payments for sold artworks are remit in bulk at the end of the month and typically mailed by the 5th of the following month.
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ARTIST: Art deliveries to and from The Kelly are the complete responsibility of the artist. Shipped artwork must arrive by the Art Drop Off date listed on the prospectus. If any unsold art must be shipped back to the artist the the end of an exhibition, this will be at the artist’s expense. If agreed upon, The Kelly will package and return the shipped artwork using the same packaging materials the artwork arrived in. Instructions about payment and delivery schedule should be communicated with The Kelly to ensure a timely return.
LIABILITY: The Kelly cannot accept responsibility or liability for any potential damage to artworks during the shipping/delivery process. As such, an artwork’s condition prior to The Kelly’s receipt and/or after the artwork has been shipped from The Kelly is the responsibility of the artist and/or delivery service.
We ask all accepted artworks to remain in our care during the entirety of the exhibition’s duration. However, we also understand that things happen, so you may contact us if you wish to request an exemption. We are happy to work with your schedule.
After an exhibition has ended, please be sure to arrange to pick up your art upon the Pick-Up dates. We have limited storage, so we require that you contact us regarding exemption if the dates are not possible for you. We’re happy to work with your schedule. But please note that failure to communicate with us and remove artwork within ninety (90) days of the exhibition’s pick-up date will result in the artwork being considered a donation to The Kelly.
Ready to submit your art entries for an upcoming exhibition? There are several ways to submit your application.
Entries received any other way are NOT considered valid. This includes applications sent via text, Facebook messenger, Instagram messenger, or any other delivery method.
The Kelly does not charge any fee to submit to our exhibitions; however, there is a flat rate fee of $25 per artist if your submission(s) is/are accepted into an exhibition. As such, we encourage artists to submit up to the exhibition’s entry limit. This fee is due upon Drop Off. Cash and check are not subject to credit/debit surcharge, but payments made with card will be charged an additional 3% ($0.60). A link will be made available to accepted artists before the Drop Off date for convenience, if preferred.
Entry fees are WAIVED for membered Kelly artists of any membership level. Memberships are available for as low as $50 a year, so if an artist is interested in entering multiple exhibitions, we encourage them to consider becoming a Kelly member.
HIGH QUALITY: When applying, please ensure that your photos of your artwork entries are high quality, well-lit, in focus, straight on (not tilted), completely in frame, and with proper white balance set. These images should best represent your entry for a juror to review. These images will also be posted on our website, so make sure to put your best foot forward with clear and precise images.
LABELED: Your artwork files or physical photos MUST be labeled with your name and the artwork title, so that the juror(s) can tell which artwork is which.
DIGITAL FILES: For digital files, please share your photos as either PNG, JPEG, TIFF, RAW, or PDF files. Your files should be high-quality, so please ensure that your photos are at least 1920×1080 and/or 300 DPI. We do not have requirement for a maximum file size. You may submit up to two photos per entry (ex. artwork without frame and artwork with frame, or 3D sculpture from the front and from the back).
There are plenty of tutorials online for how to photograph your artwork, such as: https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/4-steps-to-photographing-your-art-like-a-professional
A common question artists have is “How much should I sell my art for?” Unfortunately, there’s not a clean-cut answer. Prices vary depending on many factors: your level of experience, your material costs, how large or small the artwork is, the amount of time you spent on your artwork, artistic merit, among other things.
There’s no right or wrong way to price your work. But for more tips and tricks about pricing your work, check out online resources like: https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/seven-rules-for-pricing-your-artwork
Oftentimes, we receive more submissions than we have space. So we will review all submissions and then contact all artists back with which pieces are accepted for the exhibition by the Art Notification date on the prospectus. Everyone will receive a response from us, whether your art is chosen or otherwise, so if you do not receive any reply from us by the Notification date, please reach out to us.
See what art calls are open and upcoming! Download the prospectus and application to get started.
Outside may be cold and grey, but at The Kelly, art is in bloom! We invite artists and collectors alike to let your creativity sprout in an art exhibition flush with the blossoms and buds of florals, flowers, botanicals, and everything that “blooms”. We welcome still lives, wildflower fields, bouquets, or even creative interpretations on flowers and blooms.
Download ProspectusSunday, December 21, 2025
December 22 & 23, 2025
December 29 & 30 from 10AM - 5PM CST
January 13, 2026 - February 27, 2026
January 15, 2026 from 5PM - 7PM CST
February 28, 2026 from 10AM - 5PM
The Kelly organizes themed exhibitions between four to six times a year. These are generally open calls to the public, unless otherwise stated. Check out this year’s schedule here and get brainstorming on your next masterpiece!
• Exhibition: January 13 - February 27, 2026
• Reception: Thursday, January 15th from 5:00pm - 7:00pm
• Please submit through ECAG if interested.
• Exhibition: March 8 - April 3, 2026
• Reception: Sunday, March 8th
• Pop-Up Dates: April 1 - 4 2026
• Open to Artist Associate level members only.
• Exhibition: April 18 - May 16, 2026
• Artful Discoveries Reception: Sunday, April 19th
• Kelly's Own Reception: Thursday, April 30th from 5:00pm - 7:00pm
• Exhibition: June 2 - July 25, 2026
• Reception: Thursday, June 4th from 5:00pm - 7:00pm
• Please submit through WSA if interested.
• Exhibition: August 8 - September 9
• Reception: Thursday, August 23rd from 5:00pm - 7:00pm
• Pop-Up Dates: August 11 - 15, 2026
• Exhibition: September 25 - November 5
• Reception: Thursday, October 1st from 5:00pm - 7:00pm
• Exhibition: November 20 - December 24, 2026
• Member's Preview Party: Thursday, November 19th