The Art of Belonging by Decagon Gallery is an online photography exhibition built around one deceptively simple idea, home as a feeling. The open call asks photographers worldwide to explore belonging, displacement, memory, and return through images of houses, cities, landscapes, people, or more elusive emotional spaces. The deadline is December 18, 2025, with notifications in early January and the exhibition launch in mid January, positioning the show at the turn of the year when many photographers are planning their next online photography challenges.
The exhibition uses a streamlined format with two clear fee options. Photographers can submit up to 4 images for $5 or up to 10 images for a maximum of $15, with no extra per-image charges. Selected artists gain online exhibition on Decagon Gallery, inclusion in a catalog available via Blurb, and promotion on the gallery’s website and social media.
Because it is open to photographers worldwide and fully online, The Art of Belonging by Decagon Gallery sits comfortably among international photography calls that emphasize curated presentation over awards. For photographers who want their work considered by a gallery dedicated exclusively to contemporary photography, the combination of low entry fees, a focused theme, and catalog inclusion makes this contest a practical addition to a yearly submission plan, especially for those who move between narrative, documentary, and fine art photography contests.
Contents
Prizes
The Art of Belonging rewards are centered on curation, visibility, and publication within Decagon Gallery’s ecosystem.
Selected photographers have their images presented in an online exhibition hosted on Decagon Gallery. In addition, selected photographs appear in a professionally produced exhibition catalog.
Alongside the exhibition and catalog, selected artists receive promotion on Decagon’s website and social media channels.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
The Art of Belonging by Decagon Gallery does not divide submissions into formal competition categories. It revolves around a single theme, the experience of home and belonging, interpreted in any photographic style. The call explicitly welcomes documentary work, fine art projects, portrait-based series that relate to people and relationships, more abstract or conceptual interpretations, architecture and interiors, and work focused on environmental or place-based storytelling.
Dates and Entry Fees
The exhibition follows a straightforward schedule.
Deadline: December 18
Notification: Early January
Exhibition Launch: Mid January
Entry fees:
- Up to 4 images for $5
- Up to 10 images for a total of $15
How to Enter
Entries are submitted through Decagon Gallery’s online form linked from the call page. Photographers complete their contact details, provide an artist statement, and indicate where they are based. Each image file must be at least 2,100 pixels on the long side, saved as jpg, jpeg, png, or gif, under 3 MB, and named using the format “First Name-Last Name_title.jpg”. Up to 10 photographs can be uploaded in a single submission. After the images and information are in place, the entry fee is paid securely by card via PayPal checkout, and the form is submitted for consideration.
About the Jury
The Art of Belonging is juried by Decagon Gallery’s director, John Manno. All submissions are reviewed by him, and each exhibition is curated with the same level of care and artistic intention as the gallery’s traditional juried shows. This single-juror structure means that the final selection reflects a coherent curatorial vision, aligned with Decagon’s focus on contemporary photography.
Why Enter The Art of Belonging by Decagon Gallery?
The Art of Belonging offers photographers a focused theme and a gallery-led context. Because Decagon Gallery is dedicated to contemporary photography, selected images sit alongside work that has been curated with attention to sequencing, layout, and viewer experience.
For photographers planning their year of submissions, this exhibition can sit close to others top photography competitions and thematic calls, especially for those whose portfolios already explore identity, migration, or the idea of home. The combination of an online exhibition, a printed catalog, and promotion by a photography-focused gallery makes it particularly relevant to artists who value curated visibility over prizes, as well as those who already look for fine art and portrait opportunities with a strong conceptual framework.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the The Art of Belonging by Decagon Gallery has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
The exhibition is open to photographers worldwide, working in any style or genre, and images may be new or previously published. All photographs submitted must be created by the entrant, and the form requires photographers to confirm that their images do not infringe the copyright of others. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, and both single images and series can be entered.
Technical requirements are clearly specified. Files must be at least 2,100 pixels on the long edge, saved as jpg, jpeg, png, or gif, and kept under 3 MB. Each file name must include the photographer’s name and the image title in the format “First Name-Last Name_title.jpg”. Submissions that do not meet these conditions or do not complete the payment step are not considered finalized entries. The gallery notes that if payment issues arise, photographers can contact them directly to arrange an alternative.
Copyright and Image Usage
As part of the submission process, photographers acknowledge that the images they enter are their own work. They also agree that any accepted photographs may be used in the online exhibition, in the exhibition catalog, in a YouTube video, and for promoting the exhibition and the gallery. Entrants accept Decagon Gallery’s terms of use when submitting the form and completing payment. No transfer of ownership is mentioned; rather, the agreement grants the gallery permission to reproduce and display accepted images within the specific contexts of the exhibition and its promotion.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
