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Black & White by Allora Gallery is an international photography contest and exhibition dedicated to monochrome image-making. The open call looks at what happens when colour is removed from the frame and light, shadow, texture, contrast, and form take on the full weight of the photograph.
Organized by Allora Gallery, a curated space for photography and visual storytelling, the competition will lead to a group exhibition titled Black & White, scheduled from 17 August to 17 September 2026. The submission deadline is 27 July 2026. For photographers browsing photo competitions online, this call offers a clear gallery exhibition pathway rather than a purely digital ranking format.
The theme is broad but precise. Portraits, landscapes, street photography, architecture, abstract work, long exposures, and other approaches are all welcome when black and white is central to the image. The Black & White by Allora Gallery is juried by Oksana Bochina, founder of Allora Gallery, and awards include a solo exhibition for the Grand Prize Winner, honorable mentions, group exhibition inclusion for selected finalists, and promotional support through the gallery’s platforms.
Prizes
The awards for Black & White by Allora Gallery are built around exhibition, visibility, and recognition. The Grand Prize Winner and selected photographers receive opportunities connected directly to Allora Gallery’s exhibition program.
- Grand Prize Winner: Receives a solo exhibition at Allora Gallery, scheduled for October 2026. The winner also receives email promotion to the gallery’s mailing list, social media promotion across Allora Gallery platforms, and a digital certificate of achievement.
- Honorable Mentions: Four winners receive either free participation in a future Allora Gallery exhibition or free entry to a future Allora Gallery competition, valid within 12 months. Honorable Mention recipients also receive email promotion, social media promotion, and a digital certificate recognising the distinction.
- Selected Finalists: Up to 30 photographers will be featured in the group exhibition Black & White. They will also receive social media promotion across Allora Gallery platforms and digital certificates of participation.
The most relevant opportunity is the exhibition pathway. Photographers selected for the group show receive a defined presentation context, while the Grand Prize Winner receives a solo exhibition scheduled after the main group exhibition. For artists looking for exhibition opportunities, the contest is structured around visibility through a gallery-led platform.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
There are no separate competitive categories. The central theme is black and white photography, with a focus on how monochrome images use tone, contrast, texture, and light to shape meaning.
The open call mentions portraits, landscapes, street photography, architectural images, abstract work, long exposures, and any photograph where black and white forms the foundation of the image. This makes the theme relevant to photographers working across black and white photography contests, as well as portrait, landscape, street, architecture, abstract, and long exposure practices.
Dates and Entry Fees
The schedule is center on a July submission deadline and a one-month exhibition period in late summer 2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Submission Deadline | 27 July 2026 |
| Group Exhibition Dates | 17 August – 17 September 2026 |
| Grand Prize Solo Exhibition | October 2026 |
Entry Fees:
- Up to 2 photographs: £7.
- Up to 4 photographs: £12.
- Up to 6 photographs: £16.
- Participation fee for selected finalists: Free.
How to Enter
Photographers must first pay the entry fee for the chosen number of photographs via PayPal. After payment, submissions should be sent by email.
The email should include up to six JPEG images, each 2000px wide and no larger than 4 MB, along with the photographer’s name, country, website and/or Instagram, a short biography of up to 100 words, an artist statement of up to 100 words, and the PayPal payment confirmation or transaction ID. The requested subject line is Black & White Submission – [Your Name]. Files should be named in the format Name Surname – Title.
About the Jury
The contest is juried by Oksana Bochina, founder of Allora Gallery. The source page does not list additional jury members or a wider selection panel.
The curatorial focus is clearly tied to the theme: photographs should show how black and white can reveal mood, form, atmosphere, texture, and meaning. The selection will determine the Grand Prize Winner, four Honorable Mentions, and up to 30 selected finalists for the group exhibition.
Why Enter Black & White by Allora Gallery?
This Black & White by Allora Gallery is relevant for photographers who want their monochrome work seen within a gallery exhibition context. The structure is simple: a themed international open call, a selected group exhibition, a solo exhibition for the Grand Prize Winner, and promotional support through the gallery’s email list and social media channels.
For Deartline readers comparing the best photo contest options by theme, the strength of this opportunity is its clarity. It is not a general open theme call. The work needs to engage with black and white as a core visual language, whether through shadow, geometry, stillness, movement, intimacy, or contrast.
The absence of a participation fee for selected finalists is also worth noting. Entrants pay only the initial submission fee, while those chosen for the exhibition are not asked to pay an additional display cost.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Black & White by Allora 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
- Eligibility: The open call accepts submissions from photographers around the world.
- Experience level: The contest is open to photographers of all levels and backgrounds.
- Theme: Submitted work should relate to black and white photography and use monochrome as a meaningful part of the image.
- Submission limit: Photographers may submit up to six images, depending on the entry fee selected.
- File requirements: Images must be JPEG files, 2000px wide, and 4 MB or less each.
- Required information: The submission email must include name, country, website and/or Instagram, short bio, artist statement, and PayPal payment confirmation or transaction ID.
- Participation fee: Selected finalists do not pay a participation fee.
Copyright and Image Usage
The contest page does not provide a detailed copyright or image usage statement. Photographers interested in submitting should review the official terms and any information provided by the gallery before entering.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
