Red by Carlotta Gallery

Red by Carlotta Gallery explores one of photography’s most visually assertive elements: the color red. The international open call looks beyond red as a simple compositional device, inviting photographers to consider its emotional weight, symbolism, cultural associations, and ability to alter the balance of an image. Applications are open to photographers worldwide aged 18 and over, with a submission deadline of September 20, 2026.

Up to three JPG images may be submitted. Applying is free, while photographers selected for the exhibition pay a participation fee based on the number of works shown: £20 for one photograph, £30 for two, or £35 for three. Selected work is presented in a virtual exhibition for at least six months and up to one year, followed by permanent inclusion in Carlotta Gallery’s Collections section alongside the photographer’s biography and artist statement.

Selected photographers also receive a PDF exhibition catalog and Certificate of Recognition, while their photographs remain featured on the gallery’s Instagram account. Carlotta Gallery presents contemporary photography from emerging and established artists internationally, and currently reports having brought together more than 400 photographers from over 39 countries. The call also appears within Deartline’s photo contest directory alongside other international opportunities centered on photography and exhibition.

Prizes and Selected Opportunities

Selection for Red by Carlotta Gallery combines a temporary virtual exhibition with longer-term presentation through Carlotta Gallery’s online platforms.

• Virtual Exhibition: One or more selected photographs are presented in the Red online exhibition for a minimum of six months and up to one year.
• Permanent Collection: Participants are permanently featured in the Collections section of the Carlotta Gallery website, where their work appears alongside a biography and artist statement.
• Instagram Feature: Selected photographs remain permanently featured on the gallery’s Instagram account.
• Exhibition Catalogue: Participants receive a free PDF copy of the exhibition catalog.
• Certificate of Recognition: Each participant receives a digital certificate recognizing their inclusion in the exhibition.

Categories or Themes

The call treats red as a visual and expressive force within the photograph, with attention to its intensity, emotional associations, symbolism, and cultural meanings.

The color can appear as a dominant element or as a smaller detail that changes the way an image is read. The brief leaves photographers considerable freedom in subject matter, suggesting possibilities ranging from landscapes and people to objects, buildings, light, and memory. More conceptual interpretations can also use red symbolically rather than treating color itself as the sole subject.

Dates and Entry Fees

Red by Carlotta Gallery has a single published submission deadline, with participation fees applying only after selection.

Submission deadline: September 20, 2026.

Entry and participation fees:

• Application: Free.
• One selected artwork: £20.
• Two selected artworks: £30.
• Three selected artworks: £35.

Photographers may submit up to three images to the open call. Participation is international and limited to entrants aged 18 or older. Because the fee is charged only when work is selected for display, applicants can submit without payment and decide on the exhibition participation cost after receiving a selection.

How to Enter

Applications are submitted by email to photography.carlotta@gmail.com. Photographers may send up to three images in JPG format and should include their full name, Instagram handle, a short biography, and an artist statement. Each submitted work should also include its title, year of creation, and price in GBP when applicable.

Why Enter Red by Carlotta Gallery?

The strength of Red by Carlotta Gallery lies in the balance between a very specific visual idea and considerable freedom in how that idea is interpreted. Red may function as subject, symbol, atmosphere, interruption, or a small but decisive element within the frame, allowing photographers working with very different approaches to respond to the same curatorial premise.

Selection also extends beyond the temporary exhibition. The virtual show remains accessible for at least six months, while participants receive permanent placement in the gallery’s Collections section and continued presentation on Instagram. Including a biography and artist statement alongside the work gives that archive more context than a simple image gallery, while the exhibition catalog and Certificate of Recognition provide additional documentation of participation.

Within Deartline’s broader listings of photography competitions online, Red by Carlotta Gallery can be particularly relevant to photographers looking for a theme-led exhibition opportunity with an international scope and continued online presentation after the exhibition period.

Rules and Copyright

We reviewed the official rules of Red by Carlotta Gallery to summarize the key participation requirements, copyright terms and image usage conditions. Before entering, we recommend checking the complete rules published by the organizer.

Rules

• The open call is available to photographers worldwide aged 18 or older.
• Up to three photographs may be submitted.
• Files must be submitted in JPG format.
• Applications must include the photographer’s name and surname, Instagram handle, short biography, and artist statement.
• Artwork information should include the title, year of creation, and price in GBP when applicable.
• Submitting an application is free; participation fees apply only to photographers whose work is selected for exhibition.

Copyright and Image Usage

Artists retain copyright in the photographs they submit. By entering the open call, photographers authorize Carlotta Gallery to use their images for the online exhibition and related promotional materials.

The stated uses include display on the Carlotta Gallery website, Instagram, and Artplacer. Selected participants also agree to permanent presentation of their work in the gallery’s Collections section and on Instagram. The published conditions do not define the permission as exclusive or non-exclusive and do not state whether images may be sublicensed to third parties.

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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.