The Color Burst: Contemporary Photography 2025 contest, hosted by Portland’s Black Box Gallery, invites photographers worldwide to showcase their mastery of color in visual storytelling. This juried group exhibition focuses on the dynamic use of color across genres like portraiture, abstract, street photography and landscapes. With a submission deadline of May 9, 2025, selected works will be displayed in a physical gallery from June 1–25, 2025, and in an online annex. A catalog featuring all 76 chosen images will be available for purchase, offering lasting visibility.
Participants can submit up to 5 images for a $40 entry fee, with Black Box Gallery covering printing, matting, and framing costs—a rare perk in photography contests. The contest emphasizes creative color use, whether through bold palettes, subtle harmonies, or experimental techniques. Juror Todd Johnson, founder of Black Box Gallery and an experienced curator, will select 26 works for the physical exhibition and 50 for the digital annex.
The contest provides significant exposure: prints remain in the gallery’s flat files for five years, and artists retain full copyright. A 50% commission on sales applies, but photographers can opt out of selling their work. For photographers seeking institutional recognition without upfront production costs, this contest is a compelling opportunity to join a curated, high-profile showcase.
The Color Burst 2025 Prizes
The Color Burst: Contemporary Photography 2025 prizes prioritize visibility and professional support:
- Physical Exhibition: 26 selected works displayed in Black Box Gallery’s Portland space.
- Online Annex: 50 additional works featured digitally, reaching global audiences.
- Printed Catalog: All 76 images published in a Blurb Books catalog for collectors and curators.
- Promotion: Prints archived for five years, available for future sales and gallery promotions.
These rewards are ideal for artists aiming to build their portfolios and connect with collectors, curators, and critics in the contemporary art scene.
Color Burst: Contemporary Photography Dates and Entry Fees
Participation in Color Burst: Contemporary Photography is designed for simplicity. Here are important dates and fee details:
Key Dates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Submission Deadline | May 9, 2025 |
| Notification of Acceptance | 7-10 days after deadline |
| Exhibition Dates | June 1-25, 2025 |
Entry Fees:
$40 per entry (up to 5 photographs)
About the Jury
Todd Johnson, founder and director of Black Box Gallery, will jury the exhibition. Johnson holds an MFA in Photography from the San Francisco Art Institute and has extensive experience as an independent curator and portfolio reviewer for prominent photography events and publications worldwide. His deep knowledge of contemporary photographic trends ensures that selected works reflect innovation, strong visual impact, and thoughtful use of color.
Why enter Color Burst: Contemporary Photography?
Color Burst: Contemporary Photography offers a valuable platform for photographers aiming to showcase their mastery of color within a prestigious and professionally curated environment. Black Box Gallery’s commitment to high-quality exhibition standards and rigorous curatorial processes ensures that participation significantly benefits artists’ professional profiles. Being part of this exhibition positions photographers alongside a select group of international artists, thereby enhancing professional credibility and visibility among art collectors, curators, and critics. The physical exhibition in Portland, combined with online exposure, maximizes the potential audience for participants’ work, making this competition particularly valuable for photographers interested in conceptual photography contests.
Moreover, photographers exploring other photography contests can leverage this competition as an impactful opportunity to expand their professional networks and portfolio recognition in the contemporary art world.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of Color Burst: Contemporary Photography has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
General Rules
The gallery provides free printing, matting, and framing.
Photographers must supply high-resolution TIFF or JPEG files upon acceptance.
Black Box Gallery retains prints for promotional purposes and possible future sales for up to five years, after which prints are destroyed.
Copyright
Photographers retain all rights to submitted photographs.
No sales or additional prints are made without prior consent from the photographer.
Black Box Gallery receives a 50% commission on sales, with the remaining 50% going to the photographer. Participation in sales is optional.
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For more information and to enter the competition, visit: the oficial website.
