Portrait and Figure Open Call by Curatone

• Deartline Review
• Contest Prizes
• Categories
• Dates and Entry Fees
• How to Enter
• About the Jury
• Why Enter?
• Rules and Copyright

Portrait and Figure Open Call by Curatone 2026 is an international juried online exhibition dedicated to the human presence in art: faces, bodies, gestures and identity. Artists aged 18 and over can enter from anywhere in the world, and the call is open to any medium and style. Submissions close on November 1, 2026.

There is no fee to submit work. A $25 fee applies only to artists selected as finalists, who receive a place in the online exhibition, publication in an international catalogue with an ISBN, a permanent online showcase and official documentation. The Grand Prize adds a $100 cash prize, Winner’s Diploma and a free solo exhibition on Curatone.art.

For photographers comparing photography contests, Portrait and Figure by Curatone offers something slightly different from a photography-only competition. Photographs are considered alongside work in other visual-art media, with the focus placed on the human figure, identity, gesture and presence. Artists may submit up to three works, and entries are assessed through blind, independent scoring by a published international jury.

Deartline Review

Contest Prizes

Portrait and Figure Open Call by Curatone combines a cash award for the overall winner with exhibition and publication opportunities for the artists selected as finalists.

• Grand Prize Winner:
  • $100 cash.
  • Winner’s Diploma.
  • A free solo exhibition on Curatone.art.
  • Permanent page presenting the artist’s work, biography and an exclusive interview.
• Finalists:
  • Publication in an international exhibition catalogue with an official ISBN and worldwide availability on Amazon.
  • Online showcase with a permanent digital archive page.
  • Official Finalist Diploma.
  • Certificate of participation with a detailed jury evaluation protocol.
• Top three finalists:
  • Featured Artist profile on Curatone.art.

Categories

Rather than dividing entries into separate categories, Portrait and Figure by Curatone revolves around a single broad theme: the human figure, explored through portraiture, the body, gesture and identity. Any medium or style is accepted, so the scope extends well beyond conventional portrait photography, leaving room for conceptual, experimental and broader figurative approaches.

Dates and Entry Fees

Portrait and Figure by Curatone remains open until the beginning of November, followed by a dedicated jury period and the publication of results later that month. Entry itself is free, with the only fee applying after selection.

Entry Fees:

• Submission fee: Free.
• Finalist fee: $25, payable only if selected by the jury.

The finalist fee covers exhibition hosting, catalogue publication and the documentation provided to selected artists.

How to Enter

Artists submit through the online entry form and may enter up to three works. Each submission requires an image of the work, its title and medium, together with the artist’s details. No account or registration is required, and there is no payment at the submission stage.

About the Jury

Curatone.art publishes its international Jury Board, which currently consists of 28 artists, curators, designers and other visual-art professionals from nine countries. Entries are reviewed blindly and scored independently on a ten-point scale, with jurors unable to see one another’s scores. The platform also publishes the credentials of individual jury members.

Why Enter?

One of the most practical reasons to consider Portrait and Figure by Curatone is the absence of an upfront entry fee. Artists can put their work before the jury without paying to submit; the $25 cost arises only for those selected as finalists. Selection then brings more than a place in an online exhibition: finalists receive catalogue publication with an ISBN, a permanent archive entry and formal exhibition documentation.

For photographers comparing current photography competitions, another interesting aspect is the context in which the work is judged. Portrait and figurative photographs compete within a broader visual-art call, making it particularly relevant to work whose strength lies in its treatment of the human figure, identity or gesture.

The Grand Prize also combines different forms of recognition rather than relying on the $100 award alone. The winner receives a dedicated solo exhibition, while the published jury, blind scoring and documented evaluation process give entrants a relatively clear picture of how selection is carried out.

Rules and Copyright

We reviewed the official rules of the Portrait and Figure Open Call by Curatone 2026 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 call is open internationally to artists aged 18 and over, regardless of experience level, and accepts work in any medium. Artists may submit up to three works, which must be original and created by the participant.

Submitted works and artist identities remain private during the entry and judging periods. Only finalist works are made public when the results are announced. The initial submission is free; selected finalists are required to pay the $25 finalist fee, and the organizer’s general terms state that fees are non-refundable.

Copyright and Image Usage

Copyright remains with the original artist.

By participating, artists give Curatone.art permission to publish submitted artworks, names and biographies on its website, social media channels and promotional materials related to the competition and future exhibitions. The terms also allow submitted content to be retained in the platform’s digital archive.

The published terms do not specify whether this permission is exclusive or establish a duration for it. Curatone.art states that it will not sell or reproduce an artwork without the artist’s explicit written permission.

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