The Anderson Museum of Art
Exhibition artwork

The Anderson Museum of Art

Figures of Speech: Rendered in Verse

15th Annual Juried Exhibition

August 7 – September 13, 2026

Deadline is June 30th. 5 weeks left to enter.
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Venue

Anderson Museum of Art
32 W 10th Street
Anderson, IN 46016

765.649.1248 | [email protected]

Exhibition Overview

The Anderson Museum of Art (AMOA) invites artists to participate in the 15th annual FIGURES OF SPEECH juried exhibition. For years, this exhibition has invited artists to transform language into image through imaginative interpretations of idioms and common expressions.What began as a competition centered on illustrating figures of speech has evolved into a broader exploration of the ways words shape culture, memory, humor, and emotion. This year, the exhibition expands its scope to include artistic responses inspired by poems, proverbs, lyrics, quotations, and idioms from across languages, histories, and traditions. By translating the spoken and written word into visual form, Figures of Speech: Rendered in Verse celebrates the rich interplay between language and art, encouraging artists to reveal new meanings, unexpected connections, and deeply personal interpretations through their work.

Exhibition Juror

Dr. Natalie E. Phillips, nataliephillips.art

Dr. Natalie E. Phillips is Professor of Art History, Affiliate Faculty in Women’s and Gender Studies, and Affiliate Research Faculty in African American Studies at Ball State University. She received her Ph.D. in Visual Studies from the University of California, Irvine in 2009, and specializes in contemporary art and critical theory, with a focus on artists of NewYork’s East Village during the 1980s such as Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, for whom she is currently writing a monograph.

Entry Fees

  • $30 for the first entry, $10 per additional entry.
  • Up to three entires per artist.
  • Entry fees are non-refundable

Eligibility

  • Open to artists 18 years and older. Domestic or Abroad.
  • Submitted work should be inspired by an idiom, poem, proverb, lyric or quote that should be noted at time of submission.
  • All work must be original and not previously exhibited at AMOA.
  • All two-dimensional works must be professionally presented and ready to hang.
  • Works on paper (pastel, charcoal, soft pencil, watercolor) must be framed behind glass and wired.
  • Sculptures must be stable and free-standing.
  • Eligible media includes:
    • 2-D (painting, drawing, photography)
    • Mixed Media
    • Collage
    • Fiber Art
    • Sculpture (freestanding, max. 50 lbs)
  • Submitted artwork must match the digital image or the piece may be disqualified.

Awards

  • Best of Show: $400
  • 1st Place: $300
  • 2nd Place: $200
  • 3rd Place: $100
Additional purchase awards may be made for inclusion in the AMOA Permanent Collection.

Awards will be announced during the Opening Reception on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Sales & Reproduction Rights

  • Sales are encouraged; AMOA retains a 30% commission on all works sold.
  • AMOA reserves the right to reproduce images for publicity, exhibition materials, and catalogue purposes.

Insurance

  • AMOA insures accepted works during the exhibition at market or declared value, up to $2,500 maximum per piece.
  • Artists are responsible for insuring works during transit to/from the museum.
  • All reasonable care will be taken, but AMOA assumes no liability for damage or loss during shipping.

Shipping Instructions

Shipping Address:
Anderson Museum of Art
32 West 10th Street
Anderson, IN 46016
765-649-1248

**International Shipping: Artists will be fully responsible to make arrangements for shipping to and from the exhibition. AMOA will not be held responsible for shipping arrangements for international shipping. Shipping costs/arrangements should be researched and calculated before submitting work to the exhibition.

*We recommend that you let your shipping company know the hours of the museum to ensure safe deliveries.

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (EST)
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday 2pm-5pm
  • You are responsible for all shipping/insurance costs to and from the museum.
  • It is mandatory that you send return shipping labels with your incoming pieces. If you happen to be out of town and unable to receive your returned pieces between the dates listed above please let us know and we will make every effort to accommodate you.
  • Request packing requirements from your preferred shipping company to ensure that your pieces arrive safely. Your work will be returned with the same packing materials they were sent.
  • All accepted pieces need to arrive no later than Saturday, July 25, 2026, by 4pm (EST). If your pieces do not arrive before the deadline they will be subject to disqualification.

Contact

We hope this information is helpful to you.

Please don't hesitate to call or email Debbie Apple if you have further questions.

For questions or additional information, contact:

Debbie Apple / Creative Director / Curator
765.649.1248
[email protected]

We look forward to your creative interpretations and contributions to the 2026 Figures of Speech exhibition!

Additional Notification Information

Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on July 8, 2026.

If you do not receive your email, login and view the notification in your account. We cannot respond to inquiries regarding the status of notifications.

Image and Filename Specifications

  • File Format: Submit original, high-quality JPEG image files. Other formats (e.g., PNG, TIFF) are not accepted.
  • Crop Your Image: Ensure only the artwork itself is visible in the image. Do not show any visible matting, frames, or background distractions.
  • Orientation: Make sure your image is oriented correctly (right side up) so that the artwork appears in its intended viewing direction.
  • Image Size: You do not need to resize your image files before uploading. The system will automatically resize them. Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements, so ensure your images are high resolution before uploading.
  • File Names: You do not need to rename your files before uploading them. The system will handle any file naming requirements.
  • File Size: There is a 30mb maximum file size limit. Larger image files will take longer to upload and process.

Additional Entry Information

  • You will pay for your entry by credit or debit card using our secure checkout system.
  • After your entry is submitted and paid for, you may log back in to review your entry, edit artist and image information, and add or substitute images up until the entry deadline (June 30, 2026.)
  • Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the entry deadline.
  • Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.

Support

Questions about this exhibition?
Contact Debbie Apple ([email protected]) for questions about the Prospectus, AMOA, eligibility, artwork requirements, drop-off, pick-up, sales, etc.

Need help with ShowSubmit?
Visit our Help Center or Entry Guide for guidance on image uploads, payments, and managing your entry. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We respond Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm Eastern.