Venue
Ikigai Studios
604 East Chatham Rd
Cary, North Carolina
In the parking lot of Ikigai Studios, April 18 – 19, 2026
Hosted by Ikigai Studios
604 East Chatham Rd
Cary, North Carolina
In the parking lot of Ikigai Studios, April 18 – 19, 2026
Hosted by Ikigai Studios
45 Booths available 10x10
Music & Food Trucks
Event Overview
The Spring Outdoor Fine Art Show is a juried fine art exhibition celebrating original, handcrafted works by professional artists. Held in beautiful Cary, this event brings together collectors, designers, and art enthusiasts from across the Triangle region for a curated, high-quality art experience.
Rooted in the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai —“reason for living” — this show honors meaningful creative expression and intentional artistry.
Our goal is to create an intimate, elevated outdoor show that highlights serious artists and fosters genuine connections between creators and collectors.
Location
The event will take place outdoors on the grounds of Ikigai Studios, 604 East Chatham Rd, in Cary, nc.
Centrally located within the Triangle and easily accessible from Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, Cary offers a strong arts-supportive community and an affluent collector base.
Event Hours
April 18 – 19, 2026
Saturday: 12 noon–6pm
Saturday: 12 noon–6pm
Sunday: 12 noon–6pm
(Artists may begin setup at 10:00 AM Saturday, Booth Tear Down is Sunday after 6pm. Please contact us for special accommodation.)
Artist Eligibility
This is a juried fine art show open to Visual Artists.
All work must be:
- Original and created by the exhibiting artist
- Designed and executed without commercial kits, mass production, or buy/sell elements
- Consistent with submitted jury images
- Professionally displayed in a gallery-quality booth
This show is focused exclusively on fine art and fine craft.
Accepted Media Categories
- Painting (Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor)
- Photography
- Encaustic
- Mixed Media
- Sculpture
- Fiber
- Glass
- Wood
- Ceramics
- Drawing / Printmaking
Jury Process
Applications will be reviewed by a panel representing Ikigai Studios and invited arts professionals.
Selections will be based on:
- Technical excellence
- Cohesiveness of body of work
- Originality
- Professional booth presentation
- Market readiness
Notification of acceptance will be emailed by Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Booth Information
- Booth Size: 10’ x 10’ or 10’ x 20'
- Booth Fee: $80
- Corner Booth Upgrade: $25 (limited availability)
- Electricity: Not available
Artists must provide:
- Artist tent (required), chairs and tables as needed for their booth
- Minimum 40 lbs. weight per tent leg
- Professional display panels
- Appropriate lighting (battery-operated only); There is no electricity available. Booths must remain set up for the duration of the show. Artwork should be taken home Friday night for security reasons.
Application Requirements
Submit via ShowSubmit
- 4 images of current work
- 1 booth image
- Medium description
- Application fee: $30 (non-refundable)
Sales & Commission
- Artists handle their own transactions.
- No commission retained by Ikigai Studios.
- Artists are responsible for collecting and remitting North Carolina sales tax.
Marketing & Promotion
The Spring Outdoor Fine Art Show will be promoted through:
- Targeted social media advertising throughout the Triangle
- Email marketing to established collector lists
- Local arts partnerships
- Regional event calendars
- Press outreach
Participating artists are encouraged to actively promote the event within their networks.
Load-In / Load-Out
Detailed instructions will be provided upon acceptance. Artists must adhere strictly to designated load-in and load-out times to ensure a smooth experience for all participants.
Weather Policy
This is a rain-or-shine event. No refunds will be issued due to weather conditions.
Contact Information
Ikigai Studios
Cary, North Carolina
Or Kim Lantz – 919-825-8025 Text or call
Additional Notification Information
Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on March 31, 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 (March 23, 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 Ikigai Studios ([email protected]) for questions about the Prospectus, IS, 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.