Shadow & Light: Island Contrast

The Key West Art & Historical Society announces a call for entries for its biannual juried exhibition which is slated to open in December 2025 at the Key West Museum of Art & History. “Shadow & Light” is open to all artists living and creating in the Florida Keys. The exhibition beckons artists to immerse themselves in the outdoors, capturing natural light and its interaction with everyday objects into visual expressions that evoke contemplation and introspection. Juried by Dr. Cori Convertito of the Key West Art & Historical Society, Elena Devers of The Studios of Key West, Jane Grannis of Anne McKee Art Fund and Carole Garcia of Anne McKee Art Fund, the submission platform opens on September 1, 2025, and closes on October 26, 2025.

This exhibition invites artists to think beyond the traditional and explore fresh ways of expressing the beauty and complexity of the natural world. We’re especially interested in work that reflects the balance—and tension—between the elements of nature and our own inner experiences. Whether through light and shadow, form and texture, or mood and movement, we want to see how you interpret the theme “Shadow & Light.” Submissions are welcome in a variety of mediums, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, encaustic, pencil, sculpture, and mixed media.

First Place, Second Place, & Honorary Mentions (no monetary awards are given)

Join us at the Key West Art & Historical Society, December 3, 2025, 5-8 pm for a reception to honor the participating artists. All participating artists, friends, family, and community members are invited to attend.

Cori Convertito, PhD – A graduate of the University of Exeter, Cori has worked as the curator of the Key West Art & Historical Society since 2012. Before working for the Society, she worked for museums and non-profit arts organizations in the United Kingdom. Currently, Cori serves as President of the Key West Business Guild and is on the City of Key West’s Art in Public Places advisory board.

Elena Devers – Deputy Director at The Studios of Key West. As Deputy Director for TSKW, Elena is responsible for the approximately 40 resident artists who make their home in Key West for a month at a time. Each year, she and a panel of community members comb through hundreds of applications to select the writers/performers/artists who are interested in Key West’s cultural identity.

Jane Grannis – Vice President of the Anne McKee Artists Fund and former President of the Key West Art Center. Before moving to Key West in 2006, she spent 35 years as an art educator and administrator in New Jersey, focusing on high school ceramics and crafts. She also led the North Jersey Designer Craftsmen and co-chaired the North Jersey Student Craftsmen Fair. Jane holds MAs in Art Education and Administration.

Carole Garcia - Board member of the Anne McKee Artists Fund and Chairperson of its annual Fine Art Auction, which raises essential grant funding for artists in the Florida Keys. She also serves as Docent Coordinator for the Key West Art & Historical Society, helping to create engaging experiences that connect visitors with the island’s rich art and culture.

Artwork can be hand delivered (with appointment) between Monday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 26 to:

Key West Museum of Art & History
281 Front Street,
Key West, Florida 33040

All participating artists agree to allow the Key West Art & Historical Society to use their artwork in advertising, in press releases, on its website, and in any other promotional activities. Care will be taken to give each artist proper credit.

The Key West Art & Historical Society is precluded by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from selling artwork in its institution.

Additional Notification Information

Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on November 14, 2025.

You may view the notification in your ShowSubmit account by logging in and clicking tapping the Notifications at the top right of the screen, or in your Entry History.

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.

Note: Entries made prior to 2023 may not display the View Notification link.

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 (October 27, 2025.)
• 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

For questions about KWAHS or this Prospectus, please contact Cori ([email protected]).

For technical support or entry questions, first check our Help Center or Entry Guide. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We’ll respond between 9am and 6pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.