Our exhibitions aim to showcase the work of our occupants along with local, regional, and national artists, organizations, and institutions. We welcome visual art in all media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, fibers, photography, sculpture, installation, performance, video, and new media.

Sawyer Yards has 7 dedicated gallery spaces across the campus, that are programmed out on a rotating basis. Each gallery hosts up to 7 exhibitions a year, each lasting between 6 and 8 weeks depending on the building schedule. 

Project Description:
 

• Sawyer Yards is accepting exhibition proposals on an ongoing basis. We invite artists and curators to propose exhibition ideas for our gallery spaces.
• The gallery spaces on average are approximately 2000 SQFT.
• Proposals are invited from individual artists, curators, teams, or groups. 
• The Sawyer Yards Exhibition Program's goal in selecting proposals includes presenting a cross-section of media, content, and diversity over the year while showcasing quality art. 
• Sawyer Yards Exhibitions reserve the right to refuse the exhibition of work that does not accurately reflect the original proposal. 
• Sawyer Yards is not responsible for damage or loss or artwork while on view. Artists are encouraged to insure their work while on view at Sawyer Yards.
• Publicity will be provided through the Sawyer Yards Exhibition Program and Marketing Director. 
• Open flames and animals are not allowed. Soundtracks and audio must have headphones or be able to be set on timers to be silenced during theater performances. 

 Evaluation Criteria:

• Artistic quality: Artists of the highest artistic caliber, as demonstrated by examples of past work.
• Responsiveness: Letter of intent, proposal images, and final work successfully portray the overall goals of the project, while also engaging and inspiring the community.
• Project management ability: Applicant(s) demonstrate that the Artist has the necessary capability to accomplish the project, and to create and deliver the work on schedule

 Application Requirements:

1. Resume/CV, no more than three pages.
2. Letter of Intent, to include contact information, and a description of how the Artist intends to meet the criteria listed above (1,500 words maximum). This statement should describe the work the artist plans to show and provide some context for it. 
3. Work Examples: Up to ten (10) samples of previous work or new works intended for the exhibition. Only JPEGs up to 5 MB in size will be accepted. For proposed site-specific works or installations, schematic drawings may be submitted. 
4. Image List for all Work Example: to include Artist name(s), title, date completed (as applicable), dimensions, and material/medium.

Timeline:

Once your proposal has been reviewed you will receive notification from Sawyer Yards. Upon selection, the gallery and timeline will be determined for the upcoming year. Applicants whose work does not fit the criteria will be notified in a timely manner. 

Please contact Alexander Squier with any questions: exhibitions@sawyeryards.com

Please read this call entirely. By applying for this exhibit, you agree to the terms detailed within this call.

Harris County Juried Exhibition

The 2026 Harris County Juried Exhibition will bring together a dynamic cross-section of artists living or working within Harris County, Texas, reflecting the depth and diversity of the region’s contemporary art landscape. Curated and juried by distinguished curator Hesse McGraw, this third annual presentation at Silver Street Studios will build on the success of the 2024 and 2025 juried exhibitions, continuing a growing tradition of showcasing innovative practices from emerging and established artists alike.

Through painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and interdisciplinary works, the exhibition will highlight the vibrant creative energy shaping Harris County today. As in previous years, the exhibition aims to highlight the wide spectrum of perspectives, materials, and approaches that define contemporary art in Harris County. McGraw will bring his curatorial insight to shaping the final selection, offering audiences an opportunity to experience new voices as well as established practices within one of the most dynamic cultural regions in the country.

Exhibition Dates On View: June 1 - July 18, 2026

About the Juror: Hesse McGraw

Hesse McGraw is a visionary curator and cultural leader who partners with artists, collectors, organizations, and communities to realize projects that drive civic change. As principal of Radical Normalcy and founder of the Artist Venture Fund, he is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of art in advancing society.

Throughout his 25-year career, he has established an international reputation for expanding artists' agency beyond traditional gallery spaces to create groundbreaking public art initiatives, landmark exhibitions, and collections that intimately engage audiences. His projects have been cited among the greatest artworks of the 21st century—creating urban-scale rainbows, the most-visited site within the world's largest linear park, and the first playable basketball court within a museum. Most recently serving as the 10th Executive Director of Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (2020–2025), he previously served as a partner at El Dorado (2017–2019), Vice President of Exhibitions and Public Programs at San Francisco Art Institute (2013–2017), and Chief Curator at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts (2008–2013).

Prizes: $300.00 Best of show, $200.00 Second Place, $100.00 Third Place (Prizes may increase based on submission count.)

Entry Fee: The entry fee is $15.00 per entry. Max entries of up to four (4) works. One application per artist. 

*Juror selections are based on mastery of design, technique, conceptual quality, and creativity. Works will be accepted on a piece-by-piece basis due to space limitations. This means some work may be accepted from an artist while others are not. 

All entry fees are non-refundable. 

Important Deadlines / Exhibition Schedule:

• Deadline for Entries: All entries must be registered/received by Saturday, May 9, 2026 (11:59 pm Central Time) 
• Artists notified of jurying results: No Later Than Sunday, May 17, 2026
• Hand-delivered accepted works: Tues., May 26, 2026, from 9 am to 5 pm and Wed., May 27, 2026, Noon to 7:00 pm 
• Exhibition opens to the public: Monday, June 1, 2026
• Exhibition closes: Saturday, July 18, 2026 

Application / Eligibility Requirements: 

Open to artists, 18 or older, currently residing or working in Harris County, Texas. Refunds will not be given to applicants who do not qualify. 

Submitted work(s) must be original and created after January 1, 2021. No commercially made prints, giclees, or reproductions of an original work of art will be considered for exhibition. Any work submitted must be entirely the original creation of the artist, produced independently without significant guidance, oversight, or direct technical assistance from a teacher, instructor, or mentor.

Works created through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) are not eligible. 

Works must not have been previously displayed in Silver Street Studios. 

All work submitted must be professional and suitable for art in public spaces. All art is subject to approval, and no work that is offensive, slanderous, or that contains hate speech will be accepted. Artwork seen as inappropriate, unsuitable, or not meeting guidelines will be removed/disqualified. 

All artwork exhibited must be professional and suitable for art in public spaces.

Two-dimensional works must be suitably prepared for hanging and no larger than 62” in height by 86” in width and 5" in depth, including frame. This is a max size that includes all multiple-panel diptychs, triptychs, etc. 

Three-dimensional works to be displayed must be no larger than 84" height by 36" in width and 36" in depth; smaller 3-D works to be displayed on a wall must be suitably prepared for hanging. All 3D/sculptural work must be accompanied by its own pedestal or display stand in white.

Works weighing more than 50 pounds require advanced approval for submission; contact for further instructions.

No installation art or audio enhancements permitted due to gallery limitations.

Videos must be silent - no audio will be accepted. 

Selected videos will be displayed via projector, and should be formatted accordingly.

Videos must be submitted in a high-quality MP4 format.

Maximum video length: 10 Minutes.

 Submitting Images:

• 2D: Please submit one (1) Image
• 3D: one image is required. If you’d like us to see additional angles, you’re welcome to upload a multi-image PDF instead.
• Only one file per entry will be accepted.

Delivery of Selected Artwork:

Work(s) must be hand-delivered to Silver Street Studios, 2101 Winter Street, Houston, TX 77007, between these hours: 

• Tues., May 26, 2026, from 9 am to 5 pm,  and Wed., May 27, 2026, Noon to 7:00 pm 

All work must be ready to install*. Please include clear directions and proper hardware for special installation needs.

We do not accept substitutes for the artwork approved by the juror.

Be patient, other artists will deliver and pick up simultaneously. You may need to wait for staff to process other artists. 

Pick Up: 

Artists who do not retrieve their work will be charged a storage fee of $5.00 per day. Works remaining after 30 days will become theproperty of Silver Street Studios. Please note that other artists will deliver and pick up during the same hours. You may need to wait for thestaff to process other artists. All artwork must be signed out with a committee member present. 

Sales:

All sales are handled directly by the artist: Management/Committee will not handle sales in any way.

Artwork must remain up for the duration of the exhibition. Sold works must be delivered to buyers after the exhibition has closed.

The Silos:  A Season of Light

On View: May 23, 2026 until August 29th.

NO SUBMISSIONS PAST THE DEADLINE OF Monday, May 18th, 11:59 pm, OR OUTSIDE OF SUBMITTABLE WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Theme: A Season of Light

A show about how artists capture the language of light:  bright, diffused, and ever-changing.  How  art reflects personal interpretations of the summer season, capturing moments of warmth, movement, and quiet reflection.

For our upcoming exhibition,  Using LIGHT AND WARMTH TO represent your art FOR OUR THEME. 

Each artist can enter 2 - 6 pieces. The works you enter should be representative of your practice, and of what visitors can expect to find inside your studio. What about your artwork - the colors, compositions, stories, etc, represent who you are as an artist.  

MAKE SURE THAT your submissions are FINAL. Only what is entered through submittable will be allowed - we print the labels for the shows using a spreadsheet generated by submittable.

Eligibility Criteria:  This exhibition is open to all Silos' current artists across all disciplines.  Submissions must be orginal art created by tenants within the last three years.  Works will be on view in the corridors of all bays.     

ARTWORK SUBMISSION CAPS: 

*You can submit work as a studio artist or as a gallery. If you are a hybrid gallery (showing your work and others), then you are still capped at 6 works, including your own. 

1. For each studio, 2 to 6 artworks per lease-holding artist tenant. 

2. For galleries, no more than 6 pieces total.

DIMENSION CAPS: 

There are no size restrictions for this show, but please be mindful of taking up too much wall space. 

ARTWORK PLACEMENT: 

For this exhibition, we will go back to a site-curated format, and all works will be evenly distributed throughout the building. Some of your works will be near your studio and others will not. We cannot guarantee or reserve specific walls for any one artist. We will come back to the"salon" format in the future. 

Submission Fee: $20 

This goes to Silos special events, advertising, show signage, labels for art, vinyl lettering,  etc. We are building our advertising budget!

SCHEDULE: 

• TAKE DOWN CURRENT ARTWORK: Saturday, May 16th, (after 5pm) -  Sunday, May 17th (YOUR WORK MUST BE DOWN BEFORE MONDAY!!!)
• PATCH & PAINT: Monday, May 18th, and Tuesday May 19th.
• SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: MONDAY , May 18th,  11:59 PM. ALL SUBMISSIONS DUE WITHOUT EXCEPTION - allows time to format and print labels. 
• DROPOFF / SELF-HANGING: For this exhibit, Dana and team will site the work. All work must be placed and the whole wall organized before being hung!

DROP-OFF: WEDNESDAY, May 20th- Thursday, May 21th,  Must be dropped off by noon - *all work will be sited and spaced as it arrives, so no late work! If you cannot be there on Wednesday or Thursday, coordinate with Dana or your neighbor to place your art in the hall in advance!

• ATTACH A PAPER TAG/LABEL TO EACH PIECE WITH YOUR NAME AND THE TITLE SO WE CAN PAIR WITH THE CORRECT LABEL. 
• LABEL THE BACK OF EACH WORK WITH YOUR NAME, TITLE, MEDIUM, SIZE to help with labels. HANGING THE ARTWORK: starting Thursday, 12:00 p.m. Noon.  May 21st. Please come join our hanging party If you are interested in helping to hang the show or are willing to hang your own work (that matches what you submitted) please get in touch with Dana Cargile or show up on Thursday  at 12:00  p.m.!  If your art is extra large you must assist with hanging it.
• Saturday, May 23rd, Official public opening.  

Exhibition Guidelines: 

WORKS MUST BE WIRED CORRECTLY FOR HANGING OR THEY WILL NOT BE INCLUDED (wire MUST be firmly attached to the back of the piece). Please use classic D RING picture hangers for all work. 

• All paintings must be dry (NO wet submissions in any media)
• Painting stretchers must lay flat against the wall
• Works on Paper must be framed or mounted. Matted works must be framed. 
• Artist must be available to hang their heavy works (over 20 lbs) with weight appropriate hanging D rings and heavy duty wiring.
• Works on canvas must be framed or have finished edges appropriate to the image or process
• Frames must be in good condition (no scratches or loose corners)
• Artworks must be clean and free of smudges and smears that are not in keeping with the stylistic intent of the artwork
• Please specify if an electrical outlet is needed before installation.
• Headphones or a timer must be installed with all sound works
• Sold works may be removed from the exhibition ONLY if replaced within 48 hours with an artwork similar in scale and no holes are added to the walls.   Email the exhibitions coordinator with an image of the new work and tag information: Dana Cargile, danacargile.art@gmail.com
• All sales are handled directly by the artist. Management will not handle sales in any way. SOLD WORKS should stay on the wall until the end of the exhibition, OR be swapped with another piece approved by the exhibitions coordinator (similar size). 

Sawyer Yards is not responsible for damage or theft, however, we will follow professional standards when installing and handling artworks. In addition, we guarantee: 

• All works will be hung with weight-specific hooks
• Artworks not meeting the guidelines will not be included in exhibits to avoid damage to other artists’ work
• If your artwork is difficult to hang or too delicate to handle, you will be contacted for assistance.
• Artists will be contacted to pick up their work if it does not meet the specific guidelines.

We cannot guarantee: 

• that every work will receive its’ own lighting source since all fixtures are permanent
• specific locations for specific works