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

An Artist’s Work

A Juried Exhibition of Works by Local Artists, Hosted by The Silos Studios at Sawyer Yards

September 5th - November 7th, 2026

Exhibition Theme

An art exhibition hosted by The Silos Studios celebrating the creative voices of local artists working in the Greater Houston Area. This exhibition invites artists to share work that reflects the spirit, complexity, culture, and character of being an artist.  

 A Painted Collective celebrates the diverse voices and creative practices of artists working throughout the Greater Houston area. This juried exhibition invites artists to share work that reflects the experience of making art and the perspectives that shape their practice.

We welcome work that explores identity, process, curiosity, resilience, connection, transformation, and the many ways artists interpret and engage with the world. Whether deeply personal or broadly conceptual, we encourage authentic expressions that reveal what drives your creative voice and how your practice continues to evolve.

This exhibition is an opportunity to present work that speaks to the complexities, challenges, and joys of being an artist. Together, these individual perspectives create a collective portrait of the contemporary artistic experience.

Juror: Patrick Palmer

Bio

Patrick Palmer is a local artist working and teaching in the Houston area.  He is the current Dean of The Glassell School of Art at the Museum of Fine Art, Houston.  Patrick earned a BA from the University of California/Santa Barbara in 1977 and an MFA from Arizona State University in 1979.  Palmer has been teaching at The Glassell School of Art, MFAH for over 34 years and has been dean for over 14 years.  Throughout his 50+ years of painting, Palmer placed works in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and many other prestigious museum and university collections.  His current works often examine the theme abstracted figures/heads, and the psychological intrigue of quiet portraits.

Submission Guidelines:

• Submitters may submit up to 3 artworks. **All works will be included in the exhibition, unless wall space becomes too limited. The juror is awarding prizes, but not selecting what work gets into the exhibition or not**
• Artworks must be original works.
• Sculpture and installation works are eligible. Artists are responsible for providing their own pedestal(s) if needed.
• Artists must be at least 18 years old to participate.   
• Submission Fee:  $30.00

Schedule and Deadlines: 

• Sunday, August 30th | Submissions are due through Submittable by 11:59 PM
• Monday, August 31st  | Notifications begin
• Tuesday, September 1st and 2nd, DROP-OFF  ARTWORK, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM  - CHECK IN at Silos, Studio 312, in the 300 Corridor of floor 1. 1502 Sawyer st. Houston, 77007.  Make sure your artwork title, name and phone number are somewhere on the back of your artwork in case the exhibitions committee needs to contact you about the artwork for some reason.  Please use a removable tag or sticker. 
• NO LATE ARTWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED! 
• Artists must hand-deliver their artwork in person during the designated drop-off period. Shipped or mailed works will not be accepted.  If you cannot drop off on the designated date, please make arrangements with someone to drop off your work. 
• Thursday, September 3rd, Curation, installation/hanging, labels, lighting. 
• September 5th - November 7th | Exhibition on View
• Saturday, September 12th, 4:00 to 7 PM | Opening Reception. Patrick Palmer will award the winners!
• Saturday, November 7th - Monday, November 9th | ART PICKUP! Retrieve your Artwork off the walls - take your labels as well! Please make sure to pick up your work during these dates or arrange for someone else to do so. Otherwise, you delay patching and painting the walls.  Art must be removed by November 2.  We do not have any place to store unclaimed art.  

Awards

    To recognize artistic achievement, Patrick Palmer will present the following awards, selected by the juror:

     • First Place $300

     • Second Place $200

     • Third Place $100

     °  Two honorable mentions

Exhibition Guidelines/Rules:

INSTALLATION AND SELF-INSTALLATION: The artwork is hung by the Silos Hanging committee, however for certain difficult, intricate, or heavy installations, artists may be responsible for hanging their work. If you think this applies to you, make sure that you are available during the aforementioned installation period. 

ARTWORK PRESENTATION: ARTWORKS MUST HAVE HANGING HARDWARE/SYSTEM, WE WILL NOT WIRE OR INSTALL D-RINGS FOR YOU. 

Frames and artwork must be in good condition (no scratches or loose corners). Painting stretchers must lay flat against the wall (not warped). All paintings must be dry (NO wet submissions in any media). Paper works must be framed.  Loose drawings and works mounted on Matte board but unframed are not allowed. Alternative display methods such as magnets or pins will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Exhibitions Committee. 

HANGING HARDWARE: WIRE, D-RINGS, and CLEATS are acceptable. DRYWALL SCREWS WHEN NECESSARY.

WIRE is preferred and must be firmly attached to the back of the piece so that when stretched it will not unravel or be visible above the top of the artwork. Just D rings with no wire are acceptable for larger, heavier pieces only. French Cleats, or drywall screws may be used for heavy works or wall-mounted sculptural pieces. If your piece is complicated to understand or install, you will be asked to hang it yourself. 

*Works without a hanging system will be rejected (no hanging stretched canvases by a couple of nails in the wall). 

• NO sawtooth hangers - wire or D-rings only. 
• NO Adhesives, such as tape, command strips, or velcro on the walls. 
• NO Painting directly on the wall. 
• Please specify if an electrical outlet is needed before installation. 
• SOLD WORK must remain in the exhibition for the duration of the show.  
• All sales are handled directly by the artist. Management will not handle sales in any way.  Artists will keep 100% of their sales.  
• All submission information for labels on Submittable will be final.  No changes or reprints will be made.  Please make sure information in all fields is accurate.  

SOUND AND VIDEO: Any such works would need to have headphones. Artists are responsible for their own AV equipment such as headphones, media players, speakers, TVs, projectors, etc. 

DISCLAIMERS:

1. Artists are responsible for insuring their work. Sawyer Yards does not provide insurance coverage for artworks hung in the hallways or common areas. 
2. Sawyer Yards is not responsible for damage or theft, however, we will follow professional standards when installing and handling artwork. We cannot guarantee:

• that every work will receive its own lighting source 
• specific locations for specific works

 If you have any questions, please contact Dana Cargile at danacargile.art@gmail.com