Delta State University’s Annual Juried Student Exhibition highlights the artistic production of its students. The exhibition provides students with an opportunity to gain professional experiences by preparing work for an exhibition and submitting it to a jury process. Students submitting work are also eligible to win prizes in a variety of categories. Last year over $4000 in prize money was awarded. Submissions in all media – 2-D and 3-D, video, installations, and more – following the exhibition guidelines will be considered.
- The Annual Juried Student Exhibition will run from March 26 to April 23, 2026.
- Submissions are due on Thursday, March 19 2026, by 5:00 pm.
- Awards will be announced at the opening reception on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Juror: This year’s juror is Lawson King. Lawson King’s artwork draws on his background in psychology and his upbringing in the Mississippi Delta. He is committed to making art accessible, using large-scale public works to inspire creativity and encourage critical thinking in everyday spaces.
Since 2012, King has taught visual art throughout the Delta, often in schools without art programs. He also taught at Delta State University, where he earned his BFA in Sculpture, and continues to serve on the committee for the Mathews-Sanders Sculpture Garden.
A MAC Artist Fellowship recipient, Lawson’s work has been exhibited at the Mississippi Museum of Art, the Grammy Museum Mississippi, and the University of Mississippi Museum, as well as in galleries and outdoor exhibitions nationwide.
Exhibition Guidelines
Eligibility
- All Delta State University students who are currently enrolled in art classes or have been enrolled in art classes between spring 2025 and spring 2026.
- Work must have been produced between spring 2025 and spring 2026
- Work previously submitted to the Annual Juried Student Exhibition and work produced at another school are not eligible.
- Work must remain on view in Wright Art Center Gallery for the duration of the exhibition.
Work
Each student may submit up to 10 works.
Artwork in all media –2-D and 3-D, video, installations, and more – are eligible. The entrant is responsible for delivery and pick-up of the work (see below for dates).
All accepted entries must be properly labeled with the artist’s name, the work’s title and date, price or NFS (not for sale) and installation instructions, if applicable. All accepted entries must be ready to be hung or installed:
- 2-D works on paper must be matted so that they can be pinned to the wall or
- mounted under glass with all appropriate hardware to hang,
- paintings must have all appropriate hardware to hang.
- 3-D works must be able to stand on their own or be mounted on a stand.
- Artists submitting digital or video work should contact well in advance our Digital Media faculty who will collect entries on one USB drive. Students submitting digital or video work must bring their videos in MP4 format on a USB stick, students submitting a video installation must provide all necessary equipment to display the work and be present for the installation.
- Work that is not ready to be hung or installed will be disqualified.
- Maximum size: 72” in any direction, 150 lb.
Submission Guidelines
- Submit your personal details and the label information for your entries – title, date, medium, category (painting, printmaking, drawing, graphic design, sculpture, ), price or NFS (not for sale) – through the gallery’s website (https://www.deltastate.edu/art/wright-center-art-gallery/call-for-entries/) by Thursday, March 19 by 5:00 pm. Late entries will not be accepted.
- Then, bring your work to the gallery between Monday, March 16 and Thursday, March 19, all work needs to be in the gallery Thursday, March 19 by 5:00 pm. Late entries will not be
- Wall labels spelling out the various entry categories (painting, printmaking, drawing, graphic design, sculpture, etc.) will indicate where to leave your work.
- Make sure to write your name, the title, and year on the back of your work with pencil or permanent marker before you bring it to the gallery. (Do not attach the emailed confirmation)
- Images of any accepted works may be used at the sole discretion of Wright Art Center Gallery for promotional purposes including but not limited to invitations, publicity, Delta State University Art Department web site and Facebook page, or on a subsequent year’s Images will include attributions.
Timeline
- Submission deadline is Thursday, March 19, by 5:00 pm.
- Entrants will be notified via email of their acceptance March 23rd.
- All work not accepted into the exhibition has to be picked up between Monday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 24, 5:00 pm.
- The opening reception and announcement of prizes is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 26, starting at 4:00 pm.
- The exhibition closes April 23 and all exhibited works have to be picked up between Friday, April 24 and Tuesday, April 28, by 5:00 pm. Work that is left at the Wright Art Center Gallery for more than one week will be discarded or become the property of Delta State University.
- If you are mailing your work, include a UPS or FedEx return shipping label.
Promotion: This exhibition will be promoted through mail-outs, announcements on our web site and Facebook page, through area art organizations, and area media. A selection of works will be included in a press release sent to local papers and posted online.
Sales: Although works exhibited in the Annual Juried Student Exhibition do not have to be for sale, sales are encouraged as some of the prizes are purchase prizes. Purchase prizes usually are $500 or less.
Helpful Tips: For Entering Art Shows, Juried Exhibitions & Competitions for Artists can be found at http://www.artshow.com/juriedshows/entering.html.
For questions about submissions contact coguz@deltastate.edu.
