Call to Artists
2026 Open Call for Submissions: The MACRO Project Billboard Exhibition
The MACRO Project invites New York State artists to submit original artworks to be selected for display on billboards located on well-trafficked roads in the Finger Lakes region. Submissions are due Sunday, April 19th, 2026 at 11:59pm (EST). See submission specifications.
Four to six artists will be selected to have their work displayed for a month in August or September 2026.
Submit artworks as digital image files to be printed and installed on a 22'x10' billboard. MACRO welcomes all artistic techniques, including but not limited to images of physical paintings, drawings, prints, models, sculptures, photography, and digital works. However, at this time, we are unable to consider moving images or sound-based works.
MACRO, based in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate NY, is a collaborative initiative by curators Camaron Cohen and Rodrigo Guzman-Serrano dedicated to transforming public spaces and urban infrastructure through art exhibitions and installations. By claiming and repurposing billboards and other sites into dynamic art spaces, we challenge traditional perceptions and embed art within the urban fabric in a critical yet accessible way. Our mission is to offer viewers an alternative perspective, blending art into everyday landscapes while sparking meaningful conversations about art, society, and the environment.
Selected artists will receive their own billboard in the Finger Lakes for four consecutive weeks during August or September 2026. The MACRO Project will cover all expenses for the production, mounting, and leasing of the billboard.
Image Usage Rights
Accepted artist's work is eligible for inclusion in all of The Macro Project’s promotional materials, including online use, social media, and printed materials.
There is no application fee. Please submit the following items via google form by Sunday, April 19th, 2026 at 11:59pm (EST).
Up to three (3) original artworks with the title, media, original size, and date. Please name file as LASTNAME_1, LASTNAME_2, LASTNAME_3.
Current town/city of residence. Artists must live and work in New York State by the time of the exhibition (August/September 2026)
Short artist statement/bio (less than 500 words).
All images must be .jpg and minimum 300 dpi. No exceptions
Artists must submit original work. Enclosed entry/entries must be original work, independently created, composed, and executed by the submitting artist. No copies from other artists' works or paintings/drawings from other artists' photographs or from published material will be allowed.
When selecting artwork, please consider the proportions of the billboard and how the work will be experienced by drivers traveling at high speeds, along heavily trafficked roads. To ensure readability and visual impact, avoid small text or intricate details that may be difficult to see from a distance or when traveling at high speeds. Artists are encouraged to review last year's MACRO billboards for reference and to better understand how the scale and proportions affect the viewer's experience.