[Sponsored Listing] K Space Contemporary announces a call for artists for their Third Coast Biennial, a non-thematic, juried exhibition of innovative contemporary art. Open to artists age 18+ living in the US. Entries must be original works of art completed in the last 2 years and not previously exhibited at K Space. All media is accepted. Two dimensional works must not exceed 60″. Three dimensional works must be manageable by two people.

Click here for the application / registration

Enter by: 1 Jun 2022

Entry Fee: $40 for 1 – 3 works of art, add $5 per each additional work of art, up to 10 max.

Exhibition Dates are July 15 – Aug. 26, 2022 (in person). The exhibition will remain on K Space’s website indefinitely.

The prestigious Third Coast Biennial is one of K Space’s most popular exhibitions, bringing innovative artists from other parts of the country to the Coastal Bend community. The competition introduces the work of participating artists to an esteemed juror who has achieved notoriety in the art world, as a curator, museum/gallery/ art space director, writer, or prominent artist who could potentially help further their careers.

The 2022 Juror is Mark L. Smith, PhD, owner and operator of Mark Smith Studio Gallery in Johnson City, Texas. A former art department chairman and associate dean, he is a member of the Austin Arts Hall of Fame, the co-founder of Flatbed Press in Austin, and co-author of Flatbed Press at 25, published in 2016 by U.T. Press. A practicing artist, Smith is an art advisor to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park’s Cabinet Oak Project and developer of the park’s upcoming artist residency program.

Third Coast Biennial Artist Benefits

Five artists will receive monetary awards totaling $2,500. Several others will receive Honorable Mentions. Third Coast Biennial provides promotion, networking, exposure, and sales opportunities to selected artists. The exhibition is presented both in person and online. To promote individual artists, K Space highlights accepted artists on social media (10,000+ followers) and features artist interviews on their website’s blog. Approximately 5,000 visitors will view the exhibition in person, many looking to purchase art for their collections.

There will be 2 receptions during the run of the exhibition. The opening reception on July 15 is catered to collectors, art lovers, and academics. The ArtWalk reception on August 5th will draw a large crowd of over 1,000, of all ages and interests. Sales at K Space Contemporary average $7,000 per month.

Testimonial

“K Space Contemporary’s remarkable contribution to the fine arts in Texas and beyond is well known due their dedication for high-quality exhibitions and excellence in public programing. Fine art lectures, workshops, summer camps, calls-for-art, are just a few of the many opportunities K Space has to offer. Most recently, they were kind enough to allow two of my students to showcase their work for their Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis exhibitions in the impressive K Space galleries which resulted in two very successful shows with one student, Aroh Arzte, having the remarkable distinction of being listed as one of the Top Five exhibitions from Glasstire.com for the month of December (2021).

The very popular 3rd Coast National Biennial exhibition has reached national and international recognition with artists participating from across the United States. This in turn has brought many to Corpus Christi who visit us for the first time and are amazed at the thriving art community which I firmly believe is due to the professionalism and commitment of K Space. This exhibition has also become an educational opportunity for the community.

Due to the proximity of Corpus Christi, the closest locations to see contemporary art are in San Antonio (a two and a half hour drive) and Houston (a three and a half hour drive) which are not always accessible to students and others. I’ve had the pleasure of taking my students to view the exhibitions and witness what contemporary artists are involved with today. While the internet of course provides us with a wealth of information, as you know there is simply nothing better than observing work in person. K through 12 art teachers from our independent school district have also done the same and in some cases have organized lesson plans based on artworks on view.” – From Joe Peña, Associate Professor of Art at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi

About K Space Contemporary

K Space Contemporary is a 501c3 non-profit organization located in downtown Corpus Christi, TX. Their mission is to present and promote contemporary art. As a forum for creative exchange and experimentation, K Space Contemporary aspires to educate and build awareness for innovative art in South Texas.

K Space Contemporary was established in 2001 by key members of K Space Art Studios. The “K” in the name refers to the building’s historic roots as a Kress Five & Dime Store. To this day, K Space remains an artist-centric organization dedicated to providing a venue for emerging and mid-career artists to exhibit their work and further their careers.

Each year, K Space Contemporary mounts 20+ solo and group exhibitions by local, regional, and national artists as determined by their Exhibition Committee. They welcome experimental, alternative works, unusual installations, and site-specific concepts.

Education programs at K Space Contemporary include a Summer Mural Art Program for teens, workshops, figure drawing sessions, as well as outreach programming to K-12 classrooms, senior centers, and non-profit partners. K Space Contemporary education programs reach 3,500+ persons per year. Through their Mural Arts Program, they have completed 18 public murals, many located in the downtown area.

In addition to public art, K Space Contemporary serves the broader community through events like the First Friday Artwalk and Dia de los Muertos Festival (DDLM Fest). The festival, featuring an art expo, live entertainment, fine art exhibitions, kids’ activities, and community altar display draws 30,000+ visitors each year. DDLM Fest has gained national attention as one of the largest DDLM celebrations in the US and has been selected as the Best Fest in The Bend Magazine’s Local’s List 2016 – 2021.

K Space Contemporary receives approximately 25,000 visitors annually. K Space Contemporary plays an important role in the Corpus Christi art scene, changing and improving the cultural climate of the city.

For more information, contact info@kspacecontemporary.org.