Auspice NOW

ART GAL : BLK IRL {Black In Real Life}

A Virtual Exhibition of Self-Reflection, Resilience, and Communal Beauty

Across generations and throughout the diaspora, people of African lineage have faced erasure, distorted imagery, limiting stories and untruths about who we are. Despite these struggles, we continue to create our own narratives, in our truth–written, played, painted–on our faces and in our bodies; with our language and style; in our group chats and on our timelines; on the frontlines; in real life.

ART GAL: BLK IRL is a digital exhibition centered on now: how we see ourselves, how we hold each other, and how we choose to live in this moment as Black folx, worldwide. This call invites artwork that affirms Black life as it is today: complex, everyday, sacred, tender, joyful, tired, healing, still redefining, still thriving.

ART GAL is seeking artworks that engage with:

Self-reflection and honest self-portraiture (literal or symbolic)

Personal resilience: how you keep going, adapt, rest, and restart

Positive self-image and body image that honors real Black lives and features

Communal image: how we see each other, uplift each other, and show up together

Living in the present moment: groundedness, mindfulness, and being “here” now

Everyday Black life: small rituals, routines, softness, laughter, care work

Healing from internalized racism, colorism, texturism, and shame

Joy, play, and imagination as forms of resistance and self-definition

Your work can be subtle, loud, abstract, figurative, spiritual, humorous, or deeply intimate, as long as it is in conversation with self-reflection, resilience, positive image, and the present realities of Black life.

Who Can Submit
Open to artists worldwide

Priority to Black and Afro-diasporic artists (Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latinx/Latine, Afro-European, Afro-Arab, continental Africans, Black folks across the globe)

Must be 18+

Accepted Media (2D Media Only)
All submissions must be suitable for online presentation:

Suitable for online presentation

Two Dimensional Artworks

Scanned or photographed at high resolution

No physical shipments. All work is presented in digital form

Submission Guidelines
While a minimum of 3 is required, each artist may submit up to 6 works for consideration.

Please include:

Artwork Files

JPG / PNG

72dpi, 16:9, 9:16, and 1:1 / Minimum 1920px on the longest side

Artwork Details (for each piece)

Artist-ArtTitle-Medium-Year-Size

Brief description (50–150 words)

Artist Info

Name and/or artist name
Location (City, Country)
Artist Bio (150 word max)
Email + Website and/or social media

Short Artist Statement

150–200 words on how your practice engages self-reflection, resilience, positive self/communal image, and/or living in the present moment as a Black person or within Black communities

Art Shop
Selected artists will have an opportunity to sell their artwork.

Submission Schedule
Call Opens: 12/8/25
Submission Deadline: 12/21/25 11:59 PM / 23:59 PST
Selected Artists will be notified by: January 15, 2026
Opening Reception: TBA February 2026
Exhibit Runs: February-April 2026

How to Submit
Visit [ ARTGAL.LA/ARTCALL ] to complete the submission form.

Questions? contact:

IG :

EMAIL : [email protected]

Wow! Our little film just keeps on keeping on on. Hong Kong and now Vienna!

Co-Produced with AuspiceNOW , .hues & Elastic Arts Foundation with support from Flores’ 2020-2021 Dark Matter Residency .

CONGRATS TO OUR CAST & CREW!
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ASSAMAN, a Wolof word for The Sky, is a cosmic love story with the future told through a visual and sonic examination in search of flourishing joy and self-care. A kaleidoscope of introspective moments holding masculine and femine energies in sacred balance suspended in journey.

Created by Cosmic Twins Katrina Brook Flores and Mamadou Lamine Diao aka Tukkiman who share blood ties to Senegal and were born within 24 hours of each other. The film boasts an all Black, Indigenous, Black Indigenous & Latinx cast & crew.

Katrina Brook Flores, IndigiQueer Xicanx, Directs and Production Designs the film among another roles. Tukkiman is a singer-songwriter, composer and producer from Darkar, Senegal who provides the films’ soundtrack and co-stars as Tukki with Sojourner Zenobia (Asé) .

Produced by GIT Productions LLC & Tukki LLC through ASSAMAN LLC with Co-Producers AuspiceNOW & Elastic Arts Foundation with support from Flores’ 2020-2021 Dark Matter Residency . Special thanks to Lewis Studios where all soundscape and vocals were produced & recorded.

The film enlists the talents of DP Jonathan Woods , Senegal Location Associate Director El Hadj Abass Sow , Cinematographers Odin Magana & Chris Adams , Assistant Director Michael Manuel , Costume Designers Michael Kelly of La’Antonius Couture .couture , Bull Doff , Adama Thiam and Katrina Brook Flores, MUA Nicey J. of NJH Mobile as well as an incredible extended cast and crew from the US & Senegal.