2025 Open Show Express

Please join us in creating a memorable and unique art experience for Lake Oswego residents and surrounding communities.

We provide the fencing, a covered area with 24 hour security, hooks, and clips. New this year- fencing will have a white background, meaning you don't have to see the backs of artworks!

• The Open Show Express accepts a maximum of 7 works per artist (11 for double spaces); please adopt an editorial gaze of your work and decide which seven pieces are most representative of your creative process.

• If the registration does not match the showcard, the sales table may not be able to sell your work. Please make sure you price and title your work correctly. There are no changes after registration.

• Each artist will be given a 6 foot tall by 5 foot wide chain link fence panel in which to display their art, allowing visitors to engage with and celebrate each artist’s unique vision!

• Each artist will hang their own work on the fences using ‘s’ hooks provided by the Festival.

• Each artist will print their own showcards, which must contain the artist's name, the title of the piece, and the price. Please only bring pieces that were registered.

• Each space is 6' High x 5' Wide. 

• Please plan accordingly for larger pieces. You will not be able to get seven large works on the panel.

• Show cards must include artist's name, title of work, and price. A template can be found here, but feel free to get creative as long as you include the required information.

• Sculptures will exhibit in a designated area. 

• All 2D artwork must be able to hang on the panels.

• All artwork must be for sale during this exhibition, and each artwork can be priced no higher than $5000. We’ve found the sweet spot for sales to be around $300

• Artists cannot stay with their work during the exhibition hours.

• Artists are strongly encouraged to sign up to volunteer to docent the exhibit during the Festival weekend.

• Artists are encouraged to post artist statements and business cards with their work.

• The show will be under the tent and will have overnight security. No artwork will be exposed to the elements.

• Please Note: It is highly recommended that your artwork be transported to art hanging day in a manner that will protect it from the elements. In 2014, there was a major rain event. While we tried to get everyone under cover, many people and some artwork were wet. Protect your work!

The show is open to all art media, including those that have been traditionally considered “craft” (e.g. ceramics, fiber/textiles, woodworking, jewelry – contact the curator or festival office for jewelry placement details) Both 2D and 3D works are eligible, but 2D works must hang on a panel. We’re accepting sculpture again for a designated area. 

Works Eligible

• Only original artwork created within the last two (2) years and not previously entered in past Open Shows will be accepted.
• Diptychs, triptychs, and/or sets may be entered as one of your seven works and sold with one price. Your total submission is limited to include up to two sets of diptychs/triptychs– the rest of your works must be individual pieces.
• The Festival reserves the right to remove work that goes against our non-discrimination and diversity policies.

Some examples:

• Single pieces in any media are eligible

• Two paintings that depict a garden, which are to be hung together as a diptych, may be entered as one piece with one price.
• Not accepted: mechanical prints, giclées, or copies of other artists’ works.

Framing

• All 2D entries must be dry, framed, matted (or wrapped canvas), mounted, and hung with PICTURE HANGING WIRE. All glass must be properly secured. (No Uniframes, zigger type or rings, chains, garden or jewelry wire, or string).
• Click here for a helpful video showing how to wire your artwork!
• Jewelry artists take on the liability of presenting their work in a way that will protect it from theft. 
• Video/Sound: All entries must provide all technology necessary for viewing/listening and any necessary installation materials beyond basic pedestals and wall hanging hooks. TV screens must stand on pedestals (provided by the Festival); they cannot be hung from panels. Please contact the Open Show curator ahead of time for specific installation needs: festival@lakewood-center.org. Because all artworks must be for sale, artists must include a single hard copy of their work (DVD, USB, etc.) with their registration that can be given to a purchaser.

AI Artwork

• • • NO AI GENERATED ARTWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.

• • All artwork must be for sale.
  • The price is at the discretion of the artist, subject to possible review by the curators.
  • No single work will be priced over $5000. We’ve found the sweet spot to be around $300.
  • To offset event costs, the Festival retains a 35% (percent) commission on all works sold in the Open Show. Please price your work with this in mind. The price shall be at the discretion of the artist.
  • Prices assigned by the artist shall include the Festival commission. All commission proceeds benefit the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, a nonprofit organization. For example: Upon the sale of an artwork priced at $200, $70 would go to the Festival, and $130 would go to the artist. All proceeds benefit the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, an arts education event that remains free to the public and is an event of the nonprofit organization, Lakewood Center for the Arts.
  •  All commission proceeds benefit the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, a nonprofit organization. Our tax ID number is 93-0700108.

Registration will be open on June 1st 2025, via the link on this page.

• Artists must register and complete an application on our website with an accurate email that will be valid throughout the registration process until show date. This email address will be used to notify you of any changes, sales, and other important information.

Your registration must include:

• Detailed information about each submitted artwork, including price, title, medium and dimensions.

Double spaces sell out very quickly! 

• Please check the website - we will post when spaces are sold out.
• If you are not able to click to add a double space when registering, assume the spaces are sold out.

DELIVERY OF ARTWORK

Artists must deliver and hang their work personally to the Lakewood Center, 368 S State Street, Lake Oswego, OR, 97034 on:

• EITHER Tuesday, June 16, 2025 at 4:00 – 7:00pm 
• OR Wednesday June 17, 2025 at 8:00 – 11:00am

ANY WORK NOT ON SITE BY 11:00 AM ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18th WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE EXHIBIT.

DISPLAY OF ARTWORK

The curator reserves the right to move art around on your panel as it sells.

The curator also has the right to reject pieces that do not follow our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies.

RETURN OF ARTWORK

Should the work not be sold, artists are responsible for picking up their artworks or storage and return shipping fees will apply.

In-person artwork pickup:

Sunday, June 22 at 5:30-7:00pm

The Festival shall not be held liable for the loss of or damage to the work if Artist fails to remove the work during pick up times listed above. If artwork is not picked up during these times, a storage fee of $10 per day may be imposed after the last date listed above. The Festival's right to sell the work of art shall continue, however, until the work is actually removed.

WE WELCOME ARTISTS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS

Lakewood Theatre Company (dba Lakewood Center for the Arts, Lakewood Gallery, Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts) believes that art and society is enhanced by cultural diversity.

It is our belief that this diversity enriches our appreciation of the world we live in. Lakewood is committed to providing an environment that demonstrates sensitivity and appreciation for the unique needs and qualities of the individuals that we serve.

To that end, Lakewood’s policy is to provide services, programs, volunteer opportunities and employment opportunities that do not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, age, gender, ethnicity, culture, nationality, sexual orientation, military status, marital status, political opinion, learning style, national origin, familial status, mental and physical disability, gender identity, and source of income or disability status.