Saturday, May 9, 2026
12–8 PM
Open Call for Submissions!
Free to submit!
Every year around Mother's Day, the Athenaeum Art Center (AAC) opens its doors to the community for a festive, bilingual pop-up exhibition that honors mothers and maternal figures across cultures. Drawing on the traditions of Día de las Madres, rooted in Mexican cultural heritage and the spirit of the broader Mother's Day weekend, this annual event brings together local artists, families, and neighbors for an afternoon and evening of art, music, craft demonstrations, and connection.
The exhibition showcases artwork submitted by community members and local artists, all responding to themes of motherhood.
Past events have featured paintings, sculptures, prints, mixed-media works, and "fridge art,” embracing every level of artistic experience. The event culminates in an opening reception with live mariachi music, printmaking demonstrations, and opportunities to meet the artists.
The AAC's Mother's Day pop-up is a community celebration rooted in place, in Barrio Logan, and in the stories that mothers carry and pass on. It is bilingual at its core, welcoming Spanish- and English-speaking visitors alike, and free and open to the public.
This event is generously supported by the ResMed Foundation.
We invite artists of all backgrounds and experience levels to submit work for our annual Día de las Madres pop-up exhibition. This exhibition celebrates maternal figures and their lived experiences across cultures, generations, and languages.
Theme: What does it mean to mother? What is maternal love and how is it expressed? We want to see art that thinks through these questions. Bilingual, bicultural, and border-crossing perspectives are especially encouraged.
Who can submit?
Open to all artists living or working in the San Diego–Tijuana region.
Open to all experience levels! “Amateur” work is enthusiastically accepted.
Youth submissions welcome (with parent/guardian consent).
What to submit?
Paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, any 2-D art
Sculpture and 3-D work
Mixed media and textile work
Works on paper, artist books, zines, etc.
Guidelines
All work submitted must be ready to hang or display.
Works must be inspired or connected to the exhibition theme.
Up to two (2) works per artist are accepted.
The form requests JPEG images of your work along with your name, contact info, socials or website, title of work, medium, dimensions, and a brief statement about your work and connection to the theme.
Questions? Email lmartinez@ljathenaeum.org
Key Dates
Submission deadline: April 22
Artist notification: April 24
Artwork drop-off: April 28–May 2
Exhibition opening reception: May 9, 12–8 PM
Exhibition days: May 8–10
Artwork pickup: May 11–26
Submission is free; there is no entry fee. Artwork may be offered for sale at the artist’s discretion; the Athenaeum Art Center does not take commission on sales made at this event.
Submissions & Exhibition Guidelines
1. Eligibility
Open to artists of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds in the San Diego-Tijuana region
Each artist may submit up to two (2) works
Work must be original and created by the submitting artist
Work must be directly related to the exhibition theme
No AI work accepted
2. Artwork Requirements
All 2-D work must be ready to hang. This means framed or mounted with proper hanging hardware attached, OR stretched canvas with wire/D-rings on the back. Work not ready to hang will not be accepted.
3-D work must be stable and self-supporting or include a base/pedestal. Coordinate with the gallery coordinator if you require special display arrangements.
Maximum dimensions: 60 inches in any direction (width or height).
Work must be in exhibition-ready condition: clean, undamaged, and stable.
Work that requires electrical power, specialized lighting, or sound must be disclosed at time of submission and approved in advance.
3. Artwork Drop-Off & Pickup
Accepted artists will receive drop-off instructions by email after notification
Artwork must be dropped off at the Athenaeum Art Center during the designated window
Each artwork must be labeled on the back with the artist's name, title, medium, and price (or NFS)
Artists are responsible for picking up their work at the designated pickup time. Unclaimed work will be held for 15 days.
4. Sales & Commission
Artists may choose to offer work for sale
The AAC does not take a commission on sales made at this event
The AAC will only put artists in contact with buyers, artist manage their own sales transactions; the AAC is not responsible for facilitating or processing payments
5. Liability
The Athenaeum Art Center will take reasonable care of submitted works but is not liable for loss or damage
Artists are encouraged to photograph their work before drop-off for their records
By submitting, artists grant the Athenaeum Art Center permission to photograph and document the exhibition and to use images for non-commercial promotional purposes (social media, newsletters, press), with artist credit
6. Selection Process
All submissions are reviewed by the AAC curatorial team
Selection is based on thematic relevance, exhibition-readiness, and available gallery space
All artists will be notified of the outcome by the date indicated in the open call
The AAC reserves the right to decline work that does not meet guidelines or is not ready for display
7. Code of Conduct
This is a community event welcoming all ages. Submitted work must be appropriate for a general audience.
Work that depicts explicit violence or content intended to harm or demean a group will not be accepted.
We encourage work that reflects the full complexity of human experience—including difficult or tender truths—approached with care.
Exposición Pop-Up y Celebración Día de las Madres
Cada año, alrededor del Día de las Madres, el Athenaeum Art Center (AAC) abre sus puertas a la comunidad para una festiva exposición pop-up bilingüe que honra a las madres y figuras maternas de todas las culturas. Inspirándose en las tradiciones del Día de las Madres, con raíces en las tradiciones culturales mexicanas y en el espíritu del fin de semana del Día de las Madres, este evento anual reúne a artistas locales, familias y vecinos para una tarde y noche de arte, música, demostraciones de artesanía y convivencia.
La exposición presenta obras enviadas por miembros de la comunidad y artistas locales, todas en respuesta a los temas de la maternidad.
En eventos pasados se han exhibido pinturas, esculturas, grabados, obras de medios mixtos y "arte de refrigerador", celebrando todos los niveles de experiencia artística. El evento culmina en una recepción de apertura con música de mariachi en vivo, demostraciones de grabado y la oportunidad de conocer a los artistas.
El pop-up del Día de las Madres del AAC es una celebración comunitaria situada en Barrio Logan, y en las historias que las madres llevan consigo y transmiten. Es bilingüe en su esencia, y da la bienvenida con entrada libre y abierta a todo el público.
Este evento recibe el generoso apoyo de ResMed Foundation.
The event will be in person at the Athenaeum Art Center. There are no physical tickets for this event.