NOT REAL ART’s First Friday Exhibition series returns in 2026 with a new season of virtual shows. Every two months, our online gallery spotlights contemporary artists who explore the zeitgeist with honesty, humor, and a sharp eye. Now, we invite artists worldwide to submit to Modern Love: Reflections on Intimacy and Eros, an exhibition opening May 1, 2026.
About the First Friday Exhibition Series
Since launching First Fridays in 2023, NOT REAL ART has elevated the work of hundreds of independent artists. Exhibitions like Out of Bounds: Pushing the Lines Between Technology and Art and Midwest Nice: From the Heartland to the Rust Belt reveal the richness of thought and depth of creative expression present in today’s working artists.
Expanded Eligibility: Now Open to the Public
Traditionally, these shows have been open exclusively to artists who applied for the NOT REAL ART Grant, a program that supports independent creators through direct funding and exposure. But for Modern Love, we're excited to open submissions to the public for the first time. This expanded call welcomes artists everywhere, regardless of grant application status, to share their vision and join our creative community.
What We’re Looking For
Modern Love, curated by staff archivist and curator Kirsten Bengtson-Lykoudis, draws inspiration from the rites of spring. The show is all about the mess and magic of intimacy: desire, heartbreak, self-love, and everything in between. We’re looking for work that cracks open what it means to want, to lose, to connect, or to drift apart. Bring us your boldest, strangest, most honest takes on longing and connection.
Why Submit to Modern Love?
Beyond inclusion in the online show, selected artists will be considered for a long-form interview published on NOT REAL ART, a guest appearance on our global podcast, and a permanent place in our exclusive artist database. All mediums and styles are welcome (except work entirely generated by AI), and the call is open to artists exploring themes of love, intimacy, desire, connection, breakups, and loss.
Key Dates and How to Apply
- Exhibition: May 1–June 4, 2026
- Submission Deadline: April 1, 2026
- Notifications: April 15, 2026
- Location: NotRealArt.com
To apply, submit up to four high-resolution works, an artist bio, and an artist statement at this link. Learn more details about the Modern Love here.
Other Exhibitions Now Open
Not the lovey-dovey type? Our other exhibitions are now open, too. View submission details for 250: A Celebration of Public Art in the U.S., The Art of Resistance, and Southern Gothic.
Questions, comments, or concerns? Contact editor@notrealart.com.
Featured graphic: Elise Wilson