Small Wonders 2025

Introducing Small Wonders

Life is full of little things that can make a big impact. The little details come together to form a bigger picture, or in this case, an exhibition of small but wonderful works. This show is for artists who dream big but work small. Work is limited to under 11 inches in all directions, but there’s no limit on creativity or media. Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) invites all artists residing in any of the states or territories of the US, Canada, or Mexico to enter our 21st annual Small Wonders exhibition. All original 2D or 3D work under 11 inches in all directions (including the frame and display!) and following exhibition guidelines will be considered. Works selected by the juror will be exhibited in MFA’s Circle Gallery from November 26 – December 21, 2025.

Juror: Dr. Elizabeth Nogrady: Chief Curator of the Leidan Collection in New York

As Curator of The Leiden Collection, Elizabeth Nogrady collaborates with institutions nationally and internationally, contributes to the scholarly Online Catalogue, and supports The Leiden Collection’s commitment to educational outreach. Elizabeth began studying Dutch seventeenth-century art as an undergraduate at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY and went on to receive an MA in art history from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a PhD from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. She has served as a fellow at the Morgan Library & Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and was a specialist in Old Master Paintings at Christie’s. Before coming to The Leiden Collection in 2023, she was the Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Academic Programs at Vassar’s Loeb Art Center.

Prospectus

Exhibition Schedule:

Jul 22 Online Entry Opens for Submissions
Oct 1 Entry Deadline
Oct 30 Notification @ 5 PM
Nov 19 – 23 Accepted and Shipped Work Must Arrive at MFA Circle Gallery from 12 – 4 PM
Nov 26 Exhibition Opens
Nov 30 Virtual Awards Ceremony from 4 – 5 PM via Zoom
Dec 4 Reception at MFA Circle Gallery from 6– 8 PM
Dec 21 Last Day of the Exhibition
Dec 22 – 23, 27 – 30 Pick-up Hand-Delivered Work from 11 AM – 4 PM
Jan 8 Shipped Work Will Be Sent

NOTE: Should Circle Gallery or any other exhibition space be closed for reasons beyond our control, MFA reserves the right to move a planned physical exhibit to our online gallery.

User Entry Process Tutorial

Watch the video below for a tutorial on how to upload your entries.

How to Upload

Artist Conditions

Entry is open to artists residing in the any of the states or territories of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Entering this exhibition indicates understanding and agreement on the part of the artist with the conditions stated herein and with (a) MFA’s approved Statement of Equity and Diversity and (b) MFA’s General Guidelines. Work must meet exhibition guidelines to be included in the event. MFA may determine work ineligible if entry guidelines are not followed. Work delivered must correspond with the image(s) submitted to the juror.
Images of accepted works may be used at the sole discretion of MFA for promotional purposes including, but not limited to: the invitation, catalog, website, social media, or a subsequent year’s prospectus. Images will include attribution wherever possible.
Work cannot be withdrawn before the end of the event.

Entry Requirements

All work must be uploaded through artcall.org. File size may be no more than 10 MB.
For video submissions: you must put the link to the video in the Linked Web Resource field, and then upload a still frame from the video. For accepted video submissions, the artist will be expected to deliver the file to MFA on a thumbdrive.
To enter online, you will need an artcall.org account that includes an email address and a password. There is no charge to create an artcall.org account.
Non-member entrants who have a discrepancy between the entry fee paid and their membership status must pay the difference before the
display date or their work will not be shown to the juror.

Work

Images for the juror must correspond with the actual work.
All entries must be original and completed solely by the artist’s hand. A maximum of 6 original works created within the past 3 years may be entered.
Work previously exhibited at MFA Circle Gallery is not eligible for re-entry.
Maximum size of work, including edges of artwork or frame, cannot exceed 11″ in any direction.

Sales

Artists will retain 70% from sales (75% for MFA Members). MFA will retain 30% commission on any work sold through MFA (25% for MFA Members at the time of the sale).
Work must be for sale. Work may be set to Price on Request (POR).

What is a submission?

One submission or application on artcall.org is the equivalent of one entry on MFA’s old entry system, or one piece submitted for jurying. Artcall.org uses the terms submission and application interchangeably.

How do I enter a video submission?

When submitting a video, you must put the link to the video in the Linked Web Resource field, and you must upload a screenshot of the video as an attachment.

Can I edit my submissions after I've submitted them?

Artcall.org requires you to select the number of submissions / applications you want to enter and to pay before entering in your image and image details. You can edit your submission details along with images you've attached up until the submission period is over. Once the submission period has ended, you cannot edit their entries in any form.

Can I add more submissions after I've paid?

You must submit a separate submission / application for each piece of artwork you wish to be shown to the juror. You have the option to add a second or third image of the same work to your submission / application as a detail photograph This is not required.

Have the entry fees changed at all?

The fees have changed but not drastically, 1 or 2 entries are $30. Up to 4 additional entries are $4.50 each. Entry fees are non-refundable.

Who is this exhibition open to?

We invite all artists residing in any of the states or territories of the US, Canada, or Mexico to enter this exhibition.

Small Wonders 2025 > Register & Apply