Open Call for MFA Graduates: Into the Meridian: The New West Vanguard

We are excited to announce an open call for an upcoming exhibition, Into the Meridian: The New West Vanguard, and we invite your recent MFA graduates to apply.

The 100th meridian has historically served as the threshold of the American West, separating the humid East from the arid West. This exhibition explores the work of artists who have chosen to ground their practice west of this line.

In an era of “immense flattening”—where AI and a constant global influx of information permeate our lives—we are asking: What does it mean to be rooted in the Western experience today? Does regional identity still matter?

We are seeking artists who:

  • Have recently completed their MFA at a school within the region.
  • Applicants must also have shown in a juried or curated exhibition.
  • Age Eligibility: Open to artists born in 1986 or later.
  • Contemplate, challenge, or redefine the traditional concept of “The West.”
  • Focus on the power, pride, and presence of the West today, rather than the West of the past.

This is an opportunity to showcase the next generation of artists defining the contemporary Western identity.

To apply:  https://showsubmit.com/show/wg-into-the-meridian-art-from-the-new-west
Deadline for Submissions: Monday, April 20, 2026
Location of Exhibition: Weems Gallery 5935 Wyoming Blvd NE; Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505)293-6133