Calling all artists: Open calls for hotel walls and Wynwood Walls

Jen Stark, whose art appears on the facade of citizenM’s Brickell hotel, will be one of the judges for the hotel’s artist open call.

“To us, a blank wall is a wasted opportunity,” says Rattan Chadha, the founder of Dutch hotel brand citizenM, who has entered the Miami market with two new hotels, one in the Worldcenter and the other in Brickell.
To that end, Chadha is extending an invitation – an open call for artists to have their work permanently showcased inside the Miami properties.

Entrants are to submit two pieces of their artwork in high resolution format for a panel of judges to review. On the judging panel is Chadha, along with Jen Stark, whose work is on the façade of citizenM’s Brickell hotel, Rob Wagemans, creative director of citizenM, Lakwena Maciver, the artist and creator of the hotel’s interior artwork, and Miami’s FriendsWithYou, an art collaboration made up of creators Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III.

So, what exactly are they looking for? Well, pieces should showcase the artist’s connection to Miami. According to the press release for the call to entries, the works don’t have to be specifically created for citizenM, but they do need to embody the brand’s personality. And what might that be? Lively, colorful and playful.

Artists don’t have to be based in Miami, but they do need to be “connected to Miami,” according to the call.

“Whether you work there, live there, or just love the city’s culture.”

In addition to the artwork on public display, winners will receive $4,000 ($2,000 per art piece) and a complimentary stay at one of the citizenM Miami hotels.

Artwork does not have to be created originally for the hotel. The originals will not be displayed in the hotels unless they are in digital form. Otherwise, the high-resolution files sent will be what’s used, according to the open call page.

Chadha promises that this will be the first of many collaborations with local artists to support Miami’s creative community. “citizenM’s passion for sponsoring new talent has been a part of hotel openings since Day One,” he says.

Part of the citizenM brand in its hotels from London to Los Angeles and Copenhagen to Kuala Lumpur is displaying art from each city’s local artists’ community. Their work is exhibited in the company of those by Andy Warhol, Julian Opie, Gavin Turk and Friedrich Kunath, among others. Chadha says the conversation-sparking art is part of the hotel’s guest experience.

Deadline for submissions is Sunday, Oct. 24 and winners will be announced the week of Oct. 25. Information about the open call can be found at: www.citizenm.com/miami-open-call.

Wynwood Walls will award one Miami-Dade County muralist a wall at the 26th Street entrance of the outdoor exhibition space for a work to debut during 2021 Miami Art Week.

In other open call news, one Miami-Dade County mural artist could have their work become part of Wynwood Walls with a big debut during 2021 Miami Art Week.

Goldman Global Arts (GGA), the curators of the Wynwood Walls, say that for the first time in the history of Wynwood Walls, one wall at the 26th Street entrance is reserved for a winning muralist with the work getting its debut on Monday, Nov. 29. The mural is expected to remain as a part of Wynwood Walls beyond Miami Art Week.

Wynwood Walls Curator Jessica Goldman Srebnick will select the artist. To be considered, artists must be a resident of Miami-Dade County and have experience creating murals. All painting expenses are covered by GGA.

The winner will be announced through Wynwood Walls Instagram on Monday, Nov. 15.

Submissions will be accepted through Saturday, Oct. 30 and should be sent by email to opencalls@thewynwoodwalls.com.

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