Will Warasila, UnBound14!

 Non-Gmail Submissions

Candela Gallery is excited to announce the open call for our FIFTEENTH annual UnBound! Exhibition! UnBound15! will be on display online and in person at Candela Gallery, from July 1 - August 8, 2026.

For questions about the submission process, please contact unboundsubmissions@candelabooks.com.

PLEASE READ RULES & DIRECTIONS BEFORE SUBMITTING WORK BELOW.

We encourage you to submit up to four images or photo book projects in your application. There is no theme for the exhibition other than the use of photography. Your submission may include four standalone works or can inform one another as part of a series. This is really up to what you think is the best use of those four slots.

Before You Submit:

UnBound! is a celebration of the photographic work. While we are certainly loose in this interpretation, please only submit work that is photographic in origin.

All accepted artists will have their finished artworks on view and available for purchase at Candela Gallery.

Candela gallery will retain a 50% sales commission from the sale of artworks, and a 40% commission for artist’s books. All funds raised during the exhibition will be used to purchase work for the Candela Collection.

The Breakdown:

Submissions for UnBound15! open Monday, February 2, 2026 and close Friday, March 13, 2026 at 11:59 EST.

  1. Please make sure any image files are formatted as JPG at 1500px on their longest side, and are no larger than 10MB in size.

  2. Please name all files using the following naming convention: LastName.FirstName_TitleOfWork.jpg. This helps us locate and consider your submitted images easily among thousands of other images.

    • If the name of your piece is lengthy, please select a few distinct words from the title to identify your file
      (it should coincide with the information you provide in your form).

      • Ex: John Doe’s “Midnight in Paris Under the Waning Crescent” could look something like “Doe.John_MidnightInParis.jpg”

  3. Access the submission form via the submission form below.

  4. Complete your form, ensuring information is as accurate and up-to-date as possible.

  5. Submit the form - you should receive a confirmation email.

  6. Accepted applicants should hear back about their work by Wednesday, April 1, 2026

  7. Be sure to review the important dates and next steps for participating artists below.

Monday, February 2nd, 2026: UnBound15! Submissions Open
Friday, March 13th, 2026: UnBound15! Submissions Deadline
Wednesday, April 1st, 2026: Accepted Applicants Notified
Friday, June 19th, 2026: Participating Artist Delivery Deadline
Wednesday, July 1st, 2026: UnBound15! Show Opening
Saturday, August 1st, 2026: UnBound15! Fundraising Party
Saturday, August 8th, 2026: UnBound15! Show Final Day
August-September, 2026: Work Returned to Participating Artists

Important Dates: UnBound15!

Have a gmail address? Use the Google Form Submission instead.

GOOGLE FORM SUBMISSION >

QUICK TIPS:

  • Regarding large works: when submitting works over 40 inches, remember that larger prints usually require mounting, custom framing, and oversized shipping rates. We will not accept unframed large works, and we may choose not to move forward if your work changes dramatically in size due to an inability to produce the submitted object.

  • Be concise in your statement: How are you physically making the final works? Is there a specific concept motivating this project? For us specifically, we prioritize including different processes and we highlight that when considering work for the exhibition. Abstract or overly-indulgent language not only makes it difficult to understand your process, it can sometimes detract from the intention of your work.

  • Follow file naming instructions. We go through submissions alphabetically BY LAST NAME. If you do not name your files correctly, your submission might get passed over.

For more submission-related questions, check out the FAQ page or email unboundsubmissions@candelabooks.com

PART ONE.

Please make sure any image files in PART TWO are formatted as JPG at 1500px on their longest side, and are no larger than 10MB in size.Please name all files using the following naming convention:
LastName. FirstName_TitleOfWork.jpg.

DON’T FORGET TO COMPLETE PART TWO UPON SUBMITTING THE FORM.

PART TWO.

To complete PART TWO, please send an email to unboundsubmissions@candelabooks.com with the subject: UNBOUND14! SUBMISSION

Attach the following:

  1. Up to four images with file names corresponding with your submission entries: LastName. FirstName_TitleOfWork.jpg.

  2. A Relevant CV/Resume (optional)

Participating Artists:

If your work has been chosen, you should receive a confirmation of acceptance by Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

  • We will ask for high resolution files of your image(s) so that we may use them for marketing and information materials for the exhibition.

  • Candela reserves the right to not exhibit work that is significantly misrepresented during the submission process.

  • Work that has been accepted should be presentation ready when it arrives at the gallery (signed, framed, ready to hang).

  • Candela gallery will retain a 50% sales commission from the sale of artworks, and a 40% commission for artist’s books.

  • All funds raised throughout the course of the exhibition will be used to purchase work for the Candela Collection.

Want to pay it forward?

For artists who’ve previously felt the UnBound! love, or for those with the means to redirect their budgeted submission fee, we encourage you to contribute to the UnBound! Fund. With funds raised throughout the exhibition, we acquire works from this year's UnBound! exhibition to add to the growing Candela Collection. Help artists make money and go into permanent collections!

SUPPORT THIS YEAR'S ARTISTS >