— INTERNATIONAL OPEN CALL · ARTISTS WORLDWIDE
Your art belongs in Times Square.
Artist Closeup's international open call for visual artists. Submit your work for the chance to be one of five artists featured on a digital billboard in the heart of New York City — open to artists from every country, not just the United States.
A juried competition. The $49 entry fee covers your submission — it doesn't guarantee selection.
Entries close July 15
01 — The Prize
Five winners take the world's most famous screen.
Selected by the ArtistCloseup editorial team and invited jury, each winner receives a full feature package — not just a moment on a billboard.
The Full Feature Package
A Times Square digital billboard feature displaying your artwork
Your name and Instagram handle on the billboard design
Professional photo & video documentation from Times Square
A feature on the ArtistCloseup website (Billboard announcement and interview)
A social media feature across ArtistCloseup channels
An official digital winner certificate
02 — Who Can Apply?
Open to visual artists worldwide.
You don't need to live in the United States. If your work translates well to a screen, you're welcome to submit. There's no fixed theme — abstract, figurative, conceptual, surreal, minimalist, experimental, and contemporary work are all welcome. We're looking for strong, memorable, visually impactful art that carries your voice.
Painting
Collage
Drawing
Illustration
Other screen-ready forms
Digital Art
AI-Assisted (disclosed)
Photography
Mixed Media
03 — How to Apply?
Four steps to the big screen.
01
Complete the form
Tell us about you and your work.
03
Upload your artwork
Square preferred, min. 1080×1080px, JPG or PN
02
Pay the $49 entry
Secures your place in the juried review.
04
Get confirmation
Then watch for finalist & winner announcements
$49
PER SUBMISSION
The entry fee covers administration, review, promotion, production, finalist presentation, and the Times Square winner campaign.
Submitting an entry does not guarantee selection as a finalist, winner, interviewee, or billboard participant. Fees are non-refundable except where required by law or if the competition is cancelled without awarding prizes. Final billboard artwork is subject to Artist Closeup and billboard-operator approval.
6 — Questions
Good to know before you enter.
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No. This is a juried competition. The fee enters your work into review. Five winners are chosen by the jury, plus one People's Choice winner by public vote — those six artists receive the Times Square feature. Submitting does not guarantee selection.
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No. This is an international open call. Visual artists from any country may apply, provided they are at least 18 years old at the time of entry and meet the eligibility and content rules.
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You do. You remain the copyright owner. By entering, you grant ArtistCloseup a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use the work to review, administer, promote, and display the competition — including producing the billboard feature for winners. This does not transfer ownership.
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If a piece is rejected for technical, legal, or content reasons, you may be asked to provide a suitable alternative by the required deadline. If you can't, Artist Closeup may select an alternative winner.
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Entry fees are generally non-refundable. Refunds may be issued at Artist Closeup's discretion, where required by law, or if the competition is cancelled without awarding prizes. Not being selected is not grounds for a refund.
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Yes, if it's clearly disclosed and doesn't infringe third-party rights. AI work produced in a way that may infringe others' rights is not eligible.
Ready?
Put your work in front of the world.
Submit your art for the chance to be one of five artists featured in Times Square, New York.