CALL FOR ART
SPRING 2026
Art: Christa Capua
Juniper Rag | ART SHOP, Spring Edition 2026
CURATED BY MICHELLE MAY & PAYAL THIFFAULT OF JUNIPER RAG
Michelle May and Payal Thiffault have redefined the virtual exhibition space with in-person and virtual exhibition programming, experiential concepts, collaborations and building community—empowering artists to claim visibility, build collector relationships successfully build new pathways.
JUNIPER RAG is pleased to announce the open call for our ART SHOP, Spring 2026. We are interested in sharing your current art, studio views, so please include a 1 minute (or less) video of you working on art in your studio.
ART SHOP celebrates the signature work of artists, and also may highlight experimental work. We know that the creative process can bring artists to new places, and we wanted to create an opportunity to show work that may not fit your normal genre or what is expected. Artists are free to submit new work created within the last 2 years that celebrates their authentic journey.
ABOUT ART SHOP
ART SHOP is a new seasonal online exhibition (taking the place of Artist on Fire, a live show that kicked off summer) hosted by Juniper Rag. We bring together a curated selection of original works by artists from across the United States. Conceived as a welcoming space for discovery, ART SHOP invites both emerging and established creators to share their practice with a wider audience — no gallery walls required.
Twice a year in spring and winter, ART SHOP opens its virtual doors to painters, printmakers, illustrators, photographers, sculptors and makers of all kinds, offering a thoughtfully organized browsing experience that feels less like a marketplace and more like a stroll through a well-loved shop. Works are presented with care, giving each artist’s work room to breathe and connect with the viewer.
For artists, ART SHOP is an opportunity to reach collectors, admirers, and curious browsers who might never have encountered their work otherwise. It is also an opportunity to show your work, virtually, on a platform that you can direct your viewers to and use on your CV. For visitors, it's a chance to explore the breadth and vitality of contemporary American art — and perhaps bring something home. We will have other international opportunities with our next call.
Rooted in community and accessibility, ART SHOP reflects Juniper Rag's commitment to championing independent artists and fostering genuine connections between makers and the people who love exciting, collectible original art.
PROFESSIONAL IMPACT
Selected artists receive a curatorial review, designed to elevate your practice and for use as marketing materials and creative content for your website and social media.
A section of our ART SHOP, for artists to list on their resume, use in your bio, press kits and gallery submission applications.
Global eyes on your work to our audience of active curators, collectors and arts professionals.
Possible features of your work on the Juniper Rag website and our social media platforms that impacts your digital footprint.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Submission Requirements: Please submit up to 4 cohesive works, a 300 word bio, a 300 word artist statement, optional, but valuable: headshot & process video
Eligibility: Open to US artists only working in any medium. We encourage students and self-taught artists, there is no academic gate to pass here. International artists, please contact us if you seek to submit, shipping can be discussed and we can open submission on a case by case basis. info(at)juniperrag.com
Investment: $35, processing fee, non-refundable
Use Submittable our submission platform, to upload your materials. Create a free account at the link below when submitting.
OUR MISSION & FEES
Juniper Rag is co-founded and female-led by just two artists, who dedicate their spare time to this passion project. Developed through their marketing agency, Atelier ID Global, to elevate artists using their global network and reach combined with marketing strategies and collaborative projects. We use creative intuition, societal flux and preemptive planning to capture momentum and cultural interest.
Payal Thiffault and Michelle May have developed a reputable and professional arts ecosystem based on sustainability and excellence. Your submission fee supports our overhead, admins and platform fees as well as to compensate our guest jurors and is used to sustain our efforts. Please share our organization with others artists to help us become more sustainable. Our community is vibrant and wonderful. We encourage artists to engage on social media and meet the other artists out there. Acceptance to our calls for art means that you will be considered for other opportunities as they emerge. This includes, invited opportunities, acquisitions and other instances where we know your work is already vetted.
Once you are juried into Juniper Rag, you also are welcomed to artists services and editorial opportunities on our blog, social media and in our collaborative projects.
Ongoing Advocacy & Copyrights: While artists retain full copyright and ownership of your work, your submission gives us permission to use your images on our website and social media for this opportunity and beyond. We may repeat and feature your work in the future at any time. Acceptance is highly competitive, so when you are accepted by Juniper Rag, you know your work has a stamp of excellence.
Important Dates:
Deadline to Submit: April 30, 2026
Jurying Begins: May 1, 2026
Notifications by: May 8, 2026
Virtual shop launches: est. May 12-16th
Submission style example below that works best, a series of work with similar color ways, styling or theme. These by Denise Lafer have all 3, but they do not have to be this literal. Your submissions should always be cohesive and hang together well.
“As a figurative oil painter who began working seriously in 2019, I was still finding my footing when I discovered Juniper Rag through a call for art in 2022. At the time, I was submitting to the occasional local show and navigating the art world with more questions than answers. Juniper Rag changed that.
Their platform opened doors I hadn’t imagined—from gaining collectors in Newton, Worcester, Boston, and Newport, to building lasting relationships with artists across the globe. What sets Juniper Rag apart is not just their reach, but their heart. The support and guidance I received—from how to approach submissions, to articulating my work, to navigating social media and applications—was generous, strategic, and deeply human.
Their curatorial vision is on fire. I’ve watched their exhibitions evolve with increasing depth and sophistication, culminating in the current show Delirium—a cinematic, emotionally charged triumph that’s their best yet.
Michelle and Payal, the visionary co-founders, have created more than a publication or a platform—they’ve built a community. One that is ambitious yet inclusive, high-level yet grounded in real connection. I now count them as friends, and I’m endlessly grateful for the role they’ve played in my growth as an artist.
If you’re an Artist looking for a place that sees your potential and helps you rise into it, Juniper Rag is that place.” —Simone Scholes, 2025
WHY WORK WITH JUNIPER RAG?
Elevation of your work – Juniper Rag exhibitions are recognized for their curatorial excellence and thematic sophistication, attracting collectors, curators, and press.
Curated Audience – We cultivate an engaged community of art lovers who value conceptual depth and technical skill.
Artist Features – Selected artists are spotlighted in Juniper Rag’s digital platforms, expanding their visibility beyond the exhibition.
Professional Credibility – Being part of a Juniper Rag exhibition enhances an artist’s CV because we only select the high level of art for our concept-driven exhibitions.
Diverse Reach – Our audience spans local, national, and international art markets.
Thoughtful Curation – Each show is crafted to create a strong visual and thematic narrative, elevating every participating work.
Supportive Environment – We actively promote participating artists through marketing, social media campaigns, and networking opportunities.
Long-Term Impact – Many past exhibitors have gone on to sell works, secure commissions, and gain future exhibition invitations, solo shows and acquisitions into large scale corporate purchases as a result of their Juniper Rag participation.
More accolades from happy artists—
"Thank you so much for the write-up to accompany my work for ARTSHOP. While reading it, I thought I had never felt so seen and understood. I am grateful. Thank you for all you do!" - Paula Borsetti, painter
"Thank you @juniperrag for your vision, expertise and the many hours you spend bringing art to communities and supporting other artists." - Kathryn Shagas, painter
[On 120 hours to execute a live 40 artist show] "I’m not surprised at all! It takes so much time, effort, energy, and expertise to create the exhibition experience. Not to mention all the time you spend worrying about all the details. And all the years of experience it took for you to get to this point of being a well-oiled machine. It’s a lot! And it’s so appreciated.” -Nancy Wright, photographer
"Thank YOU Michelle and Payal, for your incredible curating, staging, and coordinating of this show [DELIRIUM]!! You are consummate professionals and it came through in every aspect.” -Sarah Springer, Sculptor
“We are artists ourselves, who worked together for decades in luxury paper. We founded Atelier ID Global to build and elevate brands and we do the same for artists through Juniper Rag, working with over 1000 artists every year.”
Co-Founders, Michelle May and Payal Thiffault
If you missed our experiential live show DELIRIUM, click here to see the work
+ learn more about the compelling psychological intentions behind the work of 40+ artists and the celebrity purchases!
Photo: Matt Wright Photo
AN ART ADVOCACY PLATFORM from
Juniper Rag is backed by a marketing agency, Atelier ID Global, also co-founded by us—Michelle May and Payal Thiffault. We are fine artists ourselves, so we understand the art landscape, the needs of artists and strategic business collaborations that widen your network. We are different than other online magazine and art promotion platforms. Just ask any of our artists.
Juniper Rag is building a bridge between visual artists and the interior design world by creating curated opportunities for artwork to live in both residential and corporate environments. Through juried calls, virtual exhibitions, and direct partnerships with designers and brands, Juniper Rag positions artists for real-world placement and long-term collaboration. Our goal is to make original art more accessible to design professionals while expanding meaningful, profitable pathways for artists.
Inclusion in a curated digital exhibition by Juniper Rag
Juniper Rag on Art Vérite, our blog
Promotion to interior designers, corporate buyers, and residential collectors
Consideration for future placement, acquisition invitations, and listing opportunities on our Art Market and Artist Directory.
Social media spotlight across Juniper Rag channels with cross posting through our collaborators
Possible press from collaborations
Opportunities for interviews, studio features, and collector introductions