Image Credit: One Day My Sadness Will End, Mohammad Jokhadar / Art in Exile
DEADLINE:
April 3, 2026
EXHIBITION DATES:
May 1 – June 14, 2026
LOCATION:
Nave Gallery, 155 Powder House Boulevard, Somerville, MA
CURATED BY:
- Syrian artists in exile, Mohammad Jokhadar and Tamer Jokhador
- Palestinian artist, designer, and curator Qais Assali, Professor of the Practice at SMFA, Tufts University, Boston-Based
- Sudanese-Alexandrian artist and calligrapher Sara Elbashir, SMFA Post-Baccalaureate 2024, Boston-based
ABOUT:
The Nave Gallery (Somerville, MA), in partnership with the Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church (CHPC) invites artists to contribute to the curated exhibition, “Uprooted / Transplanted: Stories of Displacement”. This exhibition will present images and stories of displacement, the forced movement of people from their homes due to conflict, violence, or natural disaster.
Somerville and the Greater Boston area are home to many such displaced persons, forced to relocate far from home into a totally different environment. We seek art that portrays the human experience of displacement and resettlement. All themes, subjects and perspectives will be considered, we especially welcome first person narratives but all perspectives will be considered. All mediums will be accepted; installations, multi-media and performance art are encouraged.
The Uprooted/Transplanted exhibition will join art exhibited elsewhere in the building tied to the theme of displacement including selections of “Art in Exile”, a collection of paintings from 10 artists in refugee camps in Jordan, currently displayed in the CHPC Sanctuary as well as “Faces of Syrian Refugees”, a collection of triptych life-sized portraits and transcribed interviews with relocated Syrian refugees around the world by Newton, MA photographer Michael S. Cohen, in collaboration with radio journalist Amy Bracken. Both collections are evocative of displacement, survival and hope.
LEARN TO TALK SERIES:
The 2026 Learn to Talk Social Justice Series will present additional programming including a poetry reading, panel discussion / community conversations and a musical concert. These events are designed to deepen dialogue around displacement and its human impact.
PLEASE NOTE:
– Artwork may be from any discipline: drawing, painting, sculpture, performance, digital media, etc.
– Exhibition is open to 2D and 3D artwork. Installation work will be considered; please specify in the submission form how it will be installed and its space requirements
– If you are submitting digital media, please be prepared to provide your own equipment
– Accepted pieces should be delivered to the Nave Gallery ready to install April 20, 2026
– Artwork must fit through a standard 32” door (or be able to be broken down to fit)
– Artists are responsible for cost of shipping work to and from the gallery
– The Nave Gallery will retain a 30% commission for work sold
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK:
– The entry fee for this show has been waived. If you would like to make a small donation to support the gallery and its programming in lieu of a fee, you can make a donation through Paypal. Paypal is available here. Please include “Uprooted” in the note field
– A maximum of three pieces may be entered for consideration
– Complete the online submission form
If you have trouble filling out the form or uploading images, please contact info@navegallery.org.
CALENDAR:
• Deadline for entries: Friday, April 3, 2026
• Notification: Thursday, April 9, 2026
• Artwork Drop off/Installation: Friday April 24, 2026
• Exhibition dates: May 1 –June 14, 2026
• Artists Reception: May 1, 2026,
• Somerville Open Studios: May 2-3, 2026
