We're looking for the most thoughtful, experimental, and technically excellent typography and lettering art and design work to feature in this year's show. Submit your work for consideration here!
For examples of work from past shows,
check out our website.
Submit up to three typography-focused art pieces for consideration by the deadline
Artworks are selected for the show by Wed Oct 28 and artists are contacted via email
Selected artists drop off their artwork(s) at the gallery on Wed Nov 11 (details to come)
The hanging fee must be paid by drop off: $55 per artist (supports the show)
Our team of volunteers installs the show and hangs your work
Opening night party! This year's show is revealed Thurs Nov 12
Show runs from Nov 12 - Nov 17
Artists pick up their work from the gallery after the show closes (details to come)
Start working on your submission for next year!
Who can submit work?We accept work from all kinds of designers and artists from all over the world. Artists are responsible for getting their work to the gallery on time, please account for shipping times and costs if you need to mail your work to Toronto from afar.
What qualifies as typography or lettering work?
(1) Any visual artwork where the primary conceptual focus or means of communication is type or lettering. (2) The typography or lettering in the work is designed to evoke a specific meaning or idea.
Work can be hand-drawn, digitally created, photographed, sculpted, or created by any other means. Have a look at our previous shows to get an idea of the kind of work we’re looking for.
Can I submit work in any language, alphabet, or script?
Yes! We love seeing lettering in other languages. In the past we've featured work in Hindi, Thai, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, Ukranian, French, and more. No language, writing system, or alphabet is off limits.
How many pieces can I submit?
Each person can submit up to three (3) pieces. If there are several pieces that form a series, like a triptych or a small series, that would count as one artwork, and you can still submit up to two more.
Can one artwork include multiple pieces?
Yes, to a maximum of 3: artworks that come in a multi-piece format (like a triptych or small series) can be submitted as one piece (meaning it counts as only 1 of the max 3 you can submit, see above) while being displayed as 3 individually framed or mounted pieces (ie: a series of 3 posters each framed separately hanging side by side). If you have a larger series (like a series of 5 or a full 26-letter alphabet) we ask that you combine all those images into one framed piece for easier installation and to be as effective as possible with the wall space available. If you submit a multi-piece artwork and they're all very large, we may ask that you reduce the size of the artwork to accommodate the space available.
What size can my work be?
Your work can be any dimension, big, small, flat, or 3D. We don't have strict limits on size, and we want to display your work at the size it looks best at. However, please keep in mind your artwork has to share wall space with hundreds of other pieces: we suggest artists refrain from making their artwork very large if not necessary, especially if there are multiple components in one piece. Artworks that are 5 feet tall/wide (~150cm) or bigger risk not being accepted into the show due to limited wall space, but we try to work around this where possible. We recommend keeping the size of your work to what's reasonable and necessary for viewers to enjoy the piece, without going overboard. In some cases after acceptance we may reach out if we believe the size of your piece could pose a challenge for the install team.
Can I change the size of my work after it's accepted?
Part of our decision making process when curating the show includes reviewing the sizes of submitted works, so we ask that you don't change those details after submission or after acceptance. In some circumstances we may reach out about changing the dimensions of your piece if we think it's necessary. If you feel the need to change the dimensions of your work after it's been accepted to the show, please email us first to discuss the changes.
Does my work have to be framed?
We ask that all artworks in the exhibition are framed or otherwise come with the means to hang the work on the wall. To make this requirement accessible, we accept any kind of hanging hardware: frames, wires, D-rings, art hangers, magnet frames, or otherwise. This helps the install team when putting up your work, protects your work from damage, and makes your work (and the show) appear professional and polished.
See here for hanging hardware suggestions.
What mediums are accepted?
Any and all! From printed works, to sewn, sculpted, painted, or laser cut, anything goes. The more unique or unusual, the better. If your work needs electricity or something else to work properly, note that in your submission and be prepared to bring anything extra you need at drop off (like an extension cord, tablet, or projector). We cannot provide screens or projectors for animated or video works, artists must provide these things if selected.
Are there any costs?
If your work is selected for the show, there is a $55 hanging fee (total) to cover the costs of producing the show. Artists can pay either online or in cash at artwork drop off. Submitting your artwork is free, and attending is free.
Will the artwork on display be available for purchase?
Yes. After selection, artists will be contacted about the terms of selling their work at the show. Artists are not required to sell their work to be part of the exhibition.
What is the process for participating in the show?
Once submissions close, our team will take a couple days to curate and select the pieces to display. Within 48 hours acceptances and rejections will be emailed out. Participants then need to print, frame, or otherwise prepare their work for display. Artwork must be dropped off at the gallery the day before the show (details to come), at which time the Hanging Fee is due. The show opens to the public the following night. S&S runs for a week, and on the final day artists come retrieve their work as the show is taken down.
What kind of type or lettering work are you looking for?
Work that pushes boundaries, tries new ideas, and works in unexpected ways are the kinds of exciting art and design that we want to share with the world. We’re less interested in trends, online challenges, or copying popular artists or designers. We aim for diversity and conceptual interest when curating the show - we want visitors to be inspired and intrigued by what they see, and continue thinking about it after they leave.