Decagon Gallery - "This Is a Person" International Photo Contest
- 3 days ago
- 1 min read
• Decagon Gallery
• Deadline: May 3rd, 2026
• Theme: This Is a Person
• Prize: $1,000 Prize Pool + Online Exhibition
• Entry Fees: Yes
• REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE
Portraiture often begins at the surface—at the face, the body, the visible markers of identity. But this exhibition is concerned with what cannot be easily seen, defined, or named. It asks: what lies beneath the image?
We are looking for photographs that move beyond representation and into suggestion—images that hint at interior states rather than describe them. Work that carries a sense of psychological weight, quiet tension, emotional vulnerability, or unresolved contradiction is especially encouraged. These are images that resist closure, that invite the viewer to feel rather than simply recognize. We are not seeking portraits that explain; we are seeking ones that linger.
Submissions rooted primarily in dramatic styling, overt sentimentality, or direct and literal interpretations of the theme are less likely to be selected. Instead, we value subtlety, complexity, and the ability to hold ambiguity without resolving it.
The selection process for this exhibition will be intentionally rigorous. Only a small percentage—approximately 10–12%—of submissions will be accepted. In the interest of openness, we will publish both the total number of entries received and the final acceptance rate once selections are complete.
Each selected artist will present a single image, allowing each work to stand on its own as a distinct and concentrated expression.