What Our Curator Looks For

Guidance for Artists Applying to PICES Exhibitions

Applying to exhibit your work can feel both exciting and uncertain.

One of the most common questions we hear from artists is:

What is the curator really looking for?

To support artists in preparing their submissions, we’re pleased to share insights from our Curator, Warren Nichols, offering guidance on both the Small Works Exhibition and the Contempora Exhibitions.

Small Works – An Open Invitation

First introduced as part of PICES Summer Exhibitions in 2024, the Small Works exhibition further exemplifies PICES aim to bring contemporary art to the community.

In so doing PICES invites artists, irrespective whether new, midterm, or experienced, to participate in a scintillating visual display of works of no pre-determined subject, genre or medium.

The only artwork condition is that the artworks shown be no greater than 50 x 50cm (2D) or 50 x 50 x 25cm (3D).

Of ever-increasing popularity for artists and the art loving public alike, some 45-50 artists collectively show up to 150 artworks hung in an art salon manner. It is the salon style hang of such a variety of small artworks, each artwork hung near each other, that creates such a vibrant, visual experience.

Artworks are not hung in groups according to the artist, but instead according to what creates the desired effect.

Shared colour, subject, size and shape, position all become curatorial considerations of the salon hang.

Being of open entry, there is no preselection of artworks offered, and there is no ceiling on the number of artists who can apply. The allowed artwork entries per artist is 3 maximum.

Artists are invited to submit their application to show in the PICES 2026 Small Works exhibition.

Contempora 1 & 2 Exhibitions – Expressions of Interest

“Beauty is the mystery of life, it’s not in the eye, it’s in my mind”, declared acclaimed American painter Agnes Martin (1912 – 2004).

Perhaps PICES echoes such thoughts with its endeavors to introduce a high standard of contemporary art to the Bass Coast community and visitors through its Contempora exhibitions.

The Contempora 1 and 2 exhibitions offer artists the opportunity to individually show a cohesive body of some 3 – 6 artworks within a curated exhibition.

Frequently, upon entering an art exhibition, a specific artwork captures one's attention.

What attracts the viewer to that piece?

Is it the subject, composition, colour, originality, or technical and intellectual prowess of an artwork, or is it the overall emotive impact that Martin alludes to?

While some may argue that choosing artwork for an exhibition is subjective, the aim of any curator or selection panel is to showcase pieces that inspire contemplation, reflection, and possibly challenge and questioning, serving as an inspiration for aspiring artists.

For a group exhibition in which more than one artist will exhibit, consideration too, need be given to how an artist’s artwork complements the artwork of co-exhibiting artists!

Undoubtedly, choosing and showcasing artists for an exhibition offers stimulating and inspiring reflections.

Artists are encouraged to submit their Expressions of Interest to participate in the PICES 2027 Contempora exhibition.

A Final Thought

Every submission is an opportunity — not just to exhibit, but to contribute to a broader conversation through your work.

We encourage artists to take the time to consider not only the individual strength of each artwork, but also how their work sits within a wider exhibition context.

We look forward to seeing the diversity, creativity and vision that artists bring to the PICES exhibition program.

Warren Nichols Curator Phillip Island Contemporary Exhibition Space (PICES)