Museum Statement
The Monmouth Museum is proud to present its Main Gallery Juried Photography Exhibition, a standalone showcase dedicated exclusively to the art of photography. This exhibition highlights the powerful role photography plays in contemporary visual culture—capturing moments, expressing ideas, and offering new ways of seeing the world.
Open to emerging and established photographers from across New Jersey and beyond, this exhibition features a wide range of work, from traditional film and darkroom practices to innovative digital and experimental techniques. The selected works will reflect the diversity, creativity, and technical skill that define today’s photographic landscape.
As part of the Museum’s continued commitment to supporting the arts and engaging the community, this juried photography exhibition provides a dynamic platform for photographers to share their vision and for audiences to experience the evolving language of photography. The Monmouth Museum is proud to offer this unique opportunity for discovery, dialogue, and artistic excellence.
Juror and Curation
Michael Paris Mazzeo is an artist, educator, and curator with a career spanning both fine art and commercial photography. As a professional photographer, his work explores contemporary social issues through conceptual and documentary practices. He founded the Michael Mazzeo Gallery in NYC, where he helped launch the careers of emerging photographers and placed work in major museum collections. He now runs Galerie Lucida in Red Bank, NJ, offering curated exhibitions, artist talks, and monthly art salons, and serves as a frequent portfolio reviewer at national photography festivals and institutions.
Awards
4 monetary Juror Awards of $250 each and 5 Honorable Mentions with no monetary award.
Eligibility
- Open to photographers worldwide, aged 18 and over.
- All photographic styles and processes are eligible, including digital, film, alternative processes, and mixed media incorporating photography.
- All submitted works must be original, created within the last five years, and must not have been previously exhibited at the Monmouth Museum.
- Giclée reproductions of non-photographic work will not be accepted. Digitally created and printed photographic works are permitted.
- Work must be the original creation of the submitting artist and reflect their unique vision and authorship.
Entry Fee
- $30 for the first artwork submission
- $10 for each additional submission (up to 3 additional works)
- Maximum of 4 submissions per artist:
- One entry = $30
- Two entries = $40
- Three entries = $50
- Four entries = $60
Submission Deadline and Guidelines
- Submission Deadline: Payment and online submissions must be completed by July 25, 2025.
- Exhibition Dates: September 14 – October 14, 2025
- Online Submissions Only: All entries must be submitted through Submittable.
Required Submission Materials
- Contact Information: Name, address, phone number, and email. Please include your Instagram and FB profile names so we can tag accepted artists.
- Artist Statement: (200 words maximum) Write in the first person and describe how and why the submitted work(s) were created. Ensure proper spelling and grammar, as no edits can be made after submission.
- Artwork Details: Title, media, dimensions (H x W x D), year completed (must be within the last 5 years), and sale price (all works must be for sale).
- Digital Images:
- JPEG format, 300 dpi, maximum size of 3000 x 3000 pixels.
- File names should follow this format:
Title_EntryNumber_Media_Size_Year_Price (Example: Ideas_1_Photograph_24x36_2025_$2000)
Submission Additional Guidelines
- Artworks will be considered through online submission of digital images only via Submittable.
- Artists may submit a maximum of four (4) photographic works.
- Acceptance is not guaranteed. All entries will be reviewed by the juror, and selections will be made based on quality, originality, and relevance to the exhibition.
- The Monmouth Museum reserves the right to reject any artwork upon delivery that does not match the submitted image or meet professional presentation standards as outlined here.
- Content Restrictions: To maintain a family-friendly environment, submissions must not include nudity, graphic violence, or explicit content.
Online Submissions Via Submittable Only! After reading the following prospectus, at the bottom of this webpage you will find the button/link to create or log in to your Submittable account. This is the first step in submitting your artwork/s for consideration. There is no cost to create a Submittable account.
Announcement of Accepted Artists
Artists selected for exhibition will be contacted directly via email by August 15, 2025, Midnight EST. Artists declined will also be notified via email by August 15, 2025, Midnight EST.
Important Dates
- Notification of Acceptance: August 15, 2025, by midnight EST.
- Exhibition Dates: September 14 – October 14, 2025
- Opening Reception: Sunday, September 14, 2025 from 4 to 6pm
- Artwork Drop-Off (In-Person): Monday, September 8, 2025, 10 AM – 4 PM.
- Shipping Deadline: Monday, September 8, 2025, by 4 PM EST.
Framing & Exhibit Requirements (If Accepted)
- Selected photographic works must be wired and ready to hang.
- Framing is required unless the photograph is printed on a material designed for direct hanging (e.g., metal prints, mounted acrylic, or gallery-wrapped canvas with painted edges).
- Gallery-wrapped canvases must have finished edges and proper wiring.
- Not permitted: Saw-tooth hangers, magnets, tacks, or finishing nails.
- Maximum size for wall-mounted work: 4 feet maximum in height or width.
- If multimedia is accepted, artists must supply any necessary display equipment (screens, players, headphones, etc.).
- Mixed media photographic works must include a complete list of materials used.
- All accepted work must remain on view for the full duration of the exhibition: September 14 – October 14, 2025.
- Entered and accepted work may not be substituted for other pieces after selection.
Sales
- All artworks must be for sale.
- The Monmouth Museum retains a 30% sales commission, with the remainder paid to the artist after the exhibition.
Shipping and Liability
- Artists are responsible for shipping costs and liability during transit.
- Prepaid return shipping labels (with barcodes) must be included for return shipping.
- The Museum is not responsible for lost or damaged work during transit or after the designated pick-up period.
Contact Information for Assistance
For questions or assistance with submissions, please contact:
Jenna McDonald
Phone: 732-224-1993
Email: jmcdonald@monmouthmuseum.org
IN PERSON Drop Off Address
Monmouth Museum
765 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft, NJ 07738
On the Campus of Brookdale Community College,
Follow signs to Parking Lot 1
SHIPPING address for accepted works delivered via FedEx, UPS, DHL:
Monmouth Museum
765 Newman Springs Road
(Museum Drive, Parking Lot 1, Building #10)
Lincroft, NJ 07738
Shipping: All work shipped via FedEx, UPS, DHL must arrive at the Museum by September 8, 2025, by 4 PM EST. Schedule deliveries between 10:00am and 4:00pm. Please note: Do not ship USPS (United States Postal Service) as they do not deliver to the Museum.
All shipping costs and liability of artwork during shipment are the responsibility of the artist. All entries must have a prepaid downloaded FedEx, UPS, or DHL return shipping label with barcode included in the package. PLEASE NOTE: Do not use “FED EX OFFICE” for return shipping labels as they provide no pick-up at the Museum and the Museum does not make deliveries. Please note: Do not ship USPS as they do not deliver to the Museum.
A late fee of $10 per day applies after October 15, 2025. Monmouth Museum is not responsible for any work left after this date. Artwork is not insured by the Museum and the Museum is not responsible for artwork after October 15, 2025. Any work left more than one month will be considered abandoned and become the property of the Museum.
Media/Public Relations Release
The Monmouth Museum reserves the right to use digital images of accepted and exhibited artwork for media and website PR and advertising.