Call for Artists: 40th Annual Sears Art Museum Invitational Show & Sale

The Sears Art Museum at Utah Tech University invites artists from across the American West to apply for the 40th Annual Sears Invitational Art Show & Sale—one of Utah's longest-running and most respected juried museum exhibitions. 

Celebrating forty years in 2027, the Sears Invitational has become a destination for collectors, artists, and visitors throughout the region. Selected artists gain exposure to museum visitors, collectors, curators, and fellow artists throughout the six-week exhibition.exhibit in a professionally curated museum exhibition and can sell their work while supporting the museum's exhibitions and educational programs. Hosted by the Sears Art Museum at Utah Tech University, the 2027 exhibition runs February 13 through March 27, 2027, and will feature a full-color catalog available for purchase by museum patrons.

Why Apply? 

✔Museum exhibition

✔ Full-color catalog

✔ Opportunity to sell artwork

✔ Forty-year tradition of excellence

Submission Guidelines:

• Call Opens: August 1, 2026
• Submission Deadline: October 30, 2026
• Notice of Acceptance: November 16, 2026 (posted online at www.searsart.com and emailed to artists)
• Entry Limit: Submit up to 3 works (max 2 accepted)
  • Each piece must be submitted as a separate entry.
  • You may edit your submission at any time until the deadline.
  • Approximately 100 artists will be accepted.
• Eligibility: Artists based in the American West are encouraged to apply, with preference given to Utah-based artists.

*Note: Artists outside Utah are responsible for round-trip shipping costs. *

Benefits and Opportunities:

• Benefit Show & Sale: Artists retain 60% of each sale, with the remaining 40% supporting the Sears Art Museum. Proceeds from the show help fund museum exhibitions, educational programs, and part-time student positions. Participation in the show directly contributes to sustaining the arts in Southern Utah.
• Catalog: All works exhibited in the Invitational will be included in a professionally designed exhibition catalog.
• Convenient Artwork Pickup: Complimentary regional pickup and return service is available in Ogden, Salt Lake City, and Orem, Utah.

Join us as we celebrate the 40th Annual Sears Invitational and become part of one of the American West's enduring traditions in contemporary art.

For more details, visit https://www.searsart.com/.

User Entry Process Tutorial

This video helps guide you through the submission process: