This is a call to ALL Southern California-based artists:

This exhibition will explore representational painting that has been reshaped and “disrupted”—including by abstraction, web-based imagery, and socio-political concerns—in response to contemporary life and its challenges. Learn more and see examples of artwork from the books here and here. 

Faced with an overflow of images, today’s artists are challenged to find the combination of subjects and individual hybrid styles that best express what it feels to be alive now. Responding to life’s disruptions engages their artistic imagination and the resulting works energize the flux of contemporary representational art. 

This exhibition is inspired by John Seed’s book of the same name as well as his earlier book Disrupted Realism: Paintings for a Distracted World. It also celebrates OMA’s mission to share the art and stories of Southern California artists. Artists Aleah Chapin and Timothy Robert Smith, who are among the 43 artists featured in the book More Disruption: Representational Art, will be featured.

PRIZE: Director’s Choice Solo exhibition at Oceanside Museum of Art in 2025 or 2026

Artwork Parameters

• Artworks must be representational and 2-dimensional (wall hanging) in any media.
• The jurors will evaluate artworks based on their impact, originality and relationship to the theme of disruption.
• Work in progress or concept sketches are acceptable. Artwork must be completed by artwork delivery to OMA.
• All submissions must be original works of art. Hi-resolution digital prints will be considered for digital artworks and limited-edition print-making methods. Sculpture and 3D art will not be considered.
• Artwork may be in any media, technique, or style.
• Artists are encouraged to submit artwork in a variety of sizes
• Size: Wall mounted two-dimensional work, external dimensions no larger than 120” in any direction. Maximum weight: 200 pounds