We recognize countless innocent lives have been lost in Iran from 1979 to present. This specific collection is to speak to one of the most horrific massacres for modern Iran:
The January 2026 Massacre in Iran
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION
Remembering the January 8–9, 2026 Massacre in Iran
Submission Deadline: October 1, 2026
Selected Artists Announced: November 1, 2026
Exhibition: January 2027 · Washington, D.C.
About the Exhibition
For generations, artists have used the creative process to understand their inner experiences in relation to the world around them.
The massacre of protesters in Iran on January 8 and 9, 2026, has inspired artists across the world to create work in response—to process, remember, bear witness, and confront the pain, grief, and shock of this tragedy.
Within that grief, there are also expressions of resilience and hope: a belief in better days ahead, not only for Iran, but for the world.
We recognize the countless innocent lives that have been lost in Iran from 1979 to the present. This exhibition focuses specifically on the January 2026 massacre—one of the most devastating chapters in modern Iranian history.
On the one-year anniversary of this tragedy, Faces of Iran will present a special exhibition in Washington, D.C.
We invite artists who have been deeply moved by these events and who are creating art as an act of remembrance, witness, creative resistance, and solidarity.
Who Can Apply?
The call is open to both emerging and established artists.
All artistic mediums are welcome, including:
Painting
Photography
Drawing
Digital Art
Video
Sculpture
Textile & Fiber Art
Installation
Mixed Media
and other forms of visual art
Exhibition Themes
We welcome artwork exploring themes including:
Grief · Hope · Pain · Loss · Struggle · Connection · Identity · Remembrance · Resistance · Solidarity · Unity
Works may respond directly to the events of January 8–9, 2026, or explore the broader human, emotional, cultural, and social experiences surrounding them.
What Can I Submit?
Artists may submit up to 5 artworks for consideration.
For each work, please provide:
Artwork Image/File
High-resolution JPG, PNG, or PDF
Maximum file size: 70MB
Artwork Information
Title
Medium / Materials
Dimensions, if applicable
Year Created
Artist Statement
A short statement of approximately 50–100 words describing the work and its relationship to the themes of the exhibition.
Important Dates
October 1, 2026
Submission Deadline
November 1, 2026
Selected Artists Notified
January 2027
Faces of Iran Exhibition
Washington, D.C.
What Happens If My Work Is Selected?
Artists selected for the exhibition will receive further instructions regarding delivery of their work.
Selected physical artworks will need to be shipped or delivered for display in Washington, D.C.
Additional details regarding artwork delivery, installation, exhibition dates, and return of work will be provided directly to selected artists.
Exhibition & Promotion
Selected works will be presented as part of the Faces of Iran Exhibition in Washington, D.C., in January 2027.
Images submitted as part of the application may also be used to promote the exhibition through the gallery's website, social media, press materials, and related exhibition communications.
Questions?
For questions regarding submissions or the exhibition, please contact: