Open Calls at The Fishbowl
Deadline to participate is May 6th 2026
Unraveling the Narrative:
AKA: “Everything they told me was…: and other stories about accepting my Queer & BIPOC identity”
The stories we are told about who we are—and who we should be—often act as a blueprint for a house we were never meant to live in. We are taught to prioritize certain milestones, perform specific roles, and silence the parts of ourselves and cram ourselves into a set script.
"Everything they told me was…: and other stories about accepting my Queer & BIPOC identity" is an exploration of the moment the facade breaks. This exhibition seeks to showcase the messy, beautiful, and radical act of unlearning inherited truths to make room for authentic queer selfhood.
This art exhibition is entering its 3rd year and is curated by Cebreazy Paints. This exhibition started with the mission to gather artists around West Seattle and specifically highlight Trans, Non-Binary, and BIPOC artists. Since then, it has grown to invite over 50 artists across Western Washington. Find out more about the Annual Queer Art Exhibition here.
The Vision
In collaboration with Cebreazy Paints we are looking for work that investigates the friction between external expectations and internal reality. Whether your journey was a slow burn of realization or a sudden lightning strike of clarity, we want to see how you navigated the "lies" of heteronormativity, gender binaries, and societal "shoulds."
We invite submissions that touch upon:
The Deconstruction: Dismantling the myths of "normalcy."
The Reckoning: The emotional weight of realizing a lifelong narrative was false.
The Reclamation: Rebuilding a sense of self on your own terms.
The Joy of Truth: The liberation found in living outside the prescribed lines.
Submission Categories
We are accepting a wide range of media, including but not limited to:
Visual Arts: Painting, photography, digital art, sculpture, and mixed media.
Performance Arts: Drag, Fashion, Music, Theatric.
Literary Arts: Poetry, flash fiction, and personal essays (max 1,000 words).
Multimedia: Short film, audio soundscapes, and performance art documentation.
Important Dates
Submissions Open: March 25, 2026
Deadline for Entry: May 6, 2026
Artist Notification: May 16, 2026
Drop off: May 20-23, 2026 or by appointment
Exhibition Opening: June 5, 2026 (Pride Month Kickoff)
How to Apply
Please send a digital portfolio or high-resolution images of your work here. Include a brief artist statement (250 words max) explaining how your piece relates to the theme of unlearning and acceptance.
Note: This call is specifically for creators who identify within the QTLGB+ & BIPOC spectrum. We prioritize voices from intersections that are often marginalized even within the queer community.
CALL FOR ART: Between Borders and Belonging
Between Borders and Belonging
Our 3rd Birthday & Community Fundraiser!
As The Fishbowl turns three, we are marking this milestone with a communal exhibition rooted in story, solidarity, and shared responsibility. Between Borders & Belonging serves as our birthday fundraiser, with art sale proceeds directly supporting La Resistencia, Puget Sound Sage, and NWIRP — organizations advancing immigrant justice and collective liberation in our region.
We celebrate three years of building creative community by investing back into the communities that shape us. This exhibition is both a gathering and a gesture — honoring lived experience while directing tangible support toward immigrant advocacy efforts.
Exhibition Overview
We are seeking original artworks for our Communal Group show that navigate the complex emotional arc of migration. This exhibition aims to move beyond mainstream headlines to center the personal, lived narratives of those who have crossed borders.
At a time when anti-immigrant rhetoric, policies, and harm enacted by the federal government are actively threatening the safety and dignity of immigrant communities, this exhibition feels especially urgent and necessary.
We invite artists to submit works that reflect one or more of the following emotional pillars:
Grief: Honoring what was left behind—homes, families, languages, and identities—and the "liminal space" of mourning.
Resilience: Celebrating the inner strength, "tenacity," and collective wisdom required to survive and rebuild in a new land.
Joy: Capturing the "beauty of ordinary moments," the triumph of the human spirit, and the radical act of finding belonging and hope.
Submission Guidelines
Eligibility: Open to all qtbipoc artists with priority to those identifying as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation immigrants or refugees.
The Fishbowl will provide panels for artists to purchase. Artists are encouraged to use the panel in any way they see fit so the art fits within the thematic guidelines of the exhibition.
Exhibition Details
Exhibition Opens: April 3rd - May
Location: The Fishbowl, Seattle
Registration Deadline: Monday March 16th 8:30PM
Pick Up Deadline: March 16th 7-9PM (please reach out to webelongseattle@gmail.com for drop off additional dates/times)
Artwork Deadline: March 28th, 5PM
$15-$35 participation fee includes 12” round panel
