Feast: Monmouth Arts Presents The 2026 Charles Sills Memorial Group Art Exhibition

Feast: Monmouth Arts Presents The 2026 Charles Sills Memorial Group Art Exhibit

Monmouth Arts invites the creative community of Monmouth County to submit works that explore the theme of FEAST as part of the organization’s annual member exhibition, to be held at the Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank, September 4 - November 2, 2026, with an opening reception on Friday, September 11, 6-8:00pm. The deadline to submit is Monday, July 27, 2026. 

With FEAST we ask artists to explore the aesthetics and implications of abundance, desire, and consumption. Inspired by the rich visual language of historical still life painting – decadent tables, ornate objects, and symbols of status – the exhibition invites artists to reinterpret these traditions through a modern lens.

We seek work that examines themes of indulgence, consumer culture, ritual, identity, appetite, inequality, pleasure, and longing. Artists are encouraged to consider both literal and metaphorical forms of consumption: what we crave, what we value, and what shapes our relationship to material and symbolic abundance.

This call for art welcomes diverse perspectives and mediums, including painting, drawing, mixed media, sculpture, textile, and photography. We look forward to an exhibition that expands this conversation and brings new meaning to the idea of the feast.

FEAST will be guest curated by Tova Navarra, an award-winning artist, writer, and educator. She is the author of more than 30 books, including New Jersey Artists Through Time and the forthcoming New Jersey Masters: A New Legacy of Visual Arts. Tova has exhibited extensively throughout the Northeast, including solo exhibitions in New York, Philadelphia, and New Jersey, while continuing to contribute to the region’s cultural landscape as a juror, curator, photographer, and writer.

Monmouth Arts is pleased to be returning to the Oyster Point Hotel on the Navesink River in Red Bank for this year’s group exhibit. The Oyster Point is one of Monmouth County’s most celebrated venues for art and gatherings, featuring exhibits and an innovative artist in residence program. 

The Monmouth Arts annual member exhibit – now in its ninth year – is named for Dr. Charles Sills, who was a painter, sculptor, collector, and supporter of the arts. He retired from his role as the Chief of Surgery at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch in 2000. His work has been shown at many galleries in Monmouth County and he won awards from New York's Allied Artists of America as well as Knickerbocker Artists.

Those artists interested in submitting to FEAST must be current members of Monmouth Arts and agree to the exhibition guidelines. Artists who would like to become new members and submit may use the code FEAST to receive $10 off the $40 artist membership rate. 

Please contact Connie Isbell, Director of Membership & Community Engagement with any questions at connie@monmoutharts.org or 732.212.1890 ext 101.

Deadline: July 27, 2026

Eligibility and Entry 

• Accepted work includes drawing, mixed media, painting, fine crafts, photography, lithographs, digital, printmaking, and sculpture. 
• Please note that this year’s venue can accommodate large pieces; artists are encouraged to consider this factor when applying. 
• There is no submission fee, but current membership with Monmouth Arts is required. Artists who would like to become new members and submit may use the discount code FEAST to receive $10 off the $40 artist membership rate. For more information and an online membership form, please go to www.monmoutharts.org/join-us. Student memberships are free.
• Established, emerging, and student artists who are 18 and over are encouraged to submit works.
• Artwork must have been made in the last five years (after January 1, 2021) and not have been presented in past Monmouth Arts exhibitions or exhibitions at Oyster Point Hotel. Reproductions of original works will not be accepted.
• Drop off and pick up of accepted work to and from Oyster Point Hotel is the responsibility of the artist.
• All work must be available for the duration of the exhibition.
• Artwork sold through Feast is subject to a 30% fee to support Monmouth Arts programming. Monmouth Arts will collect the purchase price for all work, retain a 30% sales commission, and issue a check for the remainder to the artist at the close of the exhibition.

Submission Guidelines

• Submissions must be entered through the online Submittable platform. After reading the guidelines, you can create an account or log in to your existing Submittable account. There is no cost to create a Submittable account.
• Final acceptance of artwork is contingent upon review at delivery.
• Submissions are limited to a maximum of three (3) entries.
• Submissions must include contact information, brief artist statement (up to 100 words), artwork information (title, media, size (H x W x D), year completed, and price (must indicate NFS if not for sale).
• Artists are strongly encouraged to submit high-quality images that best present the work. 
• Images of artwork must be JPEG format with resolution of 300 dpi/ppi. Rename each image with Last Name_EntryNumber_Title_Media_Size_Year_Price.

Presentation Guidelines

• Wall-hung items must be appropriately framed, edges adequately finished and must be properly wired as the hanging medium. No saw-tooth hangers or metal eyelets will be accepted. Frames must be free of defects and of sturdy construction. Canvas wrapped paintings are acceptable (not raw canvas edges.)
• Three-dimensional works must be stable and stand on their own or be submitted with adequate display stands; a limited number of three-dimensional pieces can be accommodated. 

Important Dates     

Application Open: May 28, 2026     

Application Deadline: Monday, July 27, 2026     

Notifications: August 11, 2026     

Artwork Drop Off: September 1     

Opening Reception: Friday, September 11, 6 - 8pm     

Exhibit Dates: September 4 - November 2, 2026      

Artwork Pickup: November 3 

For assistance, accessibility requests, or questions about submitting please contact Connie Isbell, Membership & Community Engagement Director, at connie@monmoutharts.org; 732.212.1890 ext 101.