Join AAC

Next Jury Day is on February 21st, 2026

If you submitted a request to join and have not heard back, email to Wendy Fisher at wendy@wendyfisher.net

Detailed information has been emailed to applicants on July 21st, 2024. If you have registered but have not received it, contact Eric Saint Georges at ericsgc@hawaii.edu

Membership is open to local artists only in the Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo County area.

Once or twice per year (depending on the number of applications) , the Abstract Art Collective holds a Live Jury Day when applicants bring three pieces of recent original artwork and a bio/artist statement to be evaluated. Jurors are chosen from the membership list of the AAC, and they are different each time.

If you are interested in becoming a member, click the button “Submit request to join AAC” .

Address any question to the Membership Chair at: wendy@wendyfisher.net
Submissions are accepted all year round.

The $25 jurying fee is waived for full time students.

ACCEPTED MEDIA

  • Paintings and drawings

  • Printmaking (hand pulled prints)

  • Photography

  • Collage

  • Assemblage

  • Fiber Art

  • Sculpture (limited venues for 3D)

  • Digital Prints: Digital art must exist as an original digital piece and is inclusive of both digitally manipulated photography and digitally manipulated hand-drawn art.

Membership

Jurying fee is $25 (Waived for full time Students)

Annual Membership is $60 ($10 for full time Students)

OUR DEFINITION OF ABSTRACT ART

The Abstract Art Collective (AAC) supports a broad definition of abstract art which ranges from non-objective to conceptual, where the degree of abstraction can vary. Abstract art uses a visual language of shape, form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. This departure from accurate representation can be slight, partial, or complete.
Our guidelines for accepting work into exhibitions allow for submissions that range from non­-objective, fully abstract work to that in which some images, objects or text are recognizable. Since the line between representational and abstract can be fuzzy, we may not include work in a show based on it being not abstract enough. We also allow our jurors to make such decisions autonomously while selecting work for an exhibit. This definition and process also applies to applicants who want to join the Abstract Art Collective.

What happens on the jurying day?

You will be expected to bring in the morning 3 recent works along with prints of your artist Bio & Statement, and to pick up your work the same day in the afternoon

Requirements: 

  • Each work should have a label attached with your Name, Title of Work, Medium. 

  • Artwork should be "Ready to Hang", as presentation is one of the criteria the jurors will consider.

  • In case of very large or heavy artwork, you should contact the organizer to see if some accommodation can be made.

  • All artwork must have been completed within the last five years, must be original, and must not have been created with the assistance of an instructor. It should show some consistency in style.

  • The jurors will evaluate submissions for originality, creativity, and technical expertise within your chosen medium. They will also consider elements such as composition, color, form, and presentation. Our membership guidelines welcome a wide range of work, from non-objective, fully abstract pieces to those incorporating recognizable images, objects, or text. Because the boundary between representational and abstract art can be ambiguous, jurors may decline to invite an artist if the work is deemed insufficiently abstract