Open Call Application
2025 Exhibition
Palimpsest of Memory
DEADLINE: JULY 20th, 2025
“Palimpsest of Memory” tells the stories of times past that have evaporated yet still linger in our minds and hearts. It is an exhibition that stresses memory as a process, a residue, a reconstruction. Through acts of layering, erasing, obscuring, and revealing, memory is not treated as a singular narrative, but rather as a live and complex entity constantly being amended and honored in both subtle and profound ways.
Just as cultural provenance traces the origin and journey of objects and ideas, history moves not linearly, but in spirals, as memory revisits, reframes, or reinterprets the past. In this unfolding artistic narrative, the paintbrush becomes a powerful tool: a means of excavation and creation, capable of expressing both the pain of loss and the beauty of reminiscence.
The exhibition “Palimpsest of Memory” presents contemporary works that explore remembrance as a layered, unstable, and often rewritten terrain. Similarly to how a palimpsest reveals the faint traces of previous texts beneath new inscriptions, this exhibition considers how the past endures, visible and hidden, within the forms of contemporary art. Drawing from elements of surrealism, post-impressionism, modernism, cubism, synthetic-cubism, abstract and gestural painting, neo-expressionism, and collage and multimedia, the exhibition seeks to demonstrate the ways in which artists manipulate form, texture, and symbol to excavate personal and collective memory.
In an era defined by loss, rapid transformations, and frivolous over-documentation, this exhibition identifies the methods in which artists engage with the echoes of history, legacy, culture, and identity in meaningful ways. In many respects, “Palimpsest of Memory” acts as an index of what remains, featuring the archived, the half-remembered or nearly forgotten, and serving as an emotional archaeological record.
Submission deadline: July 20th
Type: OPEN CALL for all
Eligibility: International
Categories: Studio Art, Fine Art, Photography, Mixed Media, Written, Video and Multi Media, Open Theme
Exhibition Director: Isabelle Grace Brett
BA, Psychology and Art History, Columbia University. Isabelle is the Deputy Curator of International Art and has curated to exhibitions such as Celebration, an enigmatic solo show of Trinidadian artist Indra Persad Milowe, and In Liminal Light: The Space Between, a group exhibition exploring the vulnerabilities of the human condition through mediated experiences and heartfelt expressions. Her focus when curating exhibitions prioritizes well-defined and cohesive narratives that will deeply resonate with intended audiences. She greatly values the relationship between artist, curator, and audience, and understands the value of open, honest, and genuine communication between all parties. She feels most inspired by work that challenges conventions and embraces vulnerability, inviting viewers to see the world through new and empathetic lenses. She is particularly interested in how movements like Impressionism and Post-Impressionism redefined perception and personal expression—offering insight into the emotional and cognitive impact of visual art.
Curator: Andrea Maiello
Andrea Maiello is a creative consultant with a background in design, art history, and visual culture, shaped by his studies at the Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna and Liceo Artistico Statale E. & U. Nordio in Trieste. His academic focus on the relationship between museums and society informs a thoughtful approach to cultural communication and audience engagement. Professionally, Andrea has worked as a curator and external associate with Confartigianato in Trieste, supporting artisan initiatives and bridging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary audiences. He also collaborated with the design studio Grattoni1892, contributing to product development and client experience in a global, design-driven context. His work reflects a commitment to cultural heritage, innovation, and meaningful design.