Open Call for Applications: International Photography Exhibition
Contemporary Art & Photography Exhibition

STATIC CINEMA
‍
Venice, Italy | 3–24 September 2026Presented during the Venice International Film Festival and Venice Biennale Arte

Art-Icon, a non-profit organization supporting contemporary photography and visual art, invites photographers and visual artists to apply for Static Cinema, an international exhibition exploring the dialogue between photography and cinematic language.

The exhibition will take place from 3 to 24 September 2026 at San Pietro Cantieri – Castello 71, 30122 Venice, Italy, during one of the most significant moments in the international cultural calendar, alongside the Venice International Film Festival and the Venice Biennale Arte.

Exhibition Concept

Photography and cinema have always shared a common visual language. Both construct narratives through light, framing, atmosphere, gesture, and time.
‍
Static Cinema explores the ways in which photography absorbs, references, and transforms cinematic language. A single still image can suggest an entire film, evoke movement, imply a narrative, or preserve a moment suspended in time.

We invite artists whose work engages with cinematic aesthetics, visual storytelling, memory, atmosphere, mise-en-scène, or the emotional and psychological qualities traditionally associated with film.

Rather than documenting cinema itself, the exhibition investigates how photographic images can function as cinematic experiences.

What We Are Looking For

We welcome photographic works that engage with themes such as:
‍
Cinematic visual language
Narrative photography
Memory and time
Atmosphere and mood
Staged photography
Film still aesthetics
Visual storytelling
Suspended moments
Psychological narratives
Light, composition, and cinematic space

Documentary, conceptual, staged, fashion, portrait, and experimental photographic practices are all welcome, provided the work demonstrates a strong dialogue with cinematic language.

Context
‍
The exhibition will be presented during Venice's most important international cultural events, attracting collectors, curators, museum professionals, journalists, filmmakers, and a global audience.

Selected artists will exhibit alongside internationally recognized photographers, contemporary artists, and filmmakers, creating a dialogue between established and emerging voices.

Who Can Apply

We invite:

-Emerging and established photographers
-Contemporary artists working with photography
-Artists exploring intimacy and emotional narratives through visual practice

There are no restrictions regarding age, nationality, or career stage.

Deadline
‍3 August 2026
‍
‍How to apply:
Send your submission to danila_tkachenko@art-icon.org
Subject line: "Open Call – Static Cinema 2026"