Fiber Options 2026

Overview

Fiber Options 2026 is a biennial juried exhibition celebrating textile arts as a medium for artistic expression and storytelling. The Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) invites submissions of original 2D or 3D work incorporating natural or synthetic textiles and/or fabric, including mixed media work with textile techniques such as weaving or embroidery. Work that is simply a depiction of fiber art (paintings, photos, prints) will not be accepted.

Eligibility

Open to artists residing in any of the states or territories of the United States, Canada, or Mexico.

Media & Size Requirements

All original 2D or 3D work incorporating textiles must follow exhibition guidelines. Maximum size of work, including edges of artwork or frame, cannot exceed 72″ in any direction. Work must be created within the past 3 years and be original and completed solely by the artist's hand. Work previously exhibited at MFA Circle Gallery is not eligible for re-entry.

Entry Process

All work must be uploaded through artcall.org with file size no more than 10 MB. For video submissions, put the link in the Linked Web Resource field and upload a still frame; accepted video submissions must be delivered to MFA on a thumbdrive. A maximum of 6 original works may be entered per artist. Work delivered must correspond with the image(s) submitted to the juror.

Key Dates

• June 30: Online entry opens
• August 26: Submission deadline
• October 1: Notification at 5 PM
• October 21–25: Accepted and shipped work must arrive at MFA Circle Gallery 11 AM – 4 PM
• October 28: Exhibition opens
• October 28: Virtual Awards Ceremony at 5:30 PM
• November 21: Last day of exhibition; in-person reception at MFA Circle Gallery 4–6 PM
• November 22–23: Pick up hand-delivered work 11 AM – 4 PM
• November 30: Shipped work will be sent

Exhibition & Sales

Accepted works will be exhibited in MFA's Circle Gallery from October 28 – November 21, 2026. All work must be for sale and may be set to Price on Request (POR). Artists will retain 70% from sales (75% for MFA members). MFA will retain 30% commission on any work sold through MFA (25% for MFA members at the time of the sale). Work cannot be withdrawn before the end of the event.

Juror

Sydney Abady is an artist and arts educator who explores the politics and personalities of homes through a textiles-based practice. Her art incorporates architectural imagery, found objects, and fiber techniques to question issues of public and private spaces. She received her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Textiles and Nature, Culture, Sustainability Studies with an emphasis on Urban Studies. She is the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship in Chile and has exhibited at El Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos, the Children's Museum of Manhattan, the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), the Bronx Museum of Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA LA).