EXHIBITION DESCRIPTION

What does it mean to be “avant-garde” today? The term originates from the French military term “advance guard“ meaning to scout terrain and the 19th century French left-wing political reformists known as "vanguard,” a movement of political and social change that challenged society. “Avant-garde” refers to art, literature, or ideas that are experimental, innovative, and pushing the boundaries of what is accepted, often breaking with tradition.

Art centered on marginalized voices is becoming increasingly influential. Gender-based art — particularly feminist and queer art — continues to gain visibility, while works addressing climate change, environmental concerns, and political unrest are taking a more prominent place in contemporary culture. In today’s digital era, the Internet and social media allow artists to reach wider audiences than ever before, giving creative expression greater cultural and political power. At the same time, movements such as Digital Dadaism or Post-Internet Art reflect a resurgence of absurdity in the online age. Artists are using AI-generated imagery, memes, and Internet chaos to critique digital culture, echoing the anti-establishment spirit of early twentieth-century Dadaism.

Artists like Tristan Tzara and Hugo Ball used Dadaism to expose a society they believed was collapsing under the violence and irrationality of the First World War. By rejecting traditional artistic standards and embracing nonsense, fragmentation, and experimentation, they challenged conventional ideas of meaning, order, and beauty. Similarly, today’s artists often respond to political instability, technological anxiety, and information overload by pushing art beyond conventional forms. As society continues to evolve through artificial intelligence, climate crises, and digital hyperconnectivity, the question remains: what new artistic movements will emerge next, and how will they redefine the role of art in the future?

HOW TO SUBMIT

Amos Eno Gallery is seeking original art that pushes boundaries, explores new themes, and features subject matter that challenges U.S. society today.

To have your work considered, please fill out the application and submit image(s) via Jotform here. All forms of media will be considered as long as they have a material form. Purely digital media with no physical form, for example, do not meet the Artsy requirement that exhibited works be for sale. Accepted formats include painting, sculpture, prints, and other physical artworks.

Submissions must be accompanied by a statement (500 words maximum) describing how the submitted work(s) relate to the Avant-garde Right Now! exhibition description.

Artworks will be posted for sale on Artsy.net in a curated exhibition and included in a special-edition zine.

For questions, reach out to Zoë at zoeelenamoldenhauer@gmail.com or James at jameshornerart@gmail.com.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION ZINE

All of the artworks and artists chosen for the exhibition will also appear in a zine. A "zine" is a self-published, non-commercial booklet, typically created in small batches and photocopied or printed by hand.

All artists in the exhibition will receive a complimentary digital copy of the zine. Printed zines will be available for purchase. 

ABOUT THE CURATORS

Zoë Elena Moldenhauer is a Guatemalan-born, New York City-based artist. In 2017, she created a fictional alphabet that draws from her transracial adoption, absent heritage, and Western upbringing. Combining multimedia with Nahuatl, the Nazca geoglyphs, and cave paintings from Brazil, Moldenhauer uses her alphabet as a tool to create identity and research her ancestry. She received a B.F.A. from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2019 and an M.A. from New York University in 2022. She is the founder of The Aerogramme Center for Arts and Culture — an online platform providing opportunities to artists and writers founded in March 2020. Moldenhauer resides in New York where she has a studio at Brooklyn Art Cluster and is an Amos Eno Gallery Community Member.

Learn more about Moldenhauer’s work at zoemoldenhauer.com and Instagram @zoe_moldenhauer.

James Horner is a queer chronicler with over four decades of artistic practice. Horner is primarily a figurative painter, while also working across printmaking, sculpture, and zine production. He holds an M.F.A. in Painting from Lehman College and is both a member artist and Board member at Amos Eno Gallery. The artist founded the queer artist collective, Magenta Lounge, and is also a founding member of the Scorchzine publishing team. His work has been featured in exhibitions around the U.S. and in New York, including the solo show, Making of an American Dandy, at Amos Eno Gallery in 2026, as well as group exhibitions at The Bronx Museum in 2024, The Painting Center in 2023, and the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art in 2019. He is currently a studio artist at the Bronx River Art Center. 

Learn more about Horner’s work at jameshornerart.com and on Instagram @jamesandthelovelies.

ABOUT ARTSY & ECONOMIC DISCLOSURE

This exhibition will be presented on the Artsy.net profile of Amos Eno Gallery, a nonprofit artist co-op. Artsy is an online platform that connects collectors, galleries, and artists, offering access to a vast selection of contemporary and modern art. It features artworks from leading galleries, auction houses, and art fairs worldwide, making it a key destination for discovering, buying, and learning about art.

Artsy requires that all exhibited works be listed for sale, and standard submission and platform commissions apply. The $35 submission fee supports administrative costs, jurying, platform fees, and the operational sustainability of the gallery. If sold, artworks are subject to a 20% gallery commission and a 19% Artsy commission. Artists receive 61% of sales. Submission fees and sales commissions support the operational survival of the gallery.