Jackson Pollock. Willem de Kooning. Norman Lewis. Mark Rothko. Helen Frankenthaler. All of these artists are inextricably linked to the American abstract movement of the 1950s, but what exactly does it mean for a work of art to be abstract? Even as we enter into 2021, nearly 70 years later, the definitional description of abstract art continues to mystify everyday art enthusiasts.

Art Scene West, a new contemporary gallery of West Coast art, is seeking works of art from West Coast artists for its online charity exhibition, Emotions Embodied: Abstractions from the West Coast. Recognizing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the creative arts, Art Scene West will donate a portion of all proceeds to The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), a California-based nonprofit organization that provides business training and grants to aspiring artists, arts administrators, artisans, and other creative entrepreneurs.

Submissions for this exhibition should be original works of abstract art that reflect at least some of the following characteristics: non-representational subject matter, visible brushwork, and large canvases. Vibrant colors and demonstrated palette knife techniques are preferred elements but not expected.

Celebrating the abstract art movement and its evolution since the mid-nineteenth-century, this online exhibition will be promoted widely through Artsy, social media, and the Art Scene West website. No works will need to be shipped to the gallery but all works must be available for sale throughout the length of the exhibition.

The exhibition will run for ten weeks this winter and will include virtual events throughout the exhibition period.

Artists interested in participating should submit up to 5 high res images of artworks in any medium that embody the abstract art movement. They can be 2 or 3 dimensional.

All submissions should be sent to [email protected], and should include an artist statement, CV, social media and press links. Must be 18 years or older to submit.

Deadline to submit is Friday, January 22, 2021.