How do we define freedom in the 21st century? How has the pursuit of happiness changed in the face of personal, political, and cultural transformation? This thought-provoking exhibition will bring together regional contemporary artists whose work reflects on the ever-shifting meaning of freedom in today's world.

The Maguire Art Museum at Saint Joseph’s University  invites contemporary artists to submit work that reflects on the shifting landscape of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This exhibition seeks to explore how these foundational ideals are interpreted, challenged, and reimagined through personal experience, social movements, and collective memory.

We are looking for photography and print-based works that engage critically, poetically, or personally with themes such as:

- Identity and self-expression

- Civil rights and social justice

- Cultural heritage and collective memory

- Environmental and economic freedoms

-The cost and complexity of liberty

- Reimagining happiness in contemporary society

Whether your work celebrates progress, confronts systems of oppression, or envisions new futures, we want to see how your creative voice contributes to the evolving conversation around freedom.

Submission Guidelines

- Accepting photography and print media only

- Up to 10 pieces per artist may be submitted

- All work must be original and completed within the past 10 years

- All submissions must include an artist statement (max 250 words) stating how your work relates to the exhibition theme.

Submissions that do not include a statement or statements that do not apply to the theme will not be considered.

- Chosen artists are responsible for shipping/transporting their art to and from the museum. Application Portal: https://forms.sju.edu/main/view.php?id=190986

‍Deadline to Apply: January 30, 2026

Artists Notified: March 2026

Exhibition Dates: September 17 - December 13, 2026