OPEN CALL 2025

EXHIBITION AND FUNDRAISER

ON VIEW

AUGUST 7 - SEPTEMBER 10, 2025

SELECTED ARTISTS

Congratulations to the Artists selected for inclusion in this year’s Open Call Exhibition, and thank you to everyone who applied.

Dan Bainbridge
Helena Callinicos
Claire Cansick
Hee Won Cho
Jane Christensen
Antonia Constantine
Kira Doutt
Elsa Dray-Farges
Antonio Fabozzi
Mary Finlayson
Indigo Free
Miguel Ángel Erba
Olivia Guarnieri
Florian Haller
Will Headland
Georgia Hourdas
Christopher Jehly
Jeffrey Jones
Merav Kamel and Halil Balabin
María Korol
Larissa Laban
Nicolai Lown Heitz
Peter Makela
Farrell Mason-Brown
Robert Medvedz
Lisa Mihm
Kevin Mooney
Amber Mustafic
Róisín O'Sullivan
Alison Pilkington
Xufei Qiao
Petra Rodgers
Ursula Rose
Jarret Rubin
Jesse Ruiz
Jan Schmelcher
Anna Maria Schönrock
Jessica Simorte
Mattia Sinigaglia
Christine Slevin
Fergal Styles
Elissa Swanger
Jane Tardo
Jack Taylor
Elizabeth Thach
Mark Timmins
Brian Uhl
Catherine Wang
Angela Witmore
Michael Zadowicz

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

MEPAINTSME's Annual Open Call is a juried exhibition and fundraiser aimed at providing a platform for emerging and mid-career artists, while also supporting important social and humanitarian causes. Since its inception in 2022, the Open Call program has featured the artwork of 130 international artists, and raised over $16,000 support to important charitable causes — in 2022, Ukrainian Relief organizations; in 2023, groups working to end gun violence in America; and in 2024, to support the great work of three non profit organizations that provide inclusive and enriching programming for artists with disabilities. The Open Call 2025 Exhibition and Fundraiser will support disaster relief for the creative and culinary communities of Western North Carolina through WNC Tip It Forward, a recovery effort organized by ArtsAVL and AIR.

We developed the Open Call program because we care deeply about providing equal opportunities for artists to expand their audience and reach. As the gallery does not accept unsolicited submissions, the annual Open Call is the best way to submit your artwork for consideration by the artist and curator, mepaintsme. A number of artists selected for Open Call Exhibitions were invited by mepaintsme to join future group and solo exhibitions at the gallery.

This year’s Open Call is closed. Next year’s Open Call will be announced in February of 2026. The receive a notification, subscribe to our newsletter:

2025 BENEFICIARY

WNC Tip It Forward

Providing Critical Relief for Culinary & Creative Workers & Small Businesses in Western North Carolina

MEPAINTSME is based in Asheville, North Carolina, a small city celebrated for its thriving arts and music scene, award-winning farm to table restaurants, and independently owned small businesses. Its unofficial slogan, “Keep Asheville Weird”, is a symbol of the city’s unique character, and encourages locals and visitors alike to embrace individuality, eccentricity and diversity. In September of 2024, Hurricane Helene struck the area and caused widespread damage, profoundly impacting the community and disproportionately affecting the livelihoods of those who make Asheville and its surrounding areas special—it’s artists, musicians and restaurant workers.

In response to this widespread devastation, GBX Group has partnered with Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR) and the Asheville Area Arts Council (ArtsAVL) to launch the "WNC Tip It Forward" campaign, an urgent relief fund to provide critical, fast financial support for local artists and food service workers who have been directly impacted, and to support the ongoing charitable efforts of ArtsAVL and AIR in their work towards long term recovery.

Proceeds from the 2025 MEPAINTSME Open Call Exhibition and Fundraiser will be donated to the WNC Tip It Forward campaign, which aims to raise $1,000,000 by the end of 2025 to provide relief grants to culinary and creative workers, and small, independent arts & culinary businesses in Western North Carolina.

Please join us in supporting a cause close to our hearts and home. #WNCTipItForward

Learn more