Visible. Vital. Unignorable: Selected Works by LGBTQ+ Michigan Artists 

You’re invited to submit your work for an upcoming juried exhibition presented by the Avenue for the Arts in partnership with Rowster Coffee:

This exhibition welcomes artists who identify as LGBTQIA+ and are based anywhere in Michigan.

Visible. Vital. Unignorable. is both a celebration and a refusal. It centers LGBTQ+ artists as they shape and share stories rooted in lived experience. At a time when queer lives and rights face renewed challenges, this exhibition affirms the power of collective visibility. Gathering in community creates protection, strength, and belonging. Through acts of defiance, care, and creative expression, these works declare: We are still here—and we are not going anywhere.

Apply Here

Curatorial Team

  • Annamarie Buller – Independent curator, gallerist, and community organizer

  • Thiago Porraz – Artist and muralist

  • Tia Wierenga – Artist and preparator at the Grand Valley State University Art Museum

  • Katrina Daniels – Creative professional and program specialist at the Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology

Exhibition Opportunities

Artists may indicate their preferred venue in the application:

• Rowster Coffee
A vibrant community gathering space featuring rotating exhibitions. Selected works will be on view for three months.
Opening Reception: May 5, 2026

• One Oh Six Gallery (the gallery space of Avenue for the Arts)
A traditional gallery setting located in the heart of the South Division corridor. Selected works will be on view for one month.
Opening Reception: June 6, 2026

Artists are also invited to propose performances, artist talks, workshops, or other public-facing events as part of their submission.

Important Dates

  • Call for Submissions Closes: March 29, 2026

  • Artist Notifications: April 12, 2026

Jurors

Sara Pulver
Sara is the founder of Dear Ollie, a Lansing-based stationery shop, and a muralist who creates large-scale work for commercial and residential spaces, including short-term rentals. She enjoys bringing creativity to unexpected places and collaborating with clients to bring their visions to life.

Zane Kemper
Zane is a Chicago-based arts professional and artist. He holds a BA in Arts & Humanities and an MA in Arts & Cultural Management and Museum Studies from Michigan State University. He previously worked as an Exhibition Producer at the Broad Art Museum and as a Gallery Assistant at Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center. He currently serves as a Preparator at Corbett vs. Dempsey in Chicago. His artistic practice explores emotion and identity through collage and mixed media.

Lorelei d’Andriole
Lorelei d’Andriole (she/her) is an artist, educator, and writer whose work explores the intersections of intermedia and transgender studies. She earned her BFA in New Media from the University of Central Oklahoma and her MA and MFA from the University of Iowa’s Intermedia program. Her work has been shown nationally at universities, galleries, festivals, and DIY spaces.

Apply Here

We would be honored to consider your work for this exhibition. Please help us spread the word within your networks and across Michigan’s creative communities.

Questions? Email Annamarie at annamariebuller@gmail.com.

Thank you for the work you do—and for being part of Michigan’s vibrant creative ecosystem.