In a science museum not so far far away, artists are battling to create the most creative, dynamic, and iconic space inspired artwork for a chance to have their work displayed at COSI. Whether inspiration lies in the cosmos, galaxies, planets, spacecrafts, extraterrestrial life, or the astral wonders of the unknown, we invite you to share your interstellar vision. Pick up those brushes, sharpen those pencils, and apply to our next community art exhibition - STEAM Wars: Where Art & Space Collide.
If you are unable to fill out the submission form, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Submission Deadline is March 20, 2025 at midnight. No late entries will be accepted.
Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Artists may submit ONE image of 2-Dimensional or 3-Dimensional art for consideration (all 2D media are welcome-drawing, painting, prints, collage, photography, digital, etc)
- 3-Dimensional work will ONLY be accepted if in a shadowbox frame and/or substrate that includes a wire hanging mechanism to hang safely on a wall. All artworks must be able to hang safely on a wall. D-rings with wire preferred. No sawtooth hangers. Any frame provided by the artist must use plexiglass. No glass will be accepted.
- This art exhibition features separate age categories: Adult (18+), Teen (12-17), and Youth (11 and under)
- If selected, COSI may request the original artwork remain at COSI for the duration of the Exhibition (May 10 - September 1, 2025)
- Artists may enter only their original work – no reproductions of original work will be accepted
- Your submission may be displayed in COSI. Anything that is deemed inappropriate or explicit by the Judging Panel or COSI’s Project Team will not be accepted for review
- Any artist under 18 years of age must have a parent/guardian sign the virtual application form. Teacher signatures will not be accepted.
- Call for Entry Open: February 1, 2025
- Deadline to submit: March 20, 2025 (no late submissions will be accepted)
- Artist Notifications: Week of April 14, 2025
- Exhibition on view May 10 - September 1, 2025
- Artists may enter ONE artwork for consideration.
- Media Conditions:
- 2D Art: must fit within one of the following frame sizes:
- 8.5” x 11”
- 11” x 17”
- 16” x 20”
- 24” x 36”
- 3D Art: 3-Dimensional work will ONLY be accepted if in a shadowbox frame and/or attached to a substrate that includes a hanging mechanism to hang safely on a wall. Due to the hands-on/interactive nature of the museum, some guests may have curious hands and touch the work. Please make sure all components of the piece are firmly attached to the substrate. By applying to the call for art, you acknowledge that your work may be touched.
Size: shadowbox frame must not exceed 24” on longest side. Weight capacity 10lb. Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- 2D Art: must fit within one of the following frame sizes:
- COSI will frame and display 2-Dimensional entries on paper. Works on panel and canvas will not be framed.
- Works on canvas and panel must have D-rings and wire installed on the back to be ready to hang.
- NO sawtooth hangers please.
- Upon delivery, if an accepted artwork is found to have been misrepresented, it may be disqualified.
- Submissions will only be accepted via website form.
- Artwork must be photographed straight, in focus, and on a solid background.
- Label uploaded image with title of artwork and artist name (ie: title.lastname.jpg)
- Uploaded image must be high resolution, less than 8 MB and saved as a JPEG or PDF.
- If your total image file size is greater than 8 MB, you may resize the image through one of these free photo editing programs: Microsoft Image Resizer, Microsoft Photo Editor, Picasa, etc.
*Artist Statement: Application requires each artist to submit a short statement /description of the work. Please be mindful that the jurors will be looking at these statements as they make their final decisions. If selected to exhibit, these statements will be used on the artwork label.
MEET THE JURORS
Ji Wang is an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University, specializing in the detection of exoplanets-planets orbiting stars beyond our solar system. He leverages some of the world's largest telescopes to uncover clues about the origins of exoplanets and develops cutting-edge technologies for future telescopes aimed at detecting signs of life in their atmospheres. His research is supported by the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Ji Wang is also passionate about science outreach and actively promotes
scientific knowledge to the general public.
Monica, a former University Director, has a wealth of experience collaborating with foreign institutions, international students, global visitor programs, and study abroad partnerships. With a blend of expertise in Higher Education and experiential design, she has engaged in consulting roles for global corporations and international universities. Moreover,
Monica serves as a media design and software advisor for numerous businesses throughout the United States. As the Director of Experience at FireWatch Design, Monica's unique global background, along with her creative problem-solving abilities and marketing expertise, allows her to take a strategic and comprehensive approach to business development, shaping the future of experiential design at FireWatch Design.
With over 15+ years as a creative and media strategist, Joey has driven growth and creative innovation for a variety of global brands including Nike, Google, Allstate, Fuji and more. Starting in the world of digital video production in the early days of social media and video platforms, Joey
learned to tell digestible and impactful stories visually on a medium previously inaccessible to smaller budgets. He also helped push the platform (and his clients) in directions that followed the latest trends and technologies. As the CEO of FireWatch Design, he leads the way in bringing experiential designs to life around the world. Under his guidance,
FireWatch has completed numerous award-winning projects, each one reflecting a perfect blend of functionality and artistry. From immersive museum exhibitions to cutting-edge retail experiences, the team's work captivates audiences and redefines the possibilities of design.
Joey Arielle has worked as an exhibit fabricator for the past 8 years at COSI, in Columbus, Ohio, where she combines her creativity and technical skills to bring interactive science exhibits to life. In 2009, Joey earned a BA in Theatre from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Furthering her education, Joey graduated with an MFA in Theatre Design & Production with a focus in Scenic Properties from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory in Music in 2014. While being well versed in several areas of artisanship, such as carpentry, welding, casting/mold-making, painting, sculpture, Adobe Photoshop, and AutoCAD, her passion is in creature creation, prosthetics, and puppetry (as seen in her portrait photo). Outside of work, she's a passionate Star Wars enthusiast, finding inspiration in the galaxy far, far away and believes that one is never truly finished
learning.
