Call for Artists to Submit Work for the FY27 New Jersey Arts Annual Hank Willis Thomas Selects

Submission Deadline: May 1, 2026

The Zimmerli Art Museum will host the FY27 New Jersey Arts Annual -- Hank Willis Thomas Selects. This exhibition marks the Zimmerli's inaugural New Jersey Arts Annual. Artist Hank Willis Thomas will serve as the juror and guest curator.

The call welcomes artists at all stages of their careers, with particular interest in work that expands current conversations, and in makers who have not yet received sustained visibility. Rather than organizing the exhibition around a prescribed theme, this edition -- Hank Willis Thomas Selects the NJ Arts Annual, will present work across generations and disciplines, catalyzing critical thought and creating space for mindful looking.

All artists over the age of 18 who either work or live in the state of New Jersey are eligible to apply. All mediums are eligible. There is no entry fee.

Questions? Contact: Stephanie Nerbak | 609-292-4474 (NJ Relay 711)

About the FY27 New Jersey Arts Annual Juror Hank Willis Thomas 

A central figure in Zimmerli's 2026 season is Hank Willis Thomas (b. 1976), a Plainfield, NJ native and celebrated conceptual artist whose practice engages questions of history, power, and collective memory. Thomas will serve as a juror and guest curator for the New Jersey Arts Annual, lending his expertise to ensure a dynamic selection of both emerging and established artists. His involvement connects a figure of national prominence to the local art scene, bridging the gap between New Jersey's homegrown talent and the broader contemporary art world.

Learn more and submit here.