OPEN CALL
SIGNED SEALED DELIVERED

This open call stems from the desire to give a voice to everything left unsaid.

CONCEPT OF THE OPEN CALL

We invite artists to use a postcard as a medium to give form to a suspended message. The recipient can be anyone or anything: a love, an enemy, a regret, an obsession, an uncomfortable truth, an insult never screamed, a hope, a person who is no longer with us, or even a past or future version of yourself.

The postcard itself, in its entirety, becomes the message and the artwork. There is no distinction between front and back, image and word. The entire surface is a blank canvas to capture the essence of this unsent thought, transforming a fragment of vulnerability, anger, or sincerity into a work of art.

EXHIBITION AND PLATFORMS

  • For this open call, there is no selection process: all postcards received that comply with the guidelines will be exhibited.

  • The selected artists will be exhibited at Numero 51 Gallery in Milan, from October 2024 to December 2024.

  • The artworks will also be published on our website and social media platforms.

  • You can find the “open call kit” at the link at the end of the page.

What do we require?

  • Fundamental Requirement: Connection to East Asia

    • N51 Concept Gallery is a inclusive environment, open to anyone, born with the aim of promote and showcase contemporary art from the East Asian scene, in Milan.

    • As our gallery specializes in contemporary East Asian art, it is a mandatory requirement that the artwork and the artist area of origin or ties have to be East Asia. This connection can be expressed through the subject matter, style, text, or the artwork's overall concept.

  • Submission Process (a two-step process):

    • A) Email Application: Before shipping the postcard, the artist must send an email to info@numerocinquantuno.com with:

      • Subject Line: "Open Call Postcard - [Artist's Full Name]"

      • Artist Information: CV, links to website/social media, and/or a small portfolio.

      • Photos/Scans of the Artwork: Attach high-quality photos or scans of the front and back of the postcard you intend to send.

      • Artwork Description: Artist's name, title (if any), exact dimensions, materials, and a brief description of the concept (max 2000 characters).

    • B) Shipping the Physical Postcard: After sending the email, please ship or hand deliver the original postcard to: Viale Emilio Caldara 51, 20122, Milano, Italia

  • Postcard Specifications:

    • One (1) postcard per artist.

      • Option A - Store-bought Postcard: Must be artistically reworked.

      • Option B - Created from Scratch: Must be entirely created by the artist, with dimensions between 10.5 x 14.8 cm (A6 format).The choice of material is up to the artist.

    • The message (textual and/or visual) must follow the open call's concept.

  • PLEASE NOTE:

    • FOR ALL DIGITAL MATERIALS (CV, PORTFOLIOS, ETC…): DO NOT USE EXPIRING LINKS. Ensure that no privacy policies or access requests are active.

    • The only reason a postcard will not be exhibited is failure to comply with these guidelines (especially the connection to East Asia and the submission process).

What do we offer?

  • Guaranteed Exhibition:

    • All postcards received that meet the required criteria will be exhibited in the gallery.

  • Sale of Artworks:

    • All exhibited works will be for sale at a price set by the gallery with the artist. The gallery will retain an agreed-upon commission only in case of a sale.

  • Support and Promotion:

    • Curation, installation, photographic documentation, and promotion of the exhibition are provided by the gallery, free of charge.

  • Costs and Responsibilities:

    • Everything we offer is free of charge, but the production and the transfer (in & out of the gallery) of the artwork will be at your own expense and responsibility.

  • Handling of Non-Compliant Artworks:

    • Postcards that are sent or delivered but do not meet the exhibition requirements will not be displayed. In this case, the artist can collect the postcard from the gallery during our opening hours.

  • We are eagerly awaiting your submissions.

Feel free to contact us if you have more questions.

Who are we?


Numero.51 Concept Gallery was founded in Milan by Julia Rönnqvist Buzzetti together with Andrea Deotto, with the desire to promote contemporary art from the East Asian scene.

Our goal is to always create site-specific projects in collaboration with the selected artists.

How to submit:
Deadline September 5th, 2025

Please send your submissions via email: info@numerocinquantuno.com

Selected artists will be notified by email.