From crossing paths with a black cat to honoring ancestors at vibrant altars, humans have always used stories, rituals, and visual symbols to make sense of fate, luck, and the unseen.

Following on the heels of Halloween, just before Día de los Muertos and an upcoming Friday the 13th in November, this open call seeks lens-based artists to explore modern folklore, cultural superstitions, myth-making, and surrealism for another edition of Der Greif Pulse, timed to launch on October 31.

We invite artists to submit photographic work that operates at the intersection of reality, fable, and belief.
From staged cinematic storytelling and surreal dreamscapes to documentary studies of local legends, ancestral altars, and talismanic objects, show us how you render the mysterious threads of luck, folk memory, and visual tradition.

WHY SUBMIT?

Selected artists will receive:

Online exhibition on Der Greif’s Pulse section
Participation in an online roundtable critique session with peers, facilitated by Der Greif staff
Visibility within Der Greif’s international community

Selected artists may also be invited to submit their portfolio to Der Greif Studio, creating pathways to artwork sales and commissions.

SELECTION & JURY

Selection is based on:

Artistic quality

Conceptual clarity

Openness to dialogue and process

Engagement with themes of identity and community

Voluntary Donation

Der Greif is a registered non-profit. In these challenging economic times – especially for arts organizations and artists – we are convinced to provide a vital platform for our community. If you're in the position to support this mission, we value your support.

Since launching Guest Room in January 2015, we've invited a broad range of professionals (gallerists, editors, curators) to create opportunities for artists to share their work and get it in front of an international network they might not have access to otherwise. We are more commited than ever to continue this work.

We suggest a voluntary 10€ donation to help us sustain these efforts. If you'd like to support us further, we also accept regular donations via our Raisely page.

If you're unable to contribute financially, please email voucher-special-2@dergreif.org to receive a 50% or 100% discount code. Your artistic and financial contributions enable our continued growth.