Small Favors 2025

 A Perennial Favorite

Conceived of in 2006, Small Favors grew out The Clay Studio's efforts to offer accessible, high-quality artworks that appeal to art enthusiasts of all ages. For older collectors who are challenged for space it allows them to continue to collect work by artists they love. For young art collectors it provides an accessible entry point. Restricted to the confines of a four inch cube, the artworks created for this exhibition are small in scale yet huge in impact. Incredibly varied in material, form, and aesthetics, viewers marvel at the diversity of expression represented by makers from across the United States.

For artists, Small Favors engages their creativity in new and exciting ways with the challenge of making pieces on a very small scale. For some artists, the work is similar to what they normally make, but at a reduced scale. Others use it as an opportunity to break away from their usual studio practice. To reflect the generous spirit of the ceramics art community we have recently expanded the parameters of Small Favors to include artists working in clay as well as other media. For 2024, artists from the US are invited to submit up to three pieces in any media for consideration.

Applications Accepted:  November 1, 2024- January 15, 2025

Selection Process

Our Guest Juror, to be announced soon, and Curator of Artistic Programs at The Clay Studio, Jennifer Zwilling, will jury the applicants and choose objects to be shown in the exhibition.

Selection Process

Our Guest Juror, to be announced soon, and Curator of Artistic Programs at The Clay Studio, Jennifer Zwilling, will jury the applicants and choose objects to be shown in the exhibition.

Notification, Delivery, etc.

• Notification will be made via email by February 15, 2025
• Work is due to the Gallery by March 1, 2025
• Reception: April 10, 2025
• Exhibition Dates: April 10 - June 1, 2025

Sales

Works selected for the exhibition will be available in person and through The Clay Studio online shop. Works not purchased by the end of the exhibition will remain available for sale through the online shop until they are processed for return shipping or pick up. The Clay Studio reserves the right not to show any work that does not fit inside the cube or does not reflect what was represented in the application. By applying to the exhibition, you are agreeing to these terms. 

Commission, Payments, Return Shipping

The Clay Studio commission is 50% with payments made to artists via Bill.com within 45 days of the sale. The Clay Studio will ship any unsold work back to artists free of charge (for artists outside the Philadelphia area, domestic shipping only). Return shipping of unsold pieces will begin after all purchases have been shipped to clients, which does not begin until the show has been uninstalled. Please keep in mind that due to the expansive nature of this exhibition (with nearly 400 objects included), the return process will take up to 60 days to complete. By applying to the exhibition, you are agreeing to these terms. 

Application Deadline

January 15, 2025

Requirements

• Applicants must reside in the US
• Artists may submit up to 3 objects for review, not all will be accepted.
• Size limit is 3.75" x 3.75" x 3.75" so that the work fits into a 4 inch plexi cube.
• Each object must be for sale
• Retail price not to exceed $350
• Each object will be judged individually
• Our system only accepts Image file names without spaces in them. 
• Use Chrome for best functionality with the application portal

How to Apply

Click on the link in the button at the top of the page to reach the application.

A complete application must include the following:

• Personal contact information
• Artist Statement
• Website (if available)
• Three digital images (3 different pieces, or an overall shot + 2 detail shots of 1 piece)
  • Max 2MB, JPG, JPEG, BMP, GIF Only. Avoid blank spaces in image file names.
• Click "Submit Info" button to continue to upload photos
• Click "Upload" button after each image is selected
• Optional $25 application fee
  • You will be sent an email asking for your preference after you submit.
  • You may donate the full amount if you are able; this is a great way to support our organization, especially during this difficult time. If you would like to waive the fee or to donate a portion to us, use these discount codes:
       • WAIVE - you donate nothing
       • GIVE15 - you donate $15
       • GIVE5 - you donate $5

Please email any questions to Jennifer Zwilling at jzwilling@theclaystudio.org

Subject line: Small Favors Question

Selection Criteria - please read!

Please review our website for images of past years’ Small Favors exhibitions so you can see how the work will be installed and presented online. Each object will be displayed in its own plexi cube, with cubes hung in a grid along gallery walls. It’s important to be precise when measuring your works for consideration - each piece MUST be 3.75" x 3.75" x 3.75" or smaller in order to fit into the display cube. Also consider how your piece will look in the cube in relation to negative space. If we accept your piece and it does not actually fit into the cube when it arrives to the gallery, it will not be part of the exhibition. 

The Clay Studio reserves the right not to show any work that does not fit inside the cube, or does not reflect what was represented in the application. Works with glaze flaws, structural issues, sharp edges, etc may not be displayed or posted online for sale, at the discretion of the curator.