RISE ABOVE: ART OF THE COUNTERCULTURE
Built to give visual artists a bigger, louder presence inside the market, RISE ABOVE ART is our new banner for curated exhibits, themed group shows and original artwork that deserves to be seen in the middle of the mayhem, not tucked off to the side. It’s a new way for NJPRFM to champion bold, meaningful and unconventional art as a central part of the experience.
JULY 26, 2026
Let’s st-art a War Group Art Show
Open to all artists, this exhibit is looking for work that speaks loudly, challenges comfort, pushes back and has something real to say. All artists submitting work do so with the understanding that 25% of each sale will go to charity, while 75% goes directly to the artist. NJPRFM will match 25% of sales.
The deadline to submit is June 19, 2026.
Please read all Submission Rules and Regs below.
~ Curator’s Statement Below ~
Curator’s Statement
LET’S stART A WAR is not about polite disagreement. It is a protest art exhibition for artists with something urgent to say and no interest in whispering it. This show is a call for work that resists cruelty, confronts power, rejects silence and refuses to prettify oppression for the comfort of those who benefit from it. We are looking for art that speaks loudly, challenges comfort, pushes back and carries real weight behind it.
At its core, this exhibit embraces a fierce anti-fascist, anti-authoritarian ethos. We welcome work that responds to nationalism, white supremacy, forced conformity, state violence, immigrant persecution, detention and deportation, anti-queer and anti-trans rhetoric, attacks on bodily autonomy, book bans, and the broader culture of fear, scapegoating and strongman politics pushed by MAGA & enforced through systems such as ICE.
This is not a neutral show. It is not interested in false balance, soft-edged both-sidesism, or vague gestures toward “division” that ignore who is being targeted and who is doing the targeting. LET’S stART A WAR exists to make room for work that bears witness, sounds the alarm, mourns, agitates, documents, provokes and fights back.
We are inviting artists of all backgrounds and mediums to submit work rooted in protest, resistance, solidarity and liberation. Rage is welcome here. Grief is expected. Defiance is mandatory. And so is hope. We want the posters, paintings, prints, fiber art, sculpture, collage, visual manifestos and pieces that hit hard politically, emotionally and artistically. Original works are strongly encouraged.
Protest can be furious, mournful, biting, beautiful, hopeful or messy, but it should mean something. It should disrupt. It should expose power. It should stand in solidarity with the people most often crushed by it. Above all, it should leave a mark. It should inspire us all to RISE ABOVE.
And because protest should move beyond symbolism,
this show puts its money where its mouth is:
25% of every art sale goes to charity.
75% of every art sale goes to the artist.
NJPRFM matches 25% of total sales.
Weaponized creativity with a charitable side effect.
~ Joseph Kuzemka, Curator ~
Owner & Executive Experience Producer
New Jersey Punk Rock Flea Market
www.punkmarket.com
artist rules & show regulations
Open to all artists
RISE ABOVE ART is open to artists working in all visual mediums, whether or not they are vendors at the NJPRFM.Theme adherence matters
Submitted work should clearly connect to the theme of the show. For this exhibit, the theme is protest art. Work that does not fit the theme will not be accepted.Original work only
All submitted artwork must be the original work of the artist. No AI-generated work, no unlicensed reproductions, and no copyrighted material used without permission.Work must be ready to exhibit
All accepted pieces must arrive ready to hang, display, or install. Framed work should be securely wired. Any 3D or sculptural work must be stable and presentation-ready.All work must be for sale
This exhibit is intended as a selling show. Artists should submit work with the understanding that all accepted pieces will be available for purchase during the event unless otherwise approved in advance.Sales split
Artists agree that 25% of each sale will be donated to the designated charity. 75% of each sale goes to the artist, minus any sale processing fees. NJPRFM takes no commission.Submission does not guarantee acceptance
Space is limited. Submission of artwork does not guarantee inclusion in the show. Selections will be made based on theme fit, presentation, space, and overall show balance.Deadline to submit
All submissions must be received by June 19, 2026. Late submissions may not be reviewed.Delivery deadlines must be followed
Accepted artists must deliver work by the stated deadline and during the approved delivery window. Work that arrives late or unprepared may be refused.Artists retain ownership until sold
Artists retain ownership of their work unless and until it is sold during the exhibit.Sold work remains on view until show close
Unless otherwise approved, sold pieces must remain on display until the close of the event so the full exhibit stays intact for attendees.Pickup of unsold work is required
Artists are responsible for picking up unsold work during the designated pickup window. Work left behind after that window may be subject to storage limitations or considered abandoned unless prior arrangements are made.NJPRFM is not responsible for damage beyond reasonable care
While reasonable care will be taken in handling and displaying artwork, NJPRFM is not responsible for loss, theft, or damage. Artists are encouraged to insure valuable work if desired.No hateful content
Work promoting racism, fascism, antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, or other forms of hate will not be accepted. Protest art can be confrontational without punching down.NJPRFM reserves final discretion
NJPRFM reserves the right to refuse any submission or remove any work that does not meet the stated rules, theme, or standards of the show.By submitting to the Rise Above Gallery Show presented by the NJPRFM, you agree to all terms and conditions.
