Exhibition Judge: Richard Laurent 

Cartooning and animation are powerful modes for speaking truth to power, when protest is captioned in a word bubble and dry humor delivers the punch. In honor of Oak Park artist and prolific political cartoonist Keith J. Taylor, this juried national exhibition comes at a fraught time, an election year, and invites artists working in all forms of cartooning and animation to submit works that speak to this moment in human history.

About The Judge: Richard, trained at IIT-Institute of Design, Chicago, has worked as an art director, book designer, illustrator and editorial cartoonist. After working for Encyclopaedia Britannica Educational Corporation as Creative Director and as an animation director, he started Laurent Design & Illustration doing magazine illustration and editorial cartooning. Later, he worked as an editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Sun-Times. In 2018, Richard published his first book of cartoons, “Laughing Matters-The Political Cartoons of Richard Laurent. (Amazon).” Currently, he works as an editorial cartoonist, painter/illustrator, and instructor at Columbia College-Chicago. He works out of his studio in the historic Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue, Chicago.

AWARDS
   Judge’s selections for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place, cash awards

Recognition Awards for Exhibition:            1st place - $300            2nd place - $200            3rd place - $100
   People’s Choice Award
   An online exhibition of works will be hosted on OPAL's website with all submissions. 

Important dates:

Call opens:  Mid-June 2024

Submission deadline: Sunday September 15th- midnight

Notifications: Monday, September 23rd

Delivery of work: Sept 24th - Oct 4

Exhibition dates: Oct 18 - Nov 15

Artist Reception: Friday, October 25th 7-9pm

Cost per submission: $40 for up to 3 pieces.