Morisot opens year-round call for emerging art writers

Morisot, a London-based curatorial platform and nomadic gallery, is accepting year-round proposals from emerging writers for criticism and academic writing on contemporary art. The open call expands the platform’s publishing program between exhibitions and gives selected contributors a chance to be published across Morisot’s channels.

Why it matters: - Morisot is creating a new outlet for emerging voices in contemporary art writing. - The open call gives writers a way to publish criticism and research outside traditional deadline-driven submissions. - The platform is pairing exhibitions with ongoing writing, which can broaden access to the ideas behind artworks.

What happened: - Morisot launched an ongoing, year-round open call for proposals from emerging artists and writers. - The London-based platform is seeking critical and academic perspectives on contemporary artists and media. - The call is open with no fixed submission deadline. - Submissions are free, but contributions are unpaid. - Selected contributors will have their work published and shared through Morisot’s channels. - The platform said selected contributors may also be involved in future projects.

The details: - Applicants must submit a short CV and a brief synopsis of their proposed writing. - Proposals are reviewed individually on merit. - Publication depends on editorial selection. - Morisot wants new perspectives on contemporary practice and aims to make room for emerging writers. - Sebastian Alabaster, co-founder of Morisot, said the platform’s mission is to spotlight the academic nature of artists’ practices in their own words. - Morisot publishes writing through its Substack publication. - Prospective contributors can send materials to contact (at) morisot (dot) uk.

Between the lines: - The open call extends Morisot’s publishing activity between exhibitions, signaling a shift from one-off programming to a more continuous editorial model. - The platform is positioning itself as both a gallery space and a critical forum, not just an exhibition organizer. - Free submissions lower the barrier to entry, but unpaid contributions may limit participation for some writers. - Morisot’s emphasis on theory and research suggests it is courting writers who can connect art practice with broader intellectual debate.

What happened: - Morisot was founded in February 2026 by curator Mei Bassett-Chan and artist Sebastian Alabaster. - The platform’s debut exhibition, “Imaginary Possession,” took place at Greatorex, an artist project space in London. - The exhibition featured Alabaster’s large abstract works and Gabriel Campbell’s figurative paintings. - Alabaster’s practice explores instability and fragmentation through painting, moving image and performance. - Campbell works with archival photographic material and oil painting to examine time, form and the loss of visual information. - A follow-up artist talk at The Warburg Institute extended the exhibition’s discussion beyond the gallery. - The talk brought the artists and Morisot’s founders into conversation with an audience. - Morisot operates through pop-up exhibitions without a permanent gallery space. - The platform produces physical catalogues for exhibitions and publishes writing online. - Bassett-Chan studies at The Courtauld and co-founded the platform with Alabaster to connect curatorial work, artistic practice and critical discussion.

What's next: - Morisot will continue reviewing proposals individually throughout the year. - Selected writers are expected to appear in future Morisot publications and possibly future projects. - The platform’s existing writing is available to readers through its online publication.

The bottom line: - Morisot is using a year-round open call to build an ongoing pipeline of contemporary art writing around its exhibitions and public programs.