By Claire Smith
The Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) 152nd Annual Open Juried Exhibition 2026 is a prestigious annual exhibition showcasing contemporary Canadian art and is open to artists from across Canada.
A selection of works from OSA will be on display, until April 26, at the Art Gallery of Georgina, and as the gallery’s curator I couldn’t be more delighted.
The OSA is Canada’s longest-continuing art society (founded 1872), and the Open Juried Exhibition is considered to be a significant opportunity for artists to boost their professional resumes.
The OSA Open Juried Exhibition provides a vital showcase for both emerging and established artists, fostering professional recognition and connection within the art community.
The theme of this year’s Open Juried Exhibition is “Through Artist Eyes” and it features varied 2D/3D media—including painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media.
This exhibition was open to all artists residing in Canada, both established and emerging.
For those unfamiliar with juried exhibitions, a juried exhibition is a curated competition where artists submit work to a panel of experts (jurors) who select pieces based on quality, theme, and originality for exhibition. To be selected for a juried exhibition, artists submit digital or physical images of their work along with a fee.
Jurors are often curators, established artists, or critics, and review every submission based on specific criteria or themes. The process ensures a high standard of quality for the exhibition. The biggest difference from non-juried shows is that unlike non-juried shows (or “open” shows) where anyone can participate, juried shows curate the entries to create a cohesive, high-quality, or thematic event. In short, a juried show is a “competitive” exhibition, while a normal exhibition is a “showcase.”
The Art Gallery of Georgina hosted the opening reception and awards ceremony on March 29, where over $4,000.00 of prizes were given out. Prizes included the Jim and Connie MacDougall Award, 2 OSA Life Members Awards, the Toller Cranston Award & 2 Toller Cranston Honourable Mention Awards, 2 Eleanor Besen Awards, and the Juror’s Choice Award.
The gallery also handed out a gallery choice award, which was given to Mikael Sandblom’s piece, “Tendrils.”
Claire Smith is curator & collections manager at the Art Gallery of Georgina (claire@artgalleryofgeorgina.ca).
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