The Los Gatos Art Association (LGAA) presents
"Breaking Through"
The 2025 Greater Bay Area Open (GBAO)
Juried Competition and Exhibition held at New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU)
Exhibition Dates: Fri, Aug 1, 2025 through Sat, Oct 4, 2025
Entry deadline: Fri, Jun 13, 2025
ABOUT the GBAO:
The Greater Bay Area Open (GBAO) is a fine art only competition and exhibition presented by the Los Gatos Art Association (LGAA), designed to promote fine art and artists from the greater Bay Area. Starting in 2015 and held biennially, the GBAO is now in its sixth showing and has moved to even numbered years. This exhibit brings an exciting and dynamic association between the LGAA and NUMU, New Museum Los Gatos, host to this collaboration.
Spanning twelve Bay Area counties, from Sonoma to Monterey, this juried event draws artists to compete for awards and recognition, but also brings exposure to respected jurors, galleries, and art collectors from the region. The GBAO embraces artistic excellence, accepting both two dimensional and three dimensional fine art into this premier venue.
Sincerely,
Elke Groves and Jeff Owen
Founders and Co-Chairs - GBAO
ABOUT the LGAA:
The Los Gatos Art Association (LGAA) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the education, enrichment and support of the arts community. Our mission is to promote creative expression in the visual fine arts by fostering high standards, extending appreciation, and encouraging cooperation and camaraderie among artists. Membership is open to all artists and art supporters. www.lgaa.org
ABOUT New Museum Los Gatos
New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU), formerly The Museums of Los Gatos founded in 1965, is a public non profit art and history museum. NUMU’s mission is to engage the community at the intersection of art, history, and education through innovative, locally connected and globally relevant exhibitions, programs, and experiences.
EXHIBITION THEME:
Breaking Through
"A point at which a significant change occurs”
For an artist, “breaking through" is a moment or event that marks a significant shift in the creative process, perspective, or direction. It’s like a new turning point or a realization that opens up new avenues for exploration. In the search for inspiration, a breakthrough might originate with an external event, such as experiencing a new culture, meeting a mentor, or going through a personal challenge. It could also be prompted by an internal shift—perhaps a change in how artists view their work or the world around them.
This moment doesn’t always have to be dramatic or grand; sometimes it’s a quiet passage that leads to new layers of creativity. For example, artists might realize they’re more interested in abstraction than realism, or they might discover a new medium that completely changes the way they approach their craft. That’s when the internal compass realigns, pushing them toward new ideas, new techniques, or a deeper connection to their own expression.
In essence, breakthroughs are catalysts that break down creative blocks and can open fresh channels of inspiration. They are milestones where artists feel that they’ve unlocked something – an emotional truth, anew technique, or a different way of thinking—that propels them forward in their artistic journey.
JURORS:
Kristen Lindseth Rivera - Kristin Lindseth is an internationally exhibiting sculptor, printmaker and educator. Her sculptures are figurative and symbolic works and are each one of a kind. She works in both wood multimedia constructions and in metal. Her work has been represented in over 200 exhibitions regionally, nationally and internationally. Her sculptures and intaglio printmaking are included in private collections in Sweden, Germany Spain, France, England, United Arab Emirates and Greece. Recently she has completed a series of 18 wood multimedia constructions and carvings in response to the California wildfires of Fall2020. This body of work is titled San Ardo Refuge, and has been exhibited in four solo shows in museums and art centers.
Daniel Garcia - Daniel is native to the Bay Area and has been a San Jose resident since he was three. Daniel's entrepreneurial journey began as a fashion photographer in the 1980's. After a decade of running his own photo business, he moved into nonprofit work focusing on college student's spiritual formation. Feeling a strong desire to bring his two passions together, the artist and serving the community, Content Magazine began.
As the Cultivator of Content Magazine, Daniel leads a high-quality magazine that reflects the diversity and creativity of the people of South Bay.
SPONSORS:
The Law Office of Timothy A. Lundell, Esq
Groves Family - Embracing Breakthrough Artistry
ELIGIBILITY:
This competition is open to all artists, 18 years of age or older, including emerging artists*, who are residents of the greater Bay Area, which includes the following counties: Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Marin, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito.
*Note: An Emerging Artist is defined as: Artists who are at the beginning of their careers, and who have created a modest and independent body of work.
RULES:
Artist must reside in one of the Counties noted in "Eligibility". Works must be created by the artist, original in concept, and completed within the last three (3) years. Artwork accepted must be able to be displayed at New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) as they are presented in their submitted digital image. Work previously shown at any Los Gatos art museum, work done under instructor, wearable art or jewelry, functional ceramic, crafts, installations, video / films, copies, are not allowed in the show. Note: Giclée prints will only be accepted in the Photo/Digital Art medium.
MEDIUMS:
There will be six categories: Oils, Acrylics, Watercolors, Mixed/Other, Photo/Digital, and 3D sculpture. All mediums accepted, except as noted in RULES.
AWARDS:
Prizes of First Place $400, Second Place $200, Third Place $100, and honorable mentions – are all chosen by the jurors. First prizes are awarded in all six categories. Second prizes are awarded in categories with 10 or more entries. Third prizes are awarded in categories with 15 or more entries. Sponsors Awards of $300—are chosen by corresponding sponsors.
2D ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS (READ CAREFULLY):
Please read this very carefully
· MAXIMUM SIZE – ( INCLUDING FRAME ) – MUST NOT EXCEED 30 inches in any direction.
· MINIMUM SIZE – ( EXCLUDING FRAME ) – MUST NOT BE LESS THAN 10" x 10". Measure twice!
· Accepted 2D artwork must be adequately framed, wired, and ready for hanging.
· No protruding eye hooks or saw-tooth hangers.
· Hanging wire must be in good condition, taut, and preferably attached with D-rings.
· No framing with pressure spring clips.
· Canvas edges must be clean, or painted, with no visible staples or nails.
· Plexiglas glazing is preferred over glass. Artist is responsible for any damage resulting from glass glazing material.
3D ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS (READ CAREFULLY):
Please read this very carefully
· 3D artworks MUST be either stand alone or pedestal based.
· NO WALL based sculptures.
· Stand-alone sculpture MUST NOT EXCEED 84 x 18 x 18 (84 inches tall by 18 inches wide by 18 inches deep) nor weigh more than 80 lbs.
· Pedestal based sculpture MUST NOT EXCEED 36 x 18 x 18 (36 inches tall by 18 inches wide by 18 inches deep) nor weigh more than 40 lbs.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
All artwork submissions must be in digital format OnlineJuriedShows. Log in on this page and click Enter This Show to begin your submissions. A maximum of five (5) artworks from each artist may be submitted. Images must be in .JPG format, under 4 mb each, at least 1920 pixels on the longest side, with a minimum resolution of 72 dpi. For help with your entries, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351
IMPORTANT: New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) REQUIRES artists to write up to 100 words to give context to their artwork. These words will be posted in the gallery to embellish the viewers' understanding of the work. Add this text to your entry at Online Juried Shows in the description field. Please note the 500 word character limit.
ENTRY FEES (Non-refundable):
LGAA Member, First Artwork Entry: $45
Non-LGAA Member, First Artwork Entry: $55
Emerging Artist, First Artwork Entry: $25
Subsequent Entries: $15 each. (maximum of 5 entries)
SALES:
Artwork may or may not be for sale. All sales will be handled by the artist. Any work sold during the GBAO must remain in the show until the show ends.
NOTIFICATION:
Submitting artists will be notified of juror results on the date specified. Results will be available in your OnlineJuriedShows artist profile. If notification is not received within two (2) days, please email: GBAO@lgaa.org.
ACCEPTED ARTWORK / ARTWORK DELIVERY:
Artists whose artwork is accepted into GBAO 2025 must hand deliver their artwork to NUMU, New Museum Los Gatos. No artwork shipments will be accepted. NUMU address: 106 E Main St., Los Gatos, CA 95030.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS / IMPORTANT DATES:
Application Open: Mon, Apr 14, 2025
Entry Deadline: Fri, Jun 13, 2025
Jury Notification to Artist: Mon, Jun 23, 2025
Art Intake Day: Sun, Jul 27, 2025, 11 am to 2 pm
Reception Day: Thu, Jul 31, 2025, 6 pm to 8 pm
Exhibition Dates: Fri, Aug 1, 2025 through Sat, Oct 4, 2025
Art Removal Day: Sun, Oct 5, 2025, 11 am to 2 pm
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
There is only one day and time for Art Intake. By applying to the GBAO, artist agrees to the timeline of events, in particular, agrees to deliver their accepted artwork on Art Intake Day, OR have someone else deliver their artwork on Art Intake Day. There is only one day and time for Art Removal. By applying to the GBAO, artist agrees to the timeline of events, in particular, agrees to retrieve their accepted artwork on Art Removal Day, OR have someone else retrieve their artwork on Art Removal Day.
Insurance for exhibited artwork is the responsibility of the artist. The artist agrees to hold harmless and release from liability the Los Gatos Art Association (LGAA) and New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU), their officers, agents and employees for any and all damages, claims, causes of action, losses, liability, judgments, costs, costs of collection, and attorney’s fees arising out of or related to the exhibit.
Promotional photographs may be taken at GBAO by LGAA and NUMU, and the artist consents to the use of their image in future LGAA, GBAO, & NUMU promotional materials.
USER OR ENTRY ISSUES:
If you have any issues with your entry / entries, please contact Online Juried Shows at onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351 to have them assist you in a resolution of your issue. The LGAA does not control or modify entries.