Every photograph tells a story. When part of a body of work, the photograph takes on new meaning, becoming part of a bigger and more complete narrative. A portfolio allows the photographer to explore the complexities of their subject, and provide context that gives it richness and meaning that is more than the sum of its parts. Panopticon Gallery is pleased to announce a call for art for “First Look 2025,” our annual juried portfolio showcase, where several portfolios will be selected for the exhibition on view from February through April 2025.

First Look has become a distinguished tradition at Panopticon Gallery, providing a platform for emerging and established photographers alike to connect with a global audience. Over the years, First Look has become our annual opportunity to meet and connect with hundreds of talented artists, many of whom have gone on to participate in future group or solo exhibitions at Panopticon Gallery. We can't wait to see what remarkable stories this year will bring!

New this year: The Wall at Panopticon Gallery

Along with this exhibition, we are excited to announce the upcoming addition of a secondary gallery space at Panopticon, called The Wall at Panopticon Gallery. The Wall, which will be located just outside of our main viewing area, will feature a regularly rotating display of smaller scale and unframed work. Our goal with The Wall is to create a more accessible, affordable, and fun gallery experience for the photography community through group and solo shows that change on a monthly basis. Once each show on The Wall comes to a close, prints will be relocated to the gallery’s flat files, where they can be viewed or purchased by Panopticon Gallery patrons.

For past First Look shows, we have run an online companion show in tandem to our main galley exhibition, called A Second Glance. This has allowed us to share First Look submissions that did not make the final exhibition, but that we really connected to and felt deserved to be seen. For 2025, The Wall’s inaugural exhibition will be First Look: A Second Glance. All First Look 2025 submissions will be automatically considered for A Second Glance. This means that your submission provides you with two opportunities to share your work at Panopticon Gallery.