Entry Deadline: June 22, 2026
Acceptance Notification: July 15, 2026
In-Person Drop off: July 31 and August 1, 12–5pm at RoCo
Opening Reception: August 26, 6-9pm
Exhibition Dates: August 26 – September 19, 2026

Fire and Form is a juried exhibition celebrating the depth, diversity, and innovation of encaustic and wax-based artists working across New York State. Hosted in Rochester—a city with a strong tradition of experimental modernism and material exploration—this exhibition highlights the luminous, layered, and enduring qualities of wax as a contemporary medium.

New York State is home to a thriving encaustic community shaped by established art schools and historic craft traditions. From the Great Lakes to the Finger Lakes region, the Adirondacks to the Hudson River Valley and New York City, artists create visual and sculptural art using wax-based mediums in ways that bridge abstraction, landscape, and conceptual practice. Rochester especially has played an outsized role in the recent re-invigoration of this medium. Organized by Rochester’s Working With Wax group, Fire and Form will bring together these artists not only to showcase their work, but to establish a gathering point for encaustic practice in the region.

Encaustic, as a medium, is both durable and radiant. It aligns powerfully with both contemporary abstraction and New York’s longstanding landscape traditions. This exhibition aims to demonstrate that vitality and mark the beginning of a defining platform for encaustic artists across New York State.

SUBMISSIONS

Read the full submission guidelines and important dates here: showsubmit.com/show/www-fire-and-form-encaustic-and-wax-based-art

ARTISTS

will be announced in July

ABOUT THE WORKING WITH WAX GROUP

Working with Wax Roc/Flx began as an informal group of Rochester area encaustic artists who met together to foster community, exchange ideas, and organize group exhibitions. Now a formal chapter of the International Encaustic Artists (IEA), Working With Wax is facilitating its first juried group exhibition. The group continues to facilitate community and share both educational and exhibition opportunities for artists throughout the region. Follow Working With Wax on Instagram @workingwithwaxrocflx

ABOUT THE JUROR

Regina B Quinn is an encaustic artist residing in the Northern Catskill Mountains of New York. Regina serves as President of International Encaustic Artists and Director of Grant Initiatives. Her art career encompasses painting, photography, ceramics, printmaking, and theatrical set design; she now focuses on creating works in encaustic mixed-media. She teaches encaustics online and in-person at the Woodstock School of Art and Mulranny Arts in Ireland. Regina is represented by the Carrie Haddad Gallery in Hudson, ny. @ginabq

ABOUT THE IMAGES

"The Hills of Italy" by Lida Riedlinger
"Seeds of Growth" by Connie Ehindero
"Finger Lakes Grapes" by Anne McCune
"Drowning in Blue" by Pat Deluca
*example images by members of the Working With Wax Group.

New York State Council on the Arts
Farash Foundation
County of Monroe
Gouvernet Arts Fund
Richard Schwartz
Anne Havens
Mary S Mulligan Charitable Trust
and over 1,000 Members!