Open Call

Mascarade Opera: Mini-Exhibit

We’re thrilled to invite artists to participate in a small, curated mini-exhibition presented in collaboration with Fondazione Mascarade Opera, on the occasion of their February staged scenes production titled Dreams & Dualities.

Two artists will be selected, each presenting one artwork, displayed during the pre- and post-performance receptions of the opera.

This is an intimate, one-evening-only exhibition, taking place in the refined and historic setting of Palazzo Corsini al Prato in Florence. Given the short duration and logistical constraints, this opportunity is particularly suitable for artists based in Florence or nearby.

About the Theme: "Dreams & Dualities"

The evening brings together scenes from three operatic works exploring psychological, emotional, and moral dualities:

  • Le Nozze di Figaro (W. A. Mozart) — power, desire, deception, and social tension beneath comedy — Beneath its wit and elegance, it exposes a world structured by imbalance: masters against servants, men against women, authority against intelligence. Desire is constantly disguised, redirected, or overheard, and comedy becomes a veil for resentment, fear, and resistance.

  • Il Viaggio a Reims (G. Rossini) — identity, rivalry, and the theatrical nature of social roles — Set in a moment of suspension rather than arrival, that unfolds among characters defined by nationality, status, and performance. The long-awaited journey never takes place, and meaning emerges instead through delay, rivalry, flirtation, and self-display. The opera invites reflection on identity as something staged, celebratory rituals as fragile constructs, and the strange productivity of waiting, interruption, and unresolved motion.

  • Les Contes d’Hoffmann (J. Offenbach) — love, obsession, artistic ambition, and fatal illusion — Particularly in the story of Antonia, love and artistic calling become inseparable from danger. Creation is no longer redemptive but destructive; inspiration turns fatal. The opera moves in a dreamlike space where illusion, memory, and obsession blur into tragedy. 

Across these works, recurring themes emerge:

  • desire vs. restraint

  • reason vs. passion

  • appearance vs. truth

  • artistic calling vs. personal cost

Artists are invited to respond to these tensions freely and imaginatively, whether through narrative, symbolism, psychological portraiture, or atmosphere.

How to Apply:

This is a short, focused open call for members of Pneuma Art Foundation, priority will be given to completed works that fit the operatic themes of the evening. Paintings and sculptures are welcome, provided the work is suitable for display in a reception and salon-style environment.

Please include:

  1. Images of the proposed artwork (or closely related existing work)

  2. Artwork details (title, medium, dimensions, year)

  3. A short description of the work, including how it relates to the themes of Dreams & Dualities and/or the operatic material

  4. A short artist bio (max 150 words)

Due to space limitations, each submission will be carefully reviewed by our Board of Directors.

Apply in the member portal

Timeline:

  • Open call: January 8 – January 18

  • Selection announced: before January 26

Selected artists will be contacted directly. The event will take place on the evening of February 26th.

Display & Logistics

Due to the one-evening format and the nature of the venue, selected artists will be responsible for transporting their artworks to and from the exhibition venue, as well as providing any specialized display supports required (e.g. sculpture bases, easels), in coordination with Pneuma Art Foundation.

If you have more questions or need clarification, please email exhibitions@thepneuma.org

For more information about the rules, policies, and guidelines, click here.