Panopticon Gallery is now accepting submissions for First Look 2026, our annual juried portfolio showcase celebrating the art of photographic storytelling. This exhibition invites photographers to present cohesive bodies of work that reflect a distinct point of view, technical excellence, and conceptual depth. Selected artists will be invited to exhibit their work at Panopticon Gallery and engage with a community of collectors, curators, and peers who champion the photographic arts.

In addition to the main First Look 2026 exhibition, Panopticon Gallery will present First Look: A Second Glance—an additional exhibition that runs in tandem with First Look, highlighting singular images from submitted portfolios that resonated with our curatorial team. This allows us to showcase a broader range of compelling photographic voices and provide artists with another opportunity to share their vision with gallery audiences.

Selected works from A Second Glance will be featured on The Wall at Panopticon Gallery, our rotating exhibition space dedicated to smaller-scale and unframed photographs. Located just outside the main gallery, The Wall offers an accessible and engaging platform for artists and viewers through rotating group and solo presentations. Following the close of this exhibition, prints from A Second Glance are added to the gallery’s flat files, where they remain available for viewing and acquisition by collectors and gallery patrons.

Through First Look: A Second Glance and The Wall, Panopticon Gallery is able to extend visibility and connection for artists, highlight the depth and diversity of contemporary photography, and provide meaningful opportunities for growth within the artistic community.