Good artists copy, great artists wait for works to enter the public domain.
Every year, creative works that were previously protected by copyright law in the United States enter into the public domain, which means that we can build upon, copy, and share the work for free. This opens up a great deal of inspirational material each year that artists can use in their work without worrying about infringing upon the copyright of the original creator. Iconic works of fiction such as A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner, and A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf, all entered into the public domain in 2025. Sound recordings from 1924 that still influence the shape of music today, such as George Gershwin’s performance of Rhapsody in Blue and Jelly Roll Morton playing Shreveport Stomp, can now freely be reused in new sound recordings.
All NYU community members—students, faculty, staff, and alumni—are invited to develop artistic pieces that remix, reuse, adapt, and transform works of creative expression that entered the public domain in 2025. These new artworks can pull directly from source material but should bring a different perspective or lens to the original work.
Please be advised that proposals must draw on works that entered the public domain in 2025, therefore they must have either a 1929 U.S. copyright registration or U.S. publication with a 1929 copyright notice. This does not apply to works published outside of the U.S. For reputable selective lists of works that came into the public domain in 2025, please review Duke University's Center for the Study of the Public Domain and The University of Texas at Austin. The University of Pennsylvania also maintains a full list of works that were registered with the U.S. Copyright Office in 1929 and have therefore entered into the public domain.
This exhibition will be installed in the Bobst Library Gallery with an October 2025 exhibition opening. Proposals should include a description of the artwork and detail how it connects to the above mentioned theme. It is not necessary to have a completed artwork ready before submitting a proposal.
Proposals are due on July 27, 2025, BY 11:59 P.M.
Submit your proposal on this form by July 27, 2025.
Two dimensional work (paintings, drawings, photography, etc.) must be able to be hung from the gallery's hanging rail system using a picture hook. For example: canvases, frames, or boards that have a hanging wire along the back, D-ring suspensions, or can support the mounting of other comparable attach points.
Maximum height: 7 feet.
Maximum weight: 50 lbs.
Video work must be delivered in an mp4 format. Please note: all work that contains dialogue, spoken word, or other linguistic elements will be required to display subtitles when exhibited, in order to make work more broadly accessible for individuals with disabilities. NYU Libraries will provide subtitle and captioning support for video work that does not have subtitles.
Audio work must be delivered in an mp3 format and include a transcript of any dialogue, spoken word, or other linguistic elements. Any audio selected will be delivered to exhibition visitors via headphones/audio stations.
Three-dimensional and sculptural work must be able to be displayed on a pedestal or display that does not require glass/acrylic cover.
Pedestal dimensions: 12 - 24 inches wide x 12 inches deep (42 inches tall)
Maximum weight: 50 lbs.
The Mamdouha Bobst Gallery is located on the first floor of NYU’s Elmer Holmes Bobst Library. The gallery is open at all times during the library’s hours of operation. It is an active space that also functions as a study lounge and gathering space. Work shown in this space must be able to exist in an active, dynamic environment without requiring additional security, environmental, or access provisions.
Original Proposals Due: July 27, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: August 3, 2025
Final Artwork and Assets Due: October 1, 2025
Exhibition Production/Installation: October 2-20, 2025
Exhibition Opening: October 22, 2025
Exhibition Closing: End of Semester
Who is eligible to apply?
All NYU Community members are invited to participate, including current undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, and alumni from any program.
Do I have to make the artwork before submitting?
Just propose your idea! We will accept the idea and then alert participants of acceptance to begin crafting the final piece.
What types of artworks can I submit?
Please refer to the parameters and guidelines outlined above.
Out of scope: Interactive technology-based work and/or work that requires a stable internet connection (i.e. nothing mediated through an ipad, laptop, or desktop computer). Video work that requires projection. Audio work that cannot be delivered via headphones (i.e. no directional speakers, audio spotlights, or ambiently playing audio).
Where can I find information about past exhibitions in the Bobst Library Gallery?
Information about current and past exhibitions at Bobst Library can be found on the Exhibitions page of the library website. Highlights for our most recent exhibitions, Cataloguing Creativity and Enabling Artistries, are available on the Libraries blog.
Contact
If you have any questions, please email libraryengagement@nyu.edu.
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