For most of us, rejection hurts.  But in the art world, rejection by one audience or set of judges doesn’t mean your work is worthless.  Try elsewhere, and you may still be rewarded with sales and good reviews.

This is the basic premise of the Salon des Refusés.  The Brownwood Art Association is inviting artists to show and sell any artwork entered, but not accepted into the 2024 Stars of Texas Juried Art Exhibit.

Artwork should be delivered to the Art Center, 215 Fisk St., Sat. Jan 27, 4-5:30 pm.  A paid Stars of Texas entry fee receipt is required for each piece.  No additional entry fee will be charged by the BAA.   A 25% commission will be charged by the BAA on works sold during the Salon.  The first 200 pieces delivered will be accepted.

Salon organizer Donna Lewis says  “The Art Center Salon has always been popular, and we feel the community benefits by getting two shows at the same time.  The artists put so much effort into their work, and we want to be part of rewarding that effort.” 

The origins of the first Salon des Refusés go back to the Paris Salon (Salon de Paris), a  showcase sponsored by the French government and Academy of Fine Arts, and first held in 1667.  The 1863 Salon jury rejected so many submissions that the artists and their friends protested.  Emperor Napoleon III decided to allow the rejected works to be exhibited nearby, trusting public opinion to decide their worth.  This set the precedent for subsequent similar exhibits, and marked a shift away from academic traditions and constraints on the artist.

The BAA Salon des Refusés will run concurrently with the Stars of Texas Exhibit, through Sat. Feb. 17.  Be sure to visit both shows, and judge the art for yourself.  For more information about the Salon and the BAA, call the Art Center at 325-641-2916, find the BAA on Facebook, and visit brownwoodart.net.