The Receipts of Becoming: Love Letters to Our Former Selves

This February, Molly+Friends will present an online exhibition surrounding the belief that before we can truly offer love to another, we must first offer a "Valentine" to the ghosts of our past selves.

This show is an audit of evolution. It’s a celebration of the mess, the cringe, and the growth that happens when we stop deleting our history and start wanting to frame it. Drawing from the tradition of the "commonplace book" and the archival instinct, we are looking for work that interrogates who we were in order to celebrate who we are now.

To be considered, you must submit your finished work(s) alongside a high-res image of your "receipt"—the physical corresponding proof of version of yourself who didn’t quite know the plot yet. Think literal receipts, old photos, diary entries, bus tickets, clothes, records, toys, video games, artwork you no longer identify with, or anything else you have in mind: there are no limitations. We want to see the DNA of your transition.

Eligibility:

  • All mediums are welcome: Visual arts, film, poetry, music, fashion, etc.

  • Open to all artists (local and international).

Selected artists will be featured in our curated digital gallery and promoted to our collector network. We value each and every submission, and will keep all applicants in mind for future virtual and/or in-person exhibitions and art fair opportunities regardless of selection status for this particular feature.

Deadline: 

How to apply

Please submit the following information to info@mollyandfriendsnyc.com:

- Artist Website and/or Social Media

- Brief Artist Bio

- Explain to us your interpretation of the theme in as many or few words as you'd like

- Along with the "receipt" of your former self, please submit between 1-3 art pieces along with the year they were created. For visual art, please also provide the medium, dimensions and pricing.

If selected, you will receive a follow-up email with further updates/ instructions ahead of the online show.

Application Deadline

February 1, 2026