FOOL ME ONCE...
The Alumni Association of the New York Academy of Art invites artists to submit work for Fool Me Once..., a juried exhibition hosted by the Monira Foundation, and curated and juried by Jason Patrick Voegele and Ysabel Pinyol Blasi.
This exhibition application is open to all alumni of the Academy's CFA and MFA programs who have graduated prior to September 2026.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Dec 4, 2026 by 11:59pm ET
ON VIEW: Jan 22 - Feb 26
visits by appointment
OPENING RECEPTION: Jan 22, details TBA
CLOSING EVENT & EARLY PICKUP: Feb 26, details TBA
at Monira Foundation, 888 Newark Ave, New Jersey
We tend to trust our eyes, but what happens when the things we see aren't quite what they appear to be? Fool Me Once... explores the art of visual deception, optical illusion, subtle symbolism, and hidden meaning in artwork.
We are looking for works that challenge our perceptions and reward a closer look: works of art that trick the eye through illusion and perspective, conceal images or symbols that reveal themselves slowly, or present familiar subjects whose meanings change once we recognize what we're actually seeing.
Whether through clever misdirection, unexpected narratives, or subtle psychological ambiguity, the exhibition celebrates the pleasure of discovery and the realization that seeing something and understanding it are not necessarily the same thing.
We invite artists to challenge what we think we know, question what we believe we see, and remind us that sometimes the most interesting things in works of art are the ones we almost missed.
Ysabel Pinyol Blasi is Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Monira Foundation, a contemporary art foundation with locations in New Jersey and Chicago. Previously, she served as Curatorial Director of Mana Contemporary, where she led curatorial programming across its campuses in Jersey City, Chicago, and Miami. She is also Co-Founder of Monira Residencies, a multi-city residency program supporting emerging and mid-career artists.
Originally from Barcelona, Pinyol Blasi holds a Master of Architecture from the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Barcelona. Her curatorial practice spans contemporary art, architecture, and interdisciplinary cultural programming, and she has organized exhibitions internationally for museums, foundations, and art fairs. Her work also includes advising artists and supporting the development and management of private and institutional art collections.
She regularly participates in panels, lectures, and artists’ portfolio reviews for institutions and organizations including RISD, NYFA, Photolucida, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Jason Patrick Voegele is a New York City based curator, writer, art consultant, art appraiser, and reformed gallerist.
Raised in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore, he studied painting and art history at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam, earning his master’s degree from Pratt in 2000.
His career includes senior positions at several prominent New York galleries and founder of MCV Gallery, Republic Worldwide, and The Lodge Gallery on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Today, as Founder and Principal Director of NY Art Consultant, he advises a diverse and select clientele ranging from emerging collectors to museums, corporations, institutions, and established private collections.
ABOUT MONIRA FOUNDATION
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Monira Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution, functions as a radical experimental laboratory, working in close collaboration with artists, curators, musicians, dancers, producers, and writers to conceive, realize, and present innovative projects in all media. Its aim is to spark, intensify, and promote an evolving cultural and social dialogue between creators, audiences, and institutions. Focusing on the unique potential of interdisciplinary work in a context distinct from the distracting pressures of academia and the market, Monira Foundation advances the practices and products of today’s foremost artists, amplifying their contributions to communities both local and distant.
Mission
Our mission is to expand the reach and quality of art available to the public through residencies, exhibitions, and public programs that address urgent and ongoing community needs, particularly as these needs evolve and change.
Vision
Through our vision we champion the creation and understanding of art and its unique and vital contribution to society. When, as now, creative individuals and collectives are under political and economic distress, undertakings such as Monira Foundation assume an even greater significance, becoming resources and advocates for artists in ways that reflect their inestimable societal value.
Values
At our core, we value:
Our constituents – Artists, Institutions, and Patrons
Dialogue – As the catalyst to innovation and understanding
Community – As a place for encouragement and opportunity
Where We Are
The Monira Foundation offers programs and events virtually and at two partnering locations: 888 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306 & 2233 S Throop St, Chicago, IL 60608
Our DEIA statement
The Monira Foundation recognizes that equity is critical to the long-term viability of the arts, but historically, one culture has been dominant at the expense of a greater multitude of humanity. We are committed to reversing this inequity by embracing an ethics of inclusion. Centering the voices and experiences of BIPOC, LGBTIA+, women, and artists with disabilities sits at the heart of Monira Foundation’s collaborations with artists, performers, dancers, and writers. In our mission to expand the reach and quality of art available to the public, we strive to remain nimble in order to provide an environment where everyone has full access to a dynamic creative life, and hold ourselves accountable as we continually scrutinize our own programs and services, challenging and reforming any structural inequities that would hinder such a framework.
