Figures of Architecture: Design Your Own Grotesque

About this program

AIA New York and the Center for Architecture invite participants to design a modern grotesque for the January 2027 exhibition, Figures of Architecture: A Living Archive of Grotesques and Mascaron Ornamentation. Selected designs will be featured in the exhibition and archive, and winners will receive a 3D-printed reproduction of their grotesque. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, may submit individually or as a group, and are limited to one submission; all media are accepted except AI-generated imagery. Submissions are due October 23, 2026, and must include a JPG, PNG, or PDF visual representation at 12 x 12 inches, at least 1920 x 1920 pixels, and a description of no more than 150 words.