Call for Members

About LAS Contemporary

My name is Chrissy Lush, and I am a photographer based in Nashville, Tennessee.

I founded LAS in 2025 after encountering a challenge familiar to many independent artists: access to professional platforms, art fairs, and institutional visibility without traditional gallery representation. What began as a way to support my own practice and a small group of artists quickly proved viable through early presentations, including Future Fair in New York and The Photography Show presented by AIPAD.

As LAS developed, I found myself at a crossroads. The initial goal had been to create access by opening doors to fairs and exhibitions that are typically difficult for independent artists to reach. Once those opportunities began to materialize, the question became how to sustain them beyond a single project or exhibition cycle.

Rather than dissolve the structure, LAS is evolving into something more durable: an artist-run, digital-first platform that pools resources to maintain access to tools like Artsy representation, art fair participation, and curated exhibitions. The membership model emerged as a practical response to that question of how to keep LAS active, supported, and useful to a broader group of artists over time.

To ensure each artist receives meaningful visibility and support, membership is limited to 24 artists.

Membership

Membership dues are $1,000 annually.

This is a shared infrastructure model. Artists collectively fund the systems that support professional representation. Membership directly supports:

  • Artsy Gallery Partnership and platform maintenance

  • Website hosting and development

  • Art fair application and participation infrastructure

  • Exhibition production and promotion

  • Administrative coordination and collector communication

Member Benefits

  • Annual Solo Exhibition: Each member receives one solo exhibition per year presented as a dedicated digital feature on both the LAS website and Artsy, where global collectors and curators primarily encounter the work.

  • Year-Round Artsy Representation: An active artist profile and inventory on Artsy throughout the year for ongoing visibility within a global collecting ecosystem.

  • Art Fair Opportunities: Members may be selected for participation in physical art fairs under the LAS banner. LAS covers all application fees and manages the administrative coordination. Selected artists split the wholesale cost of the physical booth space equally.

Sales Structure

  • Art Fair Sales: Artists retain 100% of sales.

  • Artsy and Website Sales: LAS retains a 10% commission after Artsy processing fees to cover transaction handling, collector communication, fulfillment coordination, and platform maintenance.

Shared Responsibilities

LAS operates through shared stewardship rather than a fixed staff. Members are expected to:

  • Provide exhibition materials and documentation when scheduled.

  • Support fellow artists by engaging with and sharing their exhibitions.

  • Participate in fair presentations when selected.

  • Contribute to a professional and collaborative cohort culture.

How to Apply

The deadline to apply for the inaugural LAS cohort (beginning October 2026) is September 15, 2026.

Please email the following to info@lascontemporary.com with the subject line: ARTIST SUBMISSION

  • 5–10 images of recent work (or a link to a specific, cohesive portfolio)

  • Artist statement

  • CV

  • A brief note on why you want to join LAS at this stage of your practice

Applications will be reviewed as they are received up until the deadline.