The Joan Mitchell Foundation has announced the 37 artists who will participate in its Artist-in-Residence program at its Center in New Orleans in 2020. All of the artists are selected through a multi-tiered process that includes a review by a five-person panel of established artists, curators, and arts professionals. Participants are chosen with an eye toward: the potential career impact of a residency, as indicated by each artist; a demonstrated commitment to studio practice; and a cohesive body of work that speaks to creative vision and innovation. The 2020 residents include eight artists local to New Orleans and 29 artists traveling to the city from 14 different states, including California, Oregon, Ohio, Texas, Vermont, Florida, and New York.

“The 2020 artists’ work represents an incredible spectrum of formal and conceptual approaches, and an engagement with place, culture, identity, and the importance of the creative process in ways that feel timely and deeply meaningful,” said Toccarra A. H. Thomas, Director of the Joan Mitchell Center. “The residency program provides a platform for participants to continue to develop their work, share ideas and innovations, and to be inspired in new ways through dialogue with other artists, arts professionals, and the local community as well as by the unique history and culture of New Orleans. I look forward to welcoming the 2020 artists to the Center and to the energy and passion that we know they will bring to the experience.”

The full list of 2020 Joan Mitchell Center Artists-in-Residence includes:
Sarah Amos, Enosburg Falls, VT
Scott Andresen, New Orleans, LA
Olive Ayhens, Brooklyn, NY
Elenora “Rukiya” Brown, New Orleans, LA
Andrea Carlson, Chicago, IL
Cindy Cheng, Baltimore, MD
Oreen Cohen, Pittsburgh, PA
Yanira Collado, North Miami, FL
Pamela Council, New York City
Lauren Davies, Cleveland, OH
M. Florine Demosthene, New York City
Theo Eliezer, New Orleans, LA
AnnieLaurie Erickson, New Orleans, LA
L. Kasimu Harris, New Orleans, LA
Elana Herzog, New York, NY
LaToya M. Hobbs, Baltimore, MD
Sedrick Huckaby, Benbrook, TX
Ariston Jacks, Baltimore, MD
Lisa Jarrett, Portland, OR
Yashua Klos, Brooklyn, NY
Daniela Leal, New Orleans, LA
Deborah Luster, New Orleans, LA
Kaori Maeyama, New Orleans, LA
Rose Nestler, Brooklyn, NY
Ebony G. Patterson, Chicago, IL
Pat Phillips, Pineville, LA
Juan Carlos Quintana, Oakland, CA
Jamea Richmond-Edwards, Silver Spring, MD
Julia Rooney, New York, NY
Rebecca Rose, Davenport, FL
Katy Schimert, New York, NY
Elizabeth Simonson, Minneapolis, MN
Laura Spector, Houston, TX
Stephanie Syjuco, Oakland, CA
Hui-Ying Tsai, Brooklyn, NY
Jose Villalobos, San Antonio, TX
Antoine Williams, Greensboro, NC

The Foundation’s Artist-in-Residence program offers a wide range of resources, guided by Joan Mitchell’s vision to provide artists with the necessities of time and space to create their work. New Orleans-based artists receive studio space on the Center’s two-acre campus in the Seventh Ward for a period of up to five months. Artists participating from outside New Orleans are provided with studio space and lodging on the campus for a period of up to three months as well as financial support for travel to and from New Orleans and for the shipment of materials. All of the artists receive a monthly $600 stipend for the duration of their residencies and opportunities to participate in a breadth of programs, including open studios, artist talks, and networking events.

For many artists, the residency serves as a critical moment in their career development. Artist Sean Gerard Clark, who completes his residency this month, said, “Before the residency, I was working a full-time job in public health. The time and resources at the Joan Mitchell Center have been invaluable. They allowed me to transition from health educator to full time artist. I was able to experiment with techniques, take classes, obtain guidance and learn from others, and make some plans for the future of my practice.”

For others, the opportunity to connect with peers and the cultural community in New Orleans are essential aspects. Artist Sarah Amos, who will begin her residency in spring 2020, said, “In residency, the opportunity to exchange ideas, engage with a new and singular location, and work alongside other artists is thrilling and inspirational. It is this experience I’m after. Equally, my recent work has been influenced by a number of cultures and folk traditions that incorporate elaborate design and embellishments. Being in New Orleans, with its rich cultural heritage, is really compelling, and I think getting to immerse myself in this place will push my work in new directions.”                                                      

Established by the Foundation in 2015, the Joan Mitchell Center has hosted more than 200 artists since its inception. In addition to providing physical space and financial support, the program provides access to professional training and offers critical guidance in the form of studio visits with curators and consultations and workshops with arts, business, and legal professionals.

“The Artist-in-Residence program connects directly with Joan Mitchell’s vision of supporting future generations of artists. With the residency, we are committed to offering a combination of resources that speak to the different and layered needs of today’s artists, from financial support to physical space to access to networking and community connections. We are always excited by the work and ideas that emerge from the artists during residency, and are delighted to welcome our 2020 class,” said Christa Blatchford, Chief Executive Officer of the Joan Mitchell Foundation.