Artist in Residence Program
the CO. Artist in Residence Program supports local beginning to mid-career artists who have had a lived experience with mental health. The residency provides a supportive and inclusive space for self-directed production of new work, working towards a final show. The residency is an opportunity for two local artists to work within a creative environment, in partnership with community organizations, and includes studio space and equipment. Please contact us by clicking the button below for more information or to apply.
2024 featured artist:
Lauren Graham
Lauren is a mixed media artist who mainly works with acrylic, oil pastels, graphite, and ink. Emotional expression, spirituality, and interpersonal connections are the heart of her artistic identity. Playing with themes of decay; life within death, art formed into her passion, aiding her journey to share truth in ways words could not express.
2023 featured artist:
Thomas Martin
Thomas is an aspiring artist and designer. Thomas hopes to one day use his artistic eye to shape ideas and concepts for fashion, visual art, architecture, and many other forms of visual media. He communicates his expression primarily through drawing, painting, and fashion.
2022 featured artist:
Iain Rice
Iain is a local photographer who specializes in fine art photography and digital art. He brought a refreshing and unique style of art into the CO. He possesses incredible artistic talent, capable of turning ordinary art into stunning masterpieces. He has a knack for inspiring others, encouraging them to be bold, brave, and embrace their unique qualities.
2022 featured artist:
Tina Naemsch
What started as a coping method turned into a passion. Tina is a multi-talented artist on a self-journey discovering all aspects of creativity. Her work is immersed in vibrancy, freedom, and colour. The abstract nature of her technique invites her to examine the intricacy of process and healing. Tina’s residency goal was to create an upcycled fashion line, and finish with a fashion show to present the clothing.
2021 featured artist:
Michael Pickard
Michael went through a spiritual awakening but was ungrounded in his experience, leading to him being hospitalized and medicated. When he realized the system of care he was being given wasn’t working, he set out to find new ways to heal and understand his experience. After much suffering and a big change in perspective, he was able to discover new tools, insights, and wisdom that have helped him not only heal, but thrive. Michael uses art to express his inner world and hopes it can inspire others to see the magic of life.
