PENUMBRA WORKSPACE PROGRAM
Applications for the 2026 Workspace A-I-R Program have closed.
The 2026 Workspace artists-in-residence will be announced in late May.
The Penumbra Workspace Program benefits three US-based emerging artists with access to time, facilities, critical and technical support, and honoraria. The extension of the program ranges from six to eight weeks depending on the time requested by the selected artists. Participants have liberal access to the workspace facilities. They are expected to use their time to pursue their own projects: researching, photographing, scanning, printing, working on an exhibition or editing a book.
The jurors for the 2026 Workspace AIR are:
Makeda Best
Deputy director of Curatorial Affairs at the Oakland Museum of California, curator, author, historian and educatorNatasha Chuk
Media theorist, researcher, writer, and educatorWalead Beshty
Artist and educator
For more information on application requirements, and residency FAQ, please click here.
Sponsors
This program is supported by The Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation, The Joy of Giving Something, the Ruth Foundation for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, public funds from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council, and the Lawrence Foundation.
About the Workspace A-I-R Program
The Penumbra Workspace Program benefits three US-based emerging artists* with access to time, facilities, critical and technical support, and honoraria. The extension of the program ranges from six to eight weeks depending on the time requested by the selected artists. Participants have liberal access to the workspace facilities. They are expected to use their time to pursue their own projects: researching, photographing, scanning, printing, working on an exhibition or editing a book.
* An emerging artist is someone in the early stage of their career, who takes risks and embraces challenges, and who hasn't yet established a solid reputation as an artist amongst other artists, curators, producers, critics, and arts administrators.
PREVIOUS RESIDENTS
2025
Dana Bell | Magda Biernat | Brian Van Lau
2024
US-BASED ARTISTS
Aaron Turner | Cali Banks | Ryan Frigillana
NEW YORK CITY-BASED ARTISTS
Ayanna Dozier | Cheryl Mukherji | Jeanette Spicer
Finalist (US-based)
Allie Tsubota
Finalist (NYC-based)
Lieh Sugai
Learn more about the 2024 Workspace Residency.
2023
US-BASED
Harlan Bozeman | Priya Suresh Kambli | William Camargo
NEW YORK CITY-BASED
Lauren Orchowski |Naima Green | Sophie Schwartz
Finalists (US-based)
Sebastian Ferruzo | Ryan Frigillana
Finalists (NYC-based)
Jan Rattia | Derick Whitson
Learn more about the 2023 Workspace Residency.
2022
US-BASED ARTISTS
Cati Bestard | Daniel Hojnacki | Kierra Branker
NEW YORK CITY-BASED ARTISTS
Donavon Smallwood | juliana roccoforte novello | Kate Ovaska
Learn more about the 2022 Workspace Residency.
2021
NEW YORK CITY-BASED ARTISTS
Daveed Baptiste | Rehan Miskçi | Sophie Barbasch
US-BASED ARTISTS
Dylan Hausthor | Alyssa Minahan | Christie Neptune
Finalists (NYC-based artists)
Marc Ohrem-Leclef | Debora Francis
Finalists (US-based artists)
Odette England | Dawn Kim
Learn more about the 2021 Workspace Residency.
2020
US-BASED ARTISTS
Christine Elfman | Whitney Hubbs
NEW YORK CITY-BASED ARTISTS
Adama Fawundu | Arash Fewzee | Martyna Szczęsna | Robin Crookall
Learn more about the 2020 Workspace Residency.
2019
US-BASED ARTISTS
Samira Yamin | Rachelle Bussières
NYC-BASED ARTISTS
Irene Mamiye | Lucy Helton
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS
Almudena Romero | Pedro Wainer
Finalists (US based artist):
Kristine Thompson & Kioto Aoki
Finalists (NYC based artists):
Kaitlyn Danielson & Lauren Orchowski
Finalists (International artists):
Ella Morton & Isa Benn
Learn more about the 2019 Workspace Residency.
2018
ASPEN MAYS
NOAH DOELY
Learn more about the 2018 Workspace Residency.
2017
SUNÉ WOODS
SYL ARENA
Learn more about the 2017 Workspace Residency.
SPONSORS
This program is supported by Roz Leibowitz, The Joy of Giving Something, The Jacques & Natasha Gelman Foundation, The Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation, the Ruth Foundation for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, public funds from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council, and the Lawrence Foundation.
