School of Visual Arts Artist Residency Programs

CIRCUT TENSION

An alumni exhibition featuring recent work across sculpture, photography, video and mixed media by artists from SVA’s residency programs, curated by Rachel Gisea Cohen () and Nivia Hernandez (.her)

“Circuit Tension” brings together a group of alumni artists whose practices engage the complexities of the current political climate. Moving between the personal and the collective, the works on view reflect a heightened awareness of systems—social, technological and ideological—that shape contemporary life. Through strategies of disruption, reflection and reimagination, these artists respond to conditions of uncertainty, polarization and rapid change..."

The exhibition will be on view at SVA Flatiron Gallery and Flatiron Windows, 133/141 West 21st Street, New York City.

Summer days are fast approaching, and so is another season of artist residencies in NYC. Looking forward to long studio days, new work, and another creative summer in the city. 🌳⁠
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Illustrations by 2026 resident ⁠
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Glass work by incoming resident 🩻🫀⁠
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Sarah Band creates surreal glass sculptures inspired by science, anatomy, and the macabre. Her science interest came from her upbringing, being raised in California’s Silicon Valley by a family of physicists. ⁠
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In the upcoming residency, Sarah will continue to explore her series of encasing organic matter inside of clear glass sculptures, working at the intersection of art and science.⁠
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5 works by artist

After participating in last year’s Artist Residency Program, Sasha will return to continue developing her practice in the upcoming Contemporary Practices Residency.

"My work examines the point at which recognition remains active while resolution recedes. I construct forms that suggest bodies, containers, relics, or supports, then shift those readings through slight mismatches of scale, material, and use..."

Congratulations Sasha, we'll see you soon 🕊️

Limited spots still open for our 2026 Contemporary Practices Residency.
Apply today.

Six paintings by residency alum from the series "If These Walls Could Talk", each in intentional dialogue with the space they inhabit.⁠
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The central theme revolves around the question: “If walls had a voice, what would they say?” Perhaps the objects depicted in traditional still life paintings—and the walls they once hung upon—carried silent narratives. In reimagining those settings, the artist gives voice to the forgotten surfaces, suggesting that if those walls could speak, they might have chosen to look a little bolder, a little louder...⁠
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A big congratulations to a few of our residents accepted into our 2026 painting and mixed media residency! Looking forward to seeing all your work this summer 🧚⁠
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1 & 2 by Katharina Huemer ()⁠
3 by Lewis Pell ()⁠
4 by Xuecong Wang (.art) ⁠
5 & 6 by Chao Ding ()⁠
7 by Yinuo Li ()⁠
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5 stills from Laura Parnes's () multi-channel film Installation "Magic Thinking." The film steeped is in the current moment when climate catastrophe, the COVID pandemic, and the rise of fundamentalism combine to contribute to an apocalyptic aura. With this aura, magical thinking can become a survival strategy, creating surprising bedfellows. In particular, the confluence of the far right and the “wellness” world. ⁠
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Laura Parnes’ critically acclaimed films and installations fuse comedy with pathos to probe social and political trauma. Informed by traditions and genres in narrative film, video art and q***r theater, her work blurs the lines between conventions of storytelling and experimentation.⁠
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We’re excited to share that Laura will be bringing her expertise as faculty for this year’s Lens and Screen Arts Residency hosted by ⁠
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Link in bio to register.⁠
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Some Illustration fun from last year's open studios exhibition 🚀⁠
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There's still time to apply for this year's program! Led by award-winning illustrators .so.oteh and this is a chance to develop professional portfolio pieces and get your work in front of some amazing artists ⁠
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Link in bio to learn more ⁠
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More striking mural work by , faculty for this year's mural and public arts residency.⁠
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If you are looking to turn your personal art practice into large scale, public facing work this residency is for you! + It all takes place in one of the world's most influential cities for street art and graffiti, NYC. ⁠
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The best part is that this residency culminates with you designing and painting a public outdoor mural in collaboration with Jenny.⁠
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Applications still open, link in bio to apply! 🗽⁠
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Work by Matthias Merkel Hess (), a New York City-based artist who explores the everyday American experience by remaking plastic vessels in clay, such as milk crates and buckets, using these forms to explore themes of consumerism, environmentalism, and the American Dream. ⁠
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Merkel Hess's work has been widely exhibited and is held in the collection of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Crocker Museum of Art, Sacramento, California; and The Nerman Museum of Art, Overland Park, Kansas, among others. ⁠
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We're very excited to have Matthias join as one of our faculty for the 2026 Sculpture, Installation and New Media Art Residency ⚡️⁠
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Apply today at the link in bio.⁠
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