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Artist Studio Program

Program Description

Since 2007, the Artist Studio Program has supported artists at critical moments in their careers. For nearly two decades, it has provided local and regional contemporary artists with studio space and support—including material, financial, and curatorial—for their creative practice.

The Artist Studio Program reaches its 20th anniversary year in the 2026/2027 season, and we are excited to continue to grow and evolve how we support local and regional artists’ practices. Included, we will extend the Artist Studio Program to ten months (previously, nine) and increase the monthly honorarium to $900/month (previously, $750). 

Additionally, moving forward, the Artist Studio Program’s focus will shift to the process of creating artwork rather than a Lawndale exhibition at the end of the residency. This allows the Artist Studio Program to do what it does best: give artists the time and space to freely dive into their ideas—to research, experiment, and create—without the pressure or expectation of result, product, or specific outcome.

Major support for The Artist Studio Program is provided by Kathrine G. McGovern/The John P. McGovern Foundation.

Search for Artist

Round 20 (2026-2027)▼

Our 2026/2027 panel was selected to honor the twentieth anniversary of this program with two panelists having ties to that first round in 2007. Panelists this year included Dr. Margo Handwerker (Interim Director of the Glassell School of Art and its Dean of the Core Residency Program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Round 1 Artist Studio Program Panelist), Jabari Anderson (Round 1 Artist Studio Program Participant), Lovie Olivia (Lawndale Advisory Board member and past Lawndale exhibiting artist) and Jeremy Johnson (Lawndale's Exhibitions Director).

Round 19 (2025-2026)▼

Our 2025/2026 panel included Alexis Pye (Round 16 Artist Studio Program Participant), Dr. Rachel Afi Quinn (scholar and educator), Angelica Raquel (Lawndale Advisory Board member and past exhibiting artist), Jeremy Johnson (Lawndale's Operations & Exhibitions Manager), and Anna Walker (Lawndale's Executive Director).

Round 18 (2024-2025)▼

This year’s panelists included Laura Gutierrez (choreographer, performing artist, and educator), Saúl Hernández-Vargas (Lawndale Advisory Board member and past exhibiting artist), Jamire Williams (Round 15 Artist Studio Program Participant), Jeremy Johnson (Lawndale’s Operations & Exhibitions Manager), and Anna Walker (Lawndale’s Executive Director).

Round 17 (2023-2024)▼

Our panelists included Regina Agu (2017/2018 Artist Studio Program participant), Jamal Cyrus (Lawndale Advisory Board Member), Melissa Noble (Interim Director of Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts/Coordinator of Interdisciplinary Initiatives), Jeremy Johnson (Lawndale Operations & Exhibitions Manager), and Anna Walker (Lawndale Executive Director).

Round 16 (2022-2023)▼

This year's panelists included Bria Lauren (2017/2018 Artist Studio Program participant), Sterling Allen (Lawndale Advisory Board Member), and Anna Walker (Executive Director, Lawndale).

Round 15 (2021-2022)▼

Round 14 (2019-2021)▼

The 2019-2021 Artist Studio Program participants were selected by Nick Barbee, Lawndale Advisory Board Member; Shannon Crider, 2017-2018 Artist Studio Program participant; and Stephanie Mitchell, Executive Director of Lawndale.

Round 13 (2018-2019)▼

The 2018-2019 Artist Studio Program participants were selected by Regina Agu, 2017-2018 Artist Studio Program participant, Natilee Harren, Assistant Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art and Theory at the University of Houston, and Stephanie Mitchell, Executive Director of Lawndale.

Round 12 (2017-2018)▼

The 2017-2018 Artist Studio Program participants were selected by a panel of three art professionals; Alhena Katsof, New York-based independent curator; Dean Daderko, curator at the Contemporary Art Museum, Houston; and Lily Cox-Richard, Artist Studio Program Director.

Round 11 (2016-2017)▼

The 2016-2017 residents were selected from 101 applicants by a panel of three arts professionals; Emily Peacock, Artist, 2013-2014 Lawndale Studio Artist & Lawndale Programming Committee Member; Bob Snead, Artist & Executive Director, Press Street, New Orleans; and Clint Willour, Curator, Galveston Arts Center.

Round 10 (2015-2016)▼

The 2015-2016 residents were selected by Emily Peacock, Artist, 2013-2014 Lawndale Studio Artist & Lawndale Programming Committee Member; Bob Snead, Artist & Executive Director, Press Street, New Orleans; and Clint Willour, Curator, Galveston Arts Center.

Round 9 (2014-2015)▼

The 2014 - 2015 residents were selected by Kimberly Davenport, Director and Chief Curator, Rice Gallery ; David Politzer, 2011-2012 Lawndale Studio Artist; and Katia Zavistovski, Curator and Lawndale Programming Committee member.

Round 8 (2013-2014)▼

The 2013-2014 residents were selected by Joshua Fischer, Lawndale Programming Committee Member & Assistant Curator, Rice Gallery; Kerry Inman, Owner, Inman Gallery; and Seth Mittag, Artist & 2011-2012 Lawndale Studio Artist.

Round 7 (2012-2013)▼

The 2012-2013 residents were selected by Dean Daderko, Curator at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston; Sharon Engelstein, Artist; and Adrienne Johnson Yost, Senior Associate at Kinzelmann Art Consulting and Lawndale Programming Committee Chair.

Round 6 (2011-2012)▼

The 2011-2012 residents were selected by Elaine Bradford, Artist and Lawndale Programming Committee member; Rachel Hecker, Artist & Associate Professor, UH School of Art; and Todd Tubutis, Executive Director, Blue Sky, Portland, Oregon.

Round 5 (2010-2011)▼

The 2010-2011 residents were selected by Robyn O’Neil, artist; Andrea Pollan, Director, Curator’s Office, Washington, D.C.; and Robert Ruello, artist and Lawndale Programming Committee Chair.

Round 4 (2009-2010)▼

The three residents were selected by Bill Arning, Director, The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston; Michael Guidry, Artist, Curator of the University of Houston Public Art Collection and Lawndale Programming Committee Chair; and Mary Magsamen, Artist and Curator for Aurora Picture Show.

Round 3 (2008-2009)▼

The three residents were selected by Sylivie Fortin, Art Papers Editor-in-Chief; Francesca Fuchs, artist and Lawndale Programming Committee member; and Dario Robleto, artist.

Round 2 (2007-2008)▼

The three residents were selected by J Hill, Head of the Sculpture Department at the Glassell School, and Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Houston; Claudia Schmuckli, Curator for Blaffer Gallery; and Stephanie Saint Sanchez, Lawndale Artist Studio Program alumna.

Round 1 (2007)▼

A jury consisting of Franklin Sirmans, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Menil Collection; John Sparagana, Chicago based artist and Professor of Painting at Rice University; and Margo Handwerker, Lawndale Programming Committee member and Curatorial Assistant at the MFAH selected the three residents.