Gallery Fellow: Resilient Roots

Description

Gallery Fellowship Description

Artist-in-Residence Ximena Flores invites Gallery Fellows to collaborate on her ongoing project Resilient Roots: Life, Death, and the Beauty of Nature's Cycle, which explores Latin American cultural beliefs surrounding the cyclical nature of life and death using eco-conscious assemblage art made from natural and repurposed materials. Through workshops, dialogue, and hands-on creation, students will engage in both art-making and cultural learning, contributing to a final exhibition that showcases individual and collective interpretations of resilience, identity, and interconnectedness with nature.

Key Learning Goals

• Introduce students to sustainable, nature-based art practices.
• Explore Incan and Latin American cultural perspectives on life, death, and renewal and foster discovery of personal roots and perspectives on these topics. 
• Collaboration, critical thinking, and expression through assemblage and installation art.
• Prepare students for a culminating exhibition that integrates their work with Resilient Roots.

ArtWorks' Your Name Here Gallery Fellowship Program is a transformative, free educational experience designed for young artists ages 16-24 to expand their creative horizons through hands-on mentorship with accomplished Artists-in-Residence. Through personalized guidance, professional development, and collaborative opportunities, the program fosters artistic growth in an inclusive and supportive environment. Participants gain valuable gallery experience, experiment with new techniques, and showcase their work in a group exhibition with the opportunity to sell their pieces, retaining 75% of any sales. This unique fellowship empowers emerging artists to connect with the community and step confidently into the professional art world.  

Requirements

Gallery Fellowship Requirements

• Gallery Fellows must be 16 - 24 years old.
• Gallery Fellows must commit to attending all scheduled studio sessions and professional development sessions.
• Gallery Fellows must participate in the installation and curation of the group exhibition.
• Gallery Fellows must participate in the Gallery Opening. 
• Gallery Fellows must participate in the deinstallation and closing of the group exhibition.

Gallery Fellowship Schedule  

Mandatory Studio Sessions: March 10 – April 30, 2026 (Tuesdays/Thursdays, 5-8pm)

Mandatory Installation & PD Sessions: May 18 – May 28, 2026

Exhibition Duration: May 29 – July 8, 2026 | 6 weeks 

Mandatory Opening: Friday, May 29, 2026 | 5-7pm 

Mandatory De-Install: Thursday, July 9, 2026 | 4-7pm  

Application Requirements

The application deadline is February 9 by 9am. Be sure to upload images of your artwork using the additional materials button on the application. If you have issues with uploading through the additional materials button, please email your artwork portfolio to grace@artworkscincinnati.org. The samples of your artwork are the most important element of your application!