KODA Utopia Artist Residency

KODA offers an artist residency program for two mid-career, female-identifying and/or non-binary artists who create conceptual and socially engaged work. The Fall 2026 residency will span from August 1-October 31, 2026. The program is placed under the theme of Utopia. KODA is a Brooklyn-founded nomadic social practice nonprofit arts organization focusing on conceptual mid-career artists ingrained in social justice. KODA offers survey exhibitions as well as tailor-made and community-based artist residencies, through dedicated collaborations with socially engaged partners. The nonprofit serves the community with contemporary art events and outreach to strengthen arts education. In its overall mission to support the artistic and professional growth of artists, KODA acts as a laboratory for creative concepts, reflecting its core values of curiosity and collaboration.

Selected artists receive:

• Studio space from August 1-October 31, 2026 on Governors Island, NY
• Optional residency exhibition on Governors Island, NY
• Honorarium in the amount of $1,000
• Studio visits with art world professionals such as curators and art historians
• Public engagement opportunities, with an additional honorarium of $250
• Professional development credit of $200
• Monthly curatorial and production consultancy with KODA team
• Networking and collaboration opportunities
• Access to Materials for the Arts

Eligibility:

• KODA's residency program is targeted to mid-career artists working in all media and creating conceptual and socially engaged work. While the term "mid-career" is up to interpretation, we consider artists aged 30 years old or older, having a significant body of works spanning several years, with minimum 10 years of experience as professional artist, and minimum two solo exhibitions, as "mid-career". They are often without current gallery representation.
• Artists must be 30 years old or older.
• We invite female-identifying and/or non-binary artists to apply.
• Our 2026 residency theme is Utopia.
• KODA does not provide housing, transportation, or visa sponsorship.
• We do not accept applications from students currently enrolled in school.
• We do not require a BA, MA, BFA, or MFA.
• We do not yet accept applications from collectives/collaborative groups.
• We require the artist to devote a minimum of 20 hours per month to the Artist Residency.
• We require Artists-in-Residence to participate in open studios at least once during their residency term.
• We require Artists-in-Residence to attend monthly residency meetings.

Selection process: We will be accepting two Artists-in-Residence for the Fall 2026 Utopia season. A jury of experts in the field, and KODA staff and board will take part in the selection process. Accepted candidates will be notified by April 30, 2026, and announced by June 30, 2026.