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Uncool Artist

Residency

(UAR)

From studio practice to lasting visibility: a curated solo in NYC and sustained representation

Join from anywhere. We work with and for you in a tailored way, taking care of the critical steps — from up-to-date repertoire, documentation and portfolio to positioning and representation.

A one-year online residency for committed visual artists seeking a structured path to a curated solo exhibition in New York, followed by 1–2 years of dedicated representation and lasting presence.

Focus on your art while we support everything around it: developing a coherent body of work, refining your critical voice, and shaping the documentation, portfolio, and positioning that sustain visibility. No relocation, no studio rent, no visa logistics.

Throughout the year, you receive specialized guidance in weekly cohorts and monthly one-on-ones with rotating curators and advisors. This structured process ensures you conclude with a strong body of work, complete professional materials, and a concrete outcome: a curated NYC solo exhibition followed by 1–2 years of representation and visibility.

Applications open: 
Sep 12, 2025

Deadline: 
Oct 15, 2025 (priority) 
Oct 28, 2025 (final)

Application fee: $45 (waivers available) Applications close on Oct 28, or once 80 completed applications are received (whichever comes first).
Apply Now
2026

The Program

An international team of curators and artists guides a selected cohort through a structured arc. Weekly group work and monthly one-to-one meetings advance two tracks in parallel: the work and the positioning that carries it.

  • Public outcome (the following year): a curated 2-week solo exhibition in NYC, with documentation and gallery representation, combined with Artsy presence for 1–2 years after the residency concludes.
  • Lifelong network: build lasting connections with peers, curators, and advisors that continue beyond the program.
  • Weekly group sessions: sharpen your thinking and practice while receiving regular peer and curatorial critique. The program emphasizes rigorous dialogue, curatorial guidance, and a strong peer/advisor network, culminating in an in-person solo exhibition in NYC.
  • Monthly one-on-one meetings: receive tailored guidance on your work and goals in 1:1 sessions with curators or artist advisors.
  • Saturdays: join participants from other UA programs in forums, artist talks, and study groups — expanding both your network and your repertoire through conversations beyond the residency.
  • Structured phases: move from clarifying and strengthening your practice to preparing for public outcomes.


No matter your medium — painting, installation, performance, new media, etc. — or your specific inquiry, this structure provides a clear pathway to strengthen your body of work, refine your statement and portfolio, and position yourself for visibility in the international art field.

More details are available in the F.A.Q. section.

Ideal for artists already producing work who seek sustained visibility and curatorial positioning, not quick fixes.

This residency is tailored for artists who:

  • Want to advance their practice with context and intention.
  • Value curatorial feedback, critical thinking, and peer exchanges.
  • Are committed to producing, documenting, and presenting their work over 12 months.
  • Seek visibility that emerges from sustained work and structured preparation.
  • Value being part of an international network of artists, curators, and advisors.
  • Embrace curatorial dialogue and critical thinking, with reflection and conceptual alignment at the center.

It is designed to meet artists where they are and help them articulate their practice with depth and clarity.

The residency runs entirely in English. Applicants should have sufficient English proficiency to participate actively in group discussions, one-on-one meetings, and written components.

More details are available in the F.A.Q. section.

Choose the Year-Long Residency for the full arc that leads to exhibition and representation, or the Quarterly Residencyfor a focused 12-week cycle that builds clarity, documentation, and production without an exhibition outcome.

Year-Long Residency

12 months (≈48 program weeks with short seasonal breaks).

  • Rotating curators and artist advisors in weekly meetings with the cohort.
  • Monthly 1:1 meetings.
  • Culminates in a curated solo exhibition in our NYC gallery space the following year, with documentation, representation and Artsy presence (1–2 years).
  • Alongside your solo exhibition outcome, the year builds a strong peer cohort and curator network that continues supporting your work.
  • Cohort size: maximum 8 artists.

Quarterly Thematic Residency

12 weeks (one quarter of your choice). No exhibition.

  • Theme-specific cohort + targeted deliverables.
  • Quarterly residents also access this peer and curator network, joining the conversations of their chosen cohort.
  • Outcome: clear statement, portfolio/docs, and 3–10 consistent works.

More details are available in the F.A.Q. section.

Snapshot

Year-Long
Quarterly
Duration
12 months (48 weeks)
12 weeks (one quarter)
Meetings
Weekly group sessions + monthly 1:1s + Saturday activities
Weekly group sessions + monthly 1:1s + Saturday activities
Themes
Move through all four annual themes
Participate in the theme of your chosen quarter
Technical Focus
Technical Focus Clarity → Expression → Visibility → Integration
One cycle of technical + thematic focus
Outcome
Curated solo exhibition + gallery representation and Artsy presence (1–2 years)
Clear statement, portfolio/docs package, and 3–10 consistent works
Cohort Size
Max 8 artists
Limited spots available if year-long cohort does not fill.
Who It’s For
Artists ready for deep commitment, visibility, and exhibition outcomes
Artists seeking clarity, practice strengthening, and preparation for future cohorts

Fully online program → in-person solo show in NYC.

The residency follows a 12-month arc that weaves together a technical syllabus and a thematic inquiry:

Technical syllabus

  • Clarity → practice mapping, statements, context
  • Expression → documentation, portfolio, proposals
  • Visibility → exhibition planning, networks, public voice
  • Integration → exhibition project refinement and readiness

 

Thematic inquiry

Critical frameworks chosen annually, shaping readings, critiques, and group discussions.

The fully online format allows international artists to engage deeply in critique and production without relocation costs, while the solo exhibition in NYC delivers the public in-person outcome.

Across quarters, artists move through both technical and thematic lenses while building sustained relationships with peers, curators, and advisors.

  • Year-long residents complete the full arc and prepare for a curated solo exhibition in NYC the following year.

  • Quarterly residents join for one 12-week cycle, working within the same technical focus and theme as the main cohort, but without an exhibition outcome.

2026 Thematic Cohorts

Each quarter merges one technical phase with a thematic inquiry:

  • Quarter 1 (Jan–Mar): Clarity + Belonging & Territory

  • Quarter 2 (Apr–Jun): Expression + Memory & Archive

  • Quarter 3 (Jul–Sep): Visibility + Ecologies & Sustainability

  • Quarter 4 (Oct–Dec): Integration + Fragment & Process & Infrastructure of Art

Regardless of medium or inquiry, these themes act as lenses that sharpen articulation and expand the critical language of your practice.

More details are available in the F.A.Q. section.

Each year-long resident who completes the program in good standing will present a curated solo exhibition in our NYC space the following year.

These exhibitions include documentation support, representation through Uncool Gallery, and Artsy presence for 1–2 years.

Inclusion requires both completion in good standing and the delivery of strong work and documentation during the residency.

This is not a pay-to-show model: outcomes result from the residency process and curatorial guidance.

More details are available in the F.A.Q. section.

  • Applications open: Sept 11, 2025
  • Priority deadline: Oct 15, 2025
    – Applications received by this date are prioritized for early interviews and scholarship consideration.
  • Final deadline: Oct 28, 2025 – Applications close on Oct 28, or once 80 completed applications are received (whichever comes first).
  • Pre-selection: rolling (earlier applications prioritized)
  • Enrollment deposit: A 30% enrollment deposit is submitted before the interview and applied to tuition upon acceptance. If the application does not move forward after the interview, we refund the deposit in full.
  • If the application is approved after the interview, the deposit secures the spot and we apply it toward tuition.
  • If the application does not move forward after the interview, the deposit is refunded in full.
  • If the applicant withdraws after final approval in the interview process, the deposit is not refundable.
  • Interviews: rolling (earlier applications prioritized)
  • Decisions: communicated within ~2 weeks of interview
  • Program start: Jan 19, 2026
  • Application fee: $45
    – Waivers: up to 10 for new applicants; unlimited for alumni and current members
  • Tuition: $3,200–$11,200 depending on format. Partial scholarships may reduce tuition to $1,600. Flexible payment plans available.


More details are available in the F.A.Q. section.

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More details are available in the F.A.Q. section below.

Artist Advisors and Curators

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Get to know our residents!

Artist results

The UAR has got me thinking even more about how community plays a role in creating longevity and vitality in our practices. Big things can happen when we are granted the privilege of spending our time just for creating art. And thinking art. And making a work that is meaningful to our communities and that releases our specific way of existing in the world. I came out of this residency with some work I felt really proud to show and that grew into larger projects and networks of connections.
ThixBrazil
UA residency was a time of deep introspection and inspiring communication. I felt a deep sense of community and was able to take my art practice to the next level. The residency was a good time to experiment and get valuable feedback. I was looking to expand my art practice as a glass artist and get new ideas - both the residency and city guided me in that. All in all, I felt I was in a good place. I think a residency is a necessary step in an artist's career and I'm glad I had it at UA.
Sigrid LuitsaluEstonia
I have discovered so much about myself and formed connections with amazing artists in the program. Although I am a very busy person and my life is so chaotic, I feel like every time I had a discussion with the mentors it made me feel like I was on the right path again. Honestly the months I had with uncool artist brought me so much further than the years I spent in art school. I thank UA for the incredible work you put together to make this happen for us.
Rheanne Jane Winstanley Hong Kong / Philippines
My residency at UA was a much needed experience as it granted me access to a community and space, which I felt I was lacking prior. The mentors and curator were always available to guide myself and the other residents through meetings, critiques, and brainstorming throughout the process. I feel that because I was a part of this program, I was pushed to expand on my practice, question my motives, and operate in the world as a more intentional artist.
Victoria RosalesU.S.
The Uncool Artist community has been a great support to me as I've been refining my art practice. It has been crucial to be in a cohort of artists who are discriminating and kind when they insightfully critique my work to propel it to become better. By 'better' I mean that it becomes more in line with my stated hopes for it, and even sometimes goes beyond what I have initially envisioned. I know that type of growth doesn't happen in a vacuum, or even in sustained isolation in my studio.
Tricia TownesNashville, TN, USA
For me, getting the opportunity to be part of this community (the artists, the curators, the advisory's, listen to the lectures, participate in exhibitions) made me improve all my skills and teach me how to be a professional.
Marisa BernottiDolores, Uruguay
Before, I saw myself as an artist somewhat aimless and not belonging to any group, both to share experiences and think together about my artistic practice in the visual arts. After joining Uncool Artist, I feel part of a community of people who think about art and the world beyond art. A very plural community both in language and thought changed my practice a lot and gave me confidence in speaking and presenting my work.
Juliano MazzuchiniBuenos Aires, Argentina
I feel like I'm participating in a generous community. Opportunities have arisen, and I didn't expect them. Now I feel driven to produce more, and I think safer. Now I can see that loneliness was not my problem. It is a system problem. Uncool Artist showed me that I have options and life outside the Ego's system.
Danielle CukiermanRio de Janeiro, Brazil
Uncool Artist community is a dream come true for me. Where else could one meet, network, brainstorm, share their work and get personable constructive critique, if not Uncool Artist? A community of artists, writers, researchers, curators, art historians, all unabashed and unapologetically dedicated to building and sustaining the future of the arts!
Sika FoyerNew York, U.S.
I was mainly looking for my people. I was pretty doubtful about the art market and frankly felt a bit discouraged. I used to think that the hardships of being an artist were much greater than they (actually) are. I thought that building my path would depend on becoming a sellable product, and I kept feeling I was meant to be an outsider after all. I quickly understood that my success depended on ME, my attitude, energy, and my behavior towards circumstances. At Uncool Artist, I quickly learned that I had an alternative to the so-called "game." The community indeed helps—a lot. I learned by experiencing it.
Erica IassudaItu, Brazil
Being part of the residency was extremely important in my path as an emerging artist. Within Uncool Artist, I met artists from different places and different approaches and moments in their careers. The exchanges with these people continue to help me tread a place in the universe of contemporary art. Understanding how to do an artistic project, the assembly of different categories of portfolios, and the critical monitoring offered by Uncool Artist, were things that helped me to understand how exhibition and market circuits work. Uncool Artist is an international community concerned to support its participants, always with a critical and considerate eye.
Douglas Ferreiro Brasilia, Brazil
UA is the art community I never knew that I needed. I never could have imagined that there was a group of like-minded artist out there in the world working collectively and collaboratively on trying to upend the current structure of the art world. UA does this by bringing diverse artists from across the globe together to try to make the creation of art, for the betterment of all, into a more inclusive and equitable activity. Underlying it all is the power of love. My peers in UA are some of the most intellectually curious and caring people I know. Together we are creating a new paradigm for the art world.
Tamera BedfordHong Kong, China
Uncool Artist pushes me to go out of my comfort zone. It helps me understand that opportunities are out there, and I must be ready in all senses and see that I can create the chance I'm looking for. Understand the audience, be involved with the audience, storytelling, project my whole year... It is difficult to explain Uncool Artist in a few words because it is a whole new thing.
Marisa BernottiDolores, Uruguay
Uncool Artist has been a tremendous opportunity and challenge to take my practice to the next level. I have found a great community of artists that has allowed me to know better the creative artistic process, which is indispensable as a curator. It is an invaluable opportunity to hear from accomplished artists, curators, art fairs, and museums directors first-hand and in an intimate conversation setting. All of this, topped with the synergy of a group of individuals working towards the common goal of being better art professionals, is what makes all the time, money, and efforts invested pay off!
Dainy TapiaMiami, US
Uncool Artist has been an inspiring space with a hands-on approach to learning (by doing) that has been instrumental in my recent realizations as an artist.
Rodrigo PimentaSão Paulo, Brazil
Before I joined Uncool Artist, I felt adrift. I was highly imaginative, working instinctively but had no specific direction. I felt lost on how I could join all the pieces of art in my life together as a career path that made sense. Now at Uncool Artist, I developed a better sight of how my past got me here and what steps I can take to build a prosperous career as an artist. Also, I don't feel alone anymore, but part of this loving and caring community that grows and flourishes together.
Thais RibeiroSão Paulo, Brazil

Partners

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F.A.Q.

  • Weekly cohort sessions with rotating curators and artist advisors (Tuesday or Wednesday, 6–8 pm ET).
  • Monthly one-on-one meetings.
    Saturday activities (forums, artist talks, study groups).
  • A structured syllabus in three phases: Clarity → Expression → Visibility → Integration.
  • For year-long participants in good standing:
    – A curated 2-week solo exhibition in NYC (the following year).
    – Documentation, Uncool
  • Gallery representation, and Artsy presence for 1–2 years.
  • Access to an international network of peers, curators, and advisors that often continues long after the residency year.

No matter your medium or inquiry, the program ensures you leave with a strong body of work, refined texts and documentation, and positioning for visibility.
This is an online residency. You save on space and relocation costs while focusing on critique, curatorial guidance, documentation, and your solo IRL exhibition project.

  • Year-long residency: Full arc of the syllabus, solo exhibition in NYC, documentation, Uncool Gallery representation, and Artsy presence.
  • Quarterly residency: One 12-week term tied to a single theme. No exhibition outcome, but designed to build clarity, documentation, and consistent production.

Yes. The residency runs entirely in English, so participants must be able to communicate in English.

Our online sessions are designed to be experienced live: exchanging perspectives, building accountability, and engaging with the group’s energy. Recordings are available, but the transformation happens when you are in the room.

Because artists join from different time zones, some flexibility and planning are required. Residents consistently find that adapting their schedules to attend one or two sessions per week is well worth it. We also adjust times slightly in consultation with advisors and according to each group’s composition.

By default, sessions are held once or twice per week across 12 weeks (each quarter). Weekday sessions usually take place on Tuesdays or Wednesdays at 6 pm (ET), and Saturday sessions at 11 am (ET). This is a framework, and each group’s final schedule is arranged to best accommodate everyone.

Each year-long resident who completes the program in good standing will have a curated 2-week solo exhibition in our NYC space the following year.
Uncool Artist provides the space, event promotion, and agreed installation support.
Artists are responsible for transporting works to/from the venue.
Photos and floorplan of the gallery are available on the Uncool Gallery website.

Year-long residents in good standing present a curated solo exhibition in NYC the following year, followed by 1–2 years of gallery representation and public presence.

  • Sales split: 75% Artist / 20% Uncool Artist / 5% Artsy (deducted directly by the platform).
  • Works are listed in USD, usually $500–$10,000.
  • Artists are responsible for packing and shipping sold works.
  • Uncool Artist manages promotion, collector relations, and sales.

No. Exhibitions and Artsy listings are curated outcomes of the residency.
Inclusion depends on completing the residency in good standing and delivering a consistent body of work with strong documentation.

Although UAR offers a depth of engagement comparable to combining an MFA with gallery membership and international exposure, we have structured funding to keep it both rigorous and accessible.

Tuition
• Year-long residency: $11,200
• Quarterly residency: $3,200

Enrollment Deposit
A 30% deposit is required upon acceptance (applied toward tuition).

Scholarships
Up to 2 partial scholarships per cohort are available, each reducing tuition by 50%. (Example: the year-long residency may be reduced to $5,600; the quarterly residency to $1,600.)

Payment Plans
Flexible options are available. For example:
• Year-long: $3,360 deposit, then 12 monthly installments of about $655
• Quarterly: $960 deposit, then 3 monthly installments of about $750

Sustainability
As an artist-run initiative, UAR is sustained directly by its community of participants. This funding model balances accessibility with the resources needed to preserve the depth of dialogue, guidance, and visibility that artists value.

Before your interview, you submit a 30% enrollment deposit, calculated from the full tuition. This deposit counts toward your enrollment — it is not an extra fee.
If we accept you after the interview, the deposit secures your spot and we apply it directly toward tuition.
If the application does not move forward after the interview, we refund the deposit in full.
If you withdraw after being accepted, the deposit is not refundable.
This system ensures interview slots are reserved for artists ready to commit.

$45.
Waivers available: up to 10 for new applicants; unlimited for alumni and current members.

MFA programs in the US typically take 2 years and cost $70,000–100,000+. They provide academic credentials and institutional context, but most conclude with a group thesis show rather than a solo exhibition, and ongoing visibility depends on each artist’s independent efforts.

DIY gallery rentals in Brooklyn or Manhattan cost $5,000–12,000 for a two-week slot. They give direct access to space but rarely include curatorial framing, peer dialogue, professional documentation, or long-term visibility. The responsibility for all of that — critical context, press, collectors, positioning — falls back on the artist.

UAR was designed as a third path. It combines the depth and rigor of a structured program, the connections of an international peer and curator network, and the positioning and visibility of a curated solo exhibition — all at a fraction of MFA or rental costs. Year-long residents complete a 12-month arc and present a curated solo exhibition in NYC the following year, supported with documentation, Uncool Gallery representation, and Artsy presence (1–2 years). Quarterly residents focus on a 12-week cycle, gaining clarity, production consistency, and critical dialogue without the exhibition outcome.

  • Artists retain full ownership of all works.
  • Sales only occur with artist approval.
  • Net proceeds: 80% Artist / 20% Uncool Artist (physical sales); 75% Artist / 20% Uncool Artist / 5% Artsy (online).
  • Discounts up to 10–15% may be offered; larger discounts require artist approval.
  • Works remain under artist’s own fine-art insurance during transit and storage; Uncool Gallery covers general liability at the venue.

If you have more questions not addressed on this page, contact us.

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