Artist in Residence (AiR)
Time + Space to CreateArtist in Residence (AiR)
The residency program at Casa provides an opportunity for artists from across all disciplines to pursue their practice in a supportive, concentrated, community-based atmosphere. Open to artists with diverse experience levels, backgrounds and a variety of media including those in or recently graduated from undergraduate programs.
Workshops, installations, open houses and artist talks are part of AiR community engagement program. Informal and friendly workshops allow you to create alongside artists. Open houses and artist talks with visiting artists allow for learning new perspectives and ways of seeing.
Follow the AiR programming within the seasonal Casa Program Guide and events calendar for upcoming events.
Upcoming Artist in Residence:
Maisie Luo: July 3 – 30, 2026
Maisie Luo (b. Shenzhen, China) is a New York and Houston-based artist (USA). Luo makes paintings, installations, and painted animations that address ecological relations. Luo’s work has been exhibited at galleries such as DDDD Gallery, NY, Westbeth Gallery, NY, Barbara Davis, TX, Laisun Keane Gallery, Boston, and Harvard University, Boston. Her animations have been shown at festivals including the Senlis Film Festival, France, and won awards at the Concordia Film Festival, Canada, and the San Francisco Film Festival. Luo holds an MFA from Rutgers University in 2025 and a Master of Theological Studies in Religion and Ethics from Harvard Divinity School in 2022.
Nature as Motifs: Pattern Making
Tuesday, July 28 | 6:30 – 8:30 pm
2D Classroom, Casa | $35+ GST Registration required
Join visiting Artist in Residence Maisie Luo for a pattern-making workshop that invites participants to slow down, observe, and turn experiences of nature into patterns. Inspired by embroidery art from the highlands of Southwestern China, where designs often grow from close relationships with the natural world, this workshop offers a space to explore how stories, memories, and knowledge of nature can become visual motifs and patterns.
The workshop will begin with a brief introduction to embroidery art from the highlands of Southwest China featuring abstract motifs inspired by plants, mythological animals, and local cosmology. Participants will then be guided to reflect on their own connections to nature and use colors, shapes, and repeating patterns to create original designs.
Weather permitting, the group will take a short walk around Casa to gather ideas and inspiration directly from the landscape. Participants will draw their patterns on paper using pencils, markers, and pens, or use fabric markers to decorate a tote bag.
Through this process, participants might be inspired to begin developing their own evolving visual language. Materials provided. Beginners welcome, no prior drawing or pattern-making experience is required.
Open House
Thursday, July 30, 2026 | 5 pm – 7 pm
Rotary Square Kiosks, Casa | FREE
Come see the artwork that AiR Maisie Luo has made during her time at Casa, while enjoying live music in Rotary Square during our Upside Downtown concert series. Chat with the artist between sets, dance to the music, and enjoy supper from a food truck vendor during this multi-disciplinary arts event.
Application Process
Emerging artists find the Casa AiR program to be a welcoming place for those wanting to experience the residency process. Mid-career and established artists are also encouraged to apply as Casa provides space free of charge and will help to co-ordinate a number of public engagement opportunities.
Please seek funding for travel, lodging and per diems from granting agencies as necessary. Successful candidates may request letters of support for their grant applications.
Application due dates:
Application due dates occur January 15 and June 15 of each year.
Submissions for the January 15 intake will be programmed for a residency between June and December.
Submission for the June 15 intake will be programmed for a residency between January and June of the following year.
