Ultraviolet Studio Project
an experimental community-residency designed by and for trans artists
About Us
Ultraviolet Studio Project is an experimental community-residency designed by and for trans artists. The first cohort centers six interdisciplinary artists exploring community, health, and wellness in their practices—three from Maine and three from out of state– and will take place at Light Manufacturing in Portland for the month of June 2026.
Ultraviolet will provide traditional elements of a residency that support artists—a stipend, materials budget, access to workspace, and curated studio visits with art world professionals—alongside some less traditional elements—connecting with queer and trans healers, bodywork, group nature walks, and housing placements with local queer and trans people. In line with the community-centered nature of this project, each artist will choose a portion of their work to showcase to the public at the end of the session. By combining high-quality professional development with wellness, support, and community engagement, this residency aims to rewrite what residencies are, who they are built for, and who they serve.
Why Ultraviolet?
Ultraviolet light contains photons of greater energy than visible light, yet it isn’t visible to the naked eye. Being trans is like having ultraviolet light inside of you; even if your transness isn’t visible to the outside world, it is a powerful, beautiful form of light.
Trans people are creative by definition—to conceive of an entirely different iteration of the self is a radical act of creativity. Because of structural obstacles in place, too often trans creativity is invisible to the greater world. Ultraviolet Studio Project is like a prism: by fostering the creativity of trans artists, this project will make visible the light of entire communities.