Ultraviolet Studio Project

a community-residency designed by and for trans artists

About

Ultraviolet Studio Project is an artist residency designed by and for trans artists. The first cohort of seven interdisciplinary artists will come together in Portland in June 2026 to explore their overlapping interests of community care, health, and wellness.

Ultraviolet will provide a stipend and access to workspace, the connection of a shared studio practice, studio visits with wellness practitioners, and community housing placements. Artists will share with the extended community through a collective showcase at the conclusion of the program. Through dedicated time for independent work, connection with one another, and an opportunity to engage with the larger community, Ultraviolet Studio Project 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.

Do trans people need their own artist residency? Doesn’t one exist?

Yes, we need one! And nope: the short answer is that while there are a plethora of really cool projects such as BTFA Collective, Chinkapin, Fire Island Artist Residency, and MOTHA, there isn’t a fully-funded, established residency program for trans visual artists in North America.

Trans people have different residency needs than their cis-artist-counterparts. Housing with strangers—of any gender—can be uncomfortable; travel for a residency can be frightening, and the unknown of new social conditions —not knowing if a group of artists will be educated or even accepting–can create debilitating anxiety. Trans people represent, on average, a lower income demographic, so lack of stipends in a residency is often prohibitive. Even if an artist is able to overcome these barriers, opportunities may have to be turned down or rescheduled because of medical expenses or logistics.

Trans artists deserve a residency program that meets their basic needs: housing, financial stability, community connection, and safety. Ultraviolet is a program centered around the needs of each participant, so that they can have the same caliber of experience in a residency program as cisgender artists.

Sounds great! How do I get involved?

We are actively looking for:

• Collaborators and donations for fundraising (Spring 2026)

• Housing for out-of-state artists

• Private dance rehearsal space for one person

• Connection with trans and queer artists and writers

• Connection with practitioners of alternative medicine, healing, and arts-medicine projects

Please reach out to James directly via the “connect” section of this website to get in touch.