The Studio Museum in Harlem Artist-in-Residence Program Lineup. Image: (L to R) Sonia Louise Davis, Malcolm Peacock, and Zoë Pulley

Sonia Louise Davis, Malcolm Peacock, and Zoë Pulley are the Studio Museum in Harlem Artist-in-Residence Program cohort for 2023–24. The program comes with a $25,000 stipend, studio space, developmental guidance, and an exhibition.

KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON

NEW YORK, NY.-The Studio Museum in Harlem on Thursday announced its lineup for the 2023–24 Artist-in-Residence program. The artists are Sonia Louise Davis, Malcolm Peacock, and Zoë Pulley. These gifted artists join a vibrant artistic community that has flourished over the last half-century, boasting nearly 150 esteemed alumni, including some of the most celebrated luminaries in the contemporary art scene.

The Artist-in-Residence program runs from October 2023 to September 2024. During this period, these resident artists will benefit from comprehensive institutional and material support, including access to studio spaces, ongoing collaboration with Studio Museum curators, invaluable professional development mentorship, and the grand culmination of their journey in the form of a compelling exhibition.

Artist-in-Residence Program Lineup at The Studio Museum

The Studio Museum Artist-in-Residence program is a prestigious initiative renowned for its unwavering dedication to showcasing the exceptional talents of artists hailing from African and Afro-Latinx backgrounds. The program is a cornerstone of the museum’s mission. It offers emerging artists an unparalleled eleven-month opportunity to develop and expand their creative practice. The program also provides audiences with an annual culminating exhibition showcasing the fruits of these artists’ labor. Over the decades, the program has produced remarkable talent who are making an impact in the art world.

Meet the 2023–24 Artist-in-Residence Program Cohort

Sonia Louise Davis: A Visual Alchemist

Sonia Louise Davis, born in 1988 and raised in New York City, is a visual artist, writer, and performer. Her work is a captivating exploration of improvisation as an embodied research practice. Her unique approach invites viewers into a world of spontaneity, where art is a living, breathing entity.

Davis is currently a Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist Fellow at the Queens Museum. Her upcoming institutional solo show, “To Reverberate Tenderly,” is slated for late fall 2023. The show promises to be a testament to her artistic prowess. Notably, her 2022 solo exhibition, Resonant Frequencies, Blossoming Tones,” at Hesse Flatow, earned her accolades.

Davis is also an accomplished author. Her book, Slow and Soft and Righteous, Improvising at the End of the World (and How We Make a New One), published in May 2021 by Co-Conspirator Press, offers a thought-provoking glimpse into her creative process and vision.

Malcolm Peacock: Master of Emotional Landscapes

Born in 1994, Malcolm Peacock is a multidisciplinary artist with a profound fascination for the emotional and psychic spaces inhabited by his Black subjects. His work is a powerful exploration of intimacy in its many forms, showcasing a keen ability to translate complex emotions into visual and tangible art.

Peacock’s artistic journey has led him through various residencies, including those at the University of Pennsylvania, St. Roch Community Church, the Joan Mitchell Center, Denniston Hill, and the Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture. His exhibitions at prestigious venues like Artists Space in New York and the Institute of Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University are testaments to his growing influence in the art world.

Notably, Peacock was honored as the recipient of the 58th Carnegie International Fine Prize, further solidifying his status as a rising star in the art scene. He received a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016 and an MFA from the Mason Gross School of Arts at Rutgers University in 2019.

Zoë Pulley: Crafting Narratives with “Stuff”

Zoë Pulley, born in 1993, brings a unique perspective to the art world as a designer and maker. Her work centers on unearthing and celebrating the seemingly ordinary stories of Black individuals through mixed media, typography, and audio. What sets her apart is her profound respect for what she calls “stuff”—the artifacts, physical and non-physical, that hold the essence of untold stories.

Pulley’s recent contributions to the art world include a group exhibition, Dress Code, at the Newport Art Museum and a mesmerizing performance at the RISD Museum. Her collaborative endeavors include “Gran Sans,” a wearable line inspired by her grandmother, and a collectively authored publication titled “Black Joy Archive.”

In 2021, Pulley’s design prowess shone through in a zine created for Combahee’s Radical Call: Black Feminisms (re)Awaken Boston at the Boston Center for the Arts. Her artworks have been in gallery exhibitions and are in the collections of esteemed institutions like the Valentine Museum and the Harvard Radcliffe Institute.

Pulley’s achievement includes being named the Graduate Graphic Designer to Watch by GDUSA in 2023, a testament to her innovative approach to visual storytelling. She earned a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2015 and completed her MFA in graphic design at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2023.

The Impact of the Artist-in-Residence Program

The Studio Museum’s Artist-in-Residence program has been instrumental in shaping the careers of emerging artists. Its influence can be traced through the impressive list of alumni who have become influential figures in the art world. These luminaries include Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Jordan Casteel, Julie Mehretu, and Kehinde Wiley, to name just a few.

The program offers financial support and a nurturing environment where artists can experiment, innovate, and challenge conventions. It provides studio space, ongoing mentorship from Studio Museum curators, and professional development guidance. The residency culminates with a high-profile exhibition.

The Studio Museum’s Vision for the Future

As the Studio Museum in Harlem enters a period of dynamic growth, its commitment to its core mission remains unshaken. Studio Museum Director and Chief Curator Thelma Golden eloquently states, “As the Museum enters a period of dynamic growth, this residency continues to reflect the heart of our mission, which is to provide unwavering support to working artists and present their work to our global community.”

Assistant Curator Yelena Keller adds, “One of the most exciting elements of this residency is how, each year, the artists of this program push the Museum’s mission forward in new and expansive ways. Sonia Louise Davis, Malcolm Peacock, and Zoë Pulley’s dynamic practices bring forth intimate and radical propositions for engaging Black histories while creating work that centers deep listening, care, and intention.”

The Culminating Exhibition at MoMA PS1

The Studio Museum’s commitment to showcasing its artists’ work extends beyond its walls. The culminating exhibition of the 2022–23 Artists-in-Residence cohort, featuring Jeffrey Meris, Devin N. Morris, and Charisse Pearlina Weston, will take place this fall at MoMA PS1. This marks a significant multiyear partnership between the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Museum of Modern Art, and MoMA PS1.

The Studio Museum in Harlem continues to be a bastion of creativity, diversity, and artistic excellence. The 2023–24 Artist-in-Residence cohort, comprising Sonia Louise Davis, Malcolm Peacock, and Zoë Pulley, exemplifies the Museum’s commitment to nurturing and amplifying the voices of African and Afro-Latinx artists. As their journey unfolds over the next year, the art world eagerly anticipates the groundbreaking work they will produce.

What do you think about this year’s Studio Museum in Harlem Artist-in-Residence program selection? Share your thoughts. Leave a comment