NXTHVN Welcomes Cohort 06 Fellows
Patrick Henry, Am I a hero? 2022. Image Courtesy of NXTHVN and Olu & Company.
In his 1990 essay, Are Art Museums Racist? Maurice Berger wrote extensively about othering by major institutions and ‘exclusionary power dynamics’ that create access for some and barriers for others. He goes on to praise the efforts of (then) smaller museums for “organized training and education programs for young people of color.” More than 30 years later, the work is still underway, and one of those key players is New Haven’s NXTHVN — an international art incubator with a well-sought-after fellowship.
The joint vision of NXTHVN founders Titus Kaphar and Jason Price offers a 10-month fellowship program that supports artists and curators with studio space and individual mentorship, culminating with a group show at a renowned gallery. This year, NXTHVN’s Cohort 06 Fellowship welcomes Baris Gokturk, Kwamé Azure Gomez, Patrick Henry, Kristy Hughes, Christopher Paul Jordan, Reeha Lim, Rigoberto Luna, Napoles Marty, and Musoke Nalwoga.
Image Courtesy of NXTHVN and Olu & Company. Left to right: Baris Gokturk (Studio Fellow), Untitled (Fires_Protest_07), 2020. Kwamé Azure Gomez (Studio Fellow), Travelin’ light (Dream variations), 2022. Patrick Henry (Studio Fellow), Uchronia, 2022. Kristy Hughes (Studio Fellow), Casita, 2023. Christopher Paul Jordan (Studio Fellow), those that shaken, may remain (detail), 2023. Reeha Lim (Studio Fellow), Grandpa's Clock, 2023. Napoles Marty (Studio Fellow), The Sculptor (11 of 23 Drawings), 2023-2024. Rigoberto Luna, Curatorial Fellow. Musoke Nalwoga, Curatorial Fellow.
Cohort 06 supports a range of art practices, including writing, sculpture, painting, installation, and photography, and welcomes both national and international participants. With increasing barriers to art and adequate support for creative careers, institutions like NXTHVN are crucial to the professional and personal development of artists, providing support both financially as well as physically. Curatorial and Studio Fellows in the program receive a $45,000 and $35,000 stipend, respectively, as well as 24-hour access to a work and studio space and subsidized housing on site. Archives of art can only exist by artists with the means and support to create in the first place.
The Cohort Fellowship offers longevity and cyclicality. The start of the Cohort 06 Fellows from August 2024 to May 2025 occurs alongside the Cohort 05 group exhibition, Double Down, on show until October 2024. Here is the opportunity for Fellows, both past and present, to interact with each other and with guests and witness firsthand the offerings and benefits of the fellowship program. This is echoed by Alexandria Smith, a Cohort 01 Fellow, and alumni, “NXTHVN was the first residency that provided me with long-term sustenance that increased my visibility in the art world.” The fellowship base within the community of Dixwell offers a strong communal following, with residents engaging and learning about artists and their practices.
