artist-in-residence 2025-2026

Lillstreet Art Center offers year-long residencies in the departments of Ceramics and Metalsmithing, and 9-Month residencies in Textiles, Drawing & Painting, and Printmaking & Book Arts beginning in September every year.

As a collaborative, community-based art center, the residency is a place for artists to expand their personal practice and gain teaching experience ; while learning how to sustain a working artist’s lifestyle. The resident artist program enriches our community by bringing artists with unique and refined skills to our educational programming through classes, workshops, public demonstrations and studio hours.

As a resident artist, you will continue to develop professionally and intellectually through contact with other residents, department peers, art administrators and students. Lillstreet Art Center supplements the residency with resources and instruction in and outside the department of residency. Resident artists have the opportunity to work together, take part in community events and sales and to be creative leaders in Chicago’s vibrant Ravenswood neighborhood while being immersed in the community.

Our AiR specific programming is built for face-time with artists, students and vendors in the Ravenswood community; other opportunities include artist features in the gallery shop, professional development through dynamic exhibitions, one-on-one studio visits with peers and interdisciplinary artists, public programs, and community building to develop a sustainable creative practice. As a professional working and teaching artist, you are also welcome to brainstorm your ideas, share resources with our students and community and build relationships by resource sharing.