Artist Residencies

David Bosun at UVA. Photo by Tom Cogill.

Janet Fieldhouse with Pamunkey artists Debra Martin and her son.

Tony Albert, at Kluge Ruhe Collection, July 2015. Photo by Tom Cogill.

Jason Wing at Kluge Ruhe Collection, May 2012.

Judy Watson proofing prints of 'experimental beds' with UVA printmaking students. Photo by Tom Cogill.

Julie Gough at the Monumental Meanings event.

Nici Cumpston at Kluge-Ruhe.

Ricardo Idagi, resident artist at Kluge Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVa, works with Randy Bill at City Clay. Photo by Tom Cogill.

Ricky Maynard visit to UVa, April, 2011. Photo by Tom Cogill.

Vernon Ah Kee at UVA.

Vernon Ah Kee at Kluge-Ruhe. Photo by Tom Cogill.

Yhonnie Scarce with Bill Bennet's UVa sculpture class. Photo by Tom Cogill.

Djambawa Marawili at a UVA printmaking class in October 2015. Photo by Tom Cogill.

Reko Rennie and Frank Buffalo-Hyde visit Kluge Ruhe Collection, January 2011. Photo by Tom Cogill.

Bianca Beetson and her Elmo-skin Cloak, at Kluge Ruhe Collection, University of Virginia, March 2016. Photo by Tom Cogill.

The beginnings of a possum skin vest that Carol McGregor made at Kluge-Ruhe. Photo courtesy the artist.

Damien Shen at UVA.

Lisa Waup gives a talk about her solo exhibition "close to the wind" during her residency in the spring of 2024. Photograph by Tom Cogill.

Who is the next resident artist?

Our next resident artist will be Jan Griffiths, accompanied by curator Dora Griffiths. They will undertake an artist residency at Kluge-Ruhe in October 2024. Please check the Calendar section of our website to view the events associated with their residency. Their exhibition Our Unbroken Line: The Griffiths Family is on view in our Focus Gallery through December 8, 2024.

What is the artist residency program?

In 2011, the museum launched its artist residency program, which brings an Indigenous Australian artist to the University of Virginia to share their artwork in an exhibition and other programs. Creative Australia (formerly Australia Council for the Arts) partnered with us on this program beginning in 2013 and continues their support today. Artists typically visit Charlottesville between September-November each autumn and between February-April each spring. The length of each residency varies from ten days to six weeks.

Why does the museum have an artist residency program?

We believe that Indigenous Australian art is as much about people as it is about art. Hearing an artist speak about their artwork brings it to life and creates meaning and relevance for our audience, many of whom have never met an Aboriginal person. One of our core institutional values is to amplify Indigenous voices by providing opportunities for Indigenous people to speak on behalf of their own cultures, especially after so many oppressive forms of silencing and erasure. Additionally, our collection is held and stored far away from the communities that created it, and it is of utmost importance that we provide them access to and information about the artworks.

What are artist residencies like?

Our goal is for artists to be integrated actively into the life of the University of Virginia by working on collaborative projects with, and guest lecturing to, UVA students and faculty in a variety of disciplines and departments. Unlike other residencies in which the artist has large blocks of uninterrupted time to produce a new body of work, at Kluge-Ruhe the artist acts as an ambassador of the Indigenous Australian contemporary art movement. They discover how their artwork is perceived by a foreign audience, explore new topics and disciplines, and gather ideas for future projects or bodies of work. Sometimes artists do create new work, but not always. We build on the artist’s strengths and interests to assist them in developing new skills and growing their international network. It is a program of sharing and cross-cultural exchange.

I am an Indigenous Australian artist. How do I apply?

Kluge-Ruhe partners with Creative Australia to select artists for the residency program. Our 2025-27 artist in residence will be selected via an open call. Learn more about the opportunity and apply. The deadline to apply is Tuesday 12 November 2024 at 3pm AEDT. You can always express your interest in our artist residency program by contacting us.

How do I learn more about what resident artists have done at Kluge-Ruhe?

See the related content below from our Collaboration Archive.

UVA faculty interested in engaging with our next visiting artist should see our UVA Faculty page.