The 2026 Artists-in-Residence Program marked its 10th anniversary this past Friday, bringing artists and researchers together in the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium. This year’s program was co-directed by Andrew Mugler (Physics and Astronomy) and Kevin Kohl (Biological Sciences).
The program, created in 2016 by then professor, and now Dean Adam Leibovich, pairs students from the Dietrich School’s Fine Arts programs with research groups in Physics and Astronomy. During the Fall semester, art students work alongside their research counterparts in the lab to create work inspired by the research. This year was the first time students collaborated with groups from both Physics and Astrology and Biological Sciences.
At the end of the program, selected artists are awarded $500. This year’s artists created two musical performances, a video performance from the Theater Department, and five student presentations about their visual art:
Musical Performance
Juwon Adenuga
"Field of Echos"
Faculty Researcher: Justin Kitzes
Artistic Advisor: Charlie Peck
Multimedia Designer: Ali Sadeqi
Artwork
Kate Eriksson
"Before the Looking Glass"
Faculty Researcher: Rachel Bezanson
Artistic Advisor: Katie Bullock
Artwork
Kathy Vo
"Arresting Light"
Faculty Researcher: Ally O'Donnell
Artistic Advisor: Katie Bullock
Theatre
Laya Shahzamani
"Remnant"
Faculty Researcher: Evan Schneider
Artistic Advisor: Qianru Li
Composer: Ali Sadeqi
Artwork
Stella Abrams and Mae deGroot
"The Boundaries of Interconnectedness"
Faculty Researcher: Kevin Kohl
Artistic Advisor: Jose Santiago Pérez
Artwork
Imaan Saeed
"Between States"
Faculty Researcher: Sarah Hainer
Artistic Advisor: Bryan Martello
Musical Performance
David Adepegba
"Resonant Resilience"
Faculty Researcher: Cori Richards-Zawacki
Artistic Advisor: Charlie Peck
Applications are already open for Fall 2027 to any interested undergraduate or graduate students majoring or minoring in Studio Arts, Music, Theatre Arts, Film Studies, Architecture, and/or English.