A.I.R.
Artist In Residence
The Arts @ Large Community Center signature Artist-in-Residence program provides artists of all mediums in Southeastern Wisconsin the opportunity to showcase their own art and creative practice. Through this program artists will invoke community, build capacity and translate their work as artist-educators.
Current exhibit
FLOCK
by Hattie Grimm
April 17 – July 1, 2026
Hattie Grimm explores ecology, migration, and collective movement through participatory installation and performance. FLOCK gathers community, birds, movement, and public celebration in the HeartSpace Gallery through July 1, 2026.
hattiegrimm.comEvents
FLOCK schedule
- Apr 17
Gallery Night Opening
5–9 PM
- May 7
Masterclass 1
6–8 PM
- Jun 17
Masterclass 2
6–8 PM
- Jul 1
Closing Celebration / Bird Parade
6–9 PM
Cohort
A.I.R. Cohort 2025–2026
Fall 2025
Whitney Salgado
In the fall of 2025 we welcomed Whitney Salgado as our Arts @ Large Artist in Residence. A Latine digital painter and illustrator, Whitney studied Illustration and Communication Design at MIAD and has called Milwaukee home for over a decade. Influenced by Art Nouveau, pop art, and anime, their work explores themes of mental health, emotions, and identity, using both digital and traditional mediums. Their 3D pieces, such as Nichos, draw on cultural storytelling and traditions surrounding death.
Visit websiteSpring 2026
Hattie Grimm
In the spring of 2026, Hattie Grimm will begin her residency in the Arts @ Large gallery. An artist and educator with a BA in Art Education from UW–Madison, Hattie's work is inspired by birds, the natural world, and intuitive wisdom. She has taught art to youth, led workshops across Wisconsin, and exhibited her paintings, sculptures, and puppet parades statewide.
Visit websiteA.I.R. history
Past Artist in Residences
Gallery
Open to all
We believe art is for everyone. Our gallery is open to all in the community. We invite you to stop by, explore the space, and experience the creativity on display. Whether you're an art lover or just curious, there's always something here for you to discover.
Gallery hours
Tuesday – Saturday
7 am – 3 pm
1100 South 5th Street, Milwaukee WI 53204
A.I.R. program details
What the residency includes
Studio Space & Creative Education
Four months of access to the heART space studio at the Arts @ Large Community Center, providing space to innovate and explore new approaches to teaching through artistic practice.
Exhibition & events
Exhibition in the Arts @ Large Gallery, opening reception promoted by Fall Gallery Night MKE, and a closing celebration promoted by Winter Gallery Night MKE.
Stipend
$13,000 residency stipend and an additional $2,000 stipend for post-closing reflection & storytelling.
Professional support
The Arts @ Large Artist Residency supports artists in deepening their creative practice through our model of Participation, Collaboration, and Education. Residents receive curatorial guidance, dedicated time for research and exploration, and opportunities to engage with diverse learners. Through the residency, artists explore how to make their work more participatory, collaborate with others to expand their practice, and use their art to teach, learn, and connect with the community.
Funders
Thank you to the many supporters who make our Artist in Residence program possible.
These programs are provided at no cost to participants due to our sponsors' generosity.
Apply to be our next Artist in Residence!
Call for applications will open in late Spring 2026. Watch this page along with our social media channels — including @artsatlargegallery — for more details as they are announced.
Nurture
The Nurture program
The Nurture program combines conversation, individualized support, and creative documentation to preserve and share the story of the Arts @ Large Artist in Residence program and the artists it supports. The Nurture program was cultivated by Artist in Residence Curator Jeff Zimpel and Nurture Documentation Lead Artist Nick Schilz.
Photo credits: Nick Schilz