The Artist in Residence program promotes health humanities by exposing and re-purposing historical materials preserved in the Archives and Special Collections. Through collaboration with the Makers Lab, the artist creates work that explores connections between art and healing, examines the process of scientific discovery, addresses contemporary issues related to health care and social justice, or addresses historical subjects in health sciences inspired by the Archives and Special Collections holdings including rare books, personal papers, photographs, artifacts, university publications, East Asian and Art collections.
Possible projects can include, but are not limited to: painting, photography, performance, sculpture, 3D scanning and 3D printing, programmable electronics, and digital, video, or installation art.
2023 artist: Katina Bitsicas
Katina Bitsicas is a Greek-American new media artist who utilizes video, installation, AR and performance in her artworks to explore grief, loss, trauma, and memory. The overarching theme of her work is how humans can connect via shared experiences and make meaning of these experiences. Often these works are created or installed in the natural environment, making parallels between the human body/systems and these unseen systems/structures within nature.
For more info, see the Q&A with Katina.
Past Artists in Residence
2022 — Jacoub Reyes
2021 — Pantea Karimi
2020 — Farah Hamade
Eligibility
The UCSF Library Artist in Residence award, valued at $8,000, will be given annually to one candidate with a degree in Studio Arts or a related field and/or a history of exhibiting artistic work in professional venues.
Artist support
The recipient, who will be known as the UCSF Library Artist in Residence, will receive assistance from the staff of the UCSF Library and will have full access to the Library’s Archives and Special Collections and Makers Lab equipment. Please note that the artist will be accommodated as well as possible, but that there is no dedicated studio space available. The award is intended to cover travel, materials, and related expenses incurred by the artist; the amount given is set at $8,000, from which taxes may be deducted, and will be paid upon completion of the residency requirements. The work done during the residency will become property of UCSF, however, the artist will be recognized for all work.
Artist responsibilities
- Produce one finished work that will become part of the permanent collection of the UCSF Library
- Curate exhibit in the UCSF Library on work done during residency
- Facilitate/lead two in-person, public events (workshop/class and exhibit opening)
- Author three news stories for the library website
- Promote residency on social media channels