The Norwalk Art Space Announces New Resident Artists For 2026–2027

NORWALK, CT — The Norwalk Art Space announced this week its new cohort of resident artists for 2026-2027.

According to a news release provided by the Art Space, the four young artists were selected for their one-year term through a rigorous interview process and will begin their residency on June 1.

The Norwalk Art Space's residency program seeks deserving Connecticut-based, early or mid-career artists who need studio space and have a strong interest in teaching, developing community and mentoring youth, according to the release.

In exchange for a free studio, exhibition space in the cafe, a group exhibition in the main gallery and an opportunity to participate in programs, resident artists teach one weekly art class each semester, the release notes.

"The resident artists for 2026–2027 reflect the depth, diversity and vitality of The Norwalk Art Space's creative community," the release reads.

The following resident artists and descriptions were provided by The Norwalk Art Space:

• Kristin-Armani Hill: A Stamford-based painter, Kristin-Armani Hill creates work that bridges the celestial and the earthly—soft yet powerful explorations of the feminine and the sublime. Influenced by Byzantine and Renaissance traditions, as well as artists like Kehinde Wiley and Johannes Vermeer, her paintings weave together beauty, philosophy, and spirituality. Alongside her studio practice, she studies at the University of Connecticut, pursuing a path that connects art-making with curatorial work and cultural leadership.

• Alexa Luft: A multidisciplinary artist working in oil, acrylic, and collage, Alexa Luft creates layered, narrative-driven paintings shaped by memory and experience. With a background in theatre—studying at Belmont University and Southern Connecticut State University—she brings storytelling into her visual work. As both an educator and artist, she views art as a process rooted in connection, healing, and transformation.
• Lola Carlander Wade: A Swedish-born conceptual artist, Lola Carlander Wade creates sculptural installations made from clay, glass, and fabric. Her work explores the systems we build to navigate life—balancing fragility and resilience, control and freedom—through meticulous processes of repetition, deconstruction, and repair. She holds an MFA from Parsons School of Design.
• Matthew Shelley: A painter and educator, Matthew Shelley brings a rigorous, process-driven practice shaped by years of exhibition and teaching. A graduate of American University and currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at Fairfield University, his work emphasizes disciplined exploration and the evolution of visual ideas.

"Together, these artists represent the breadth of what the resident artist program makes possible: a space where ideas are tested, skills are shared and creativity is lived out in real time," the release reads.

Admission to The Norwalk Art Space, located at 455 West Avenue, is free.

More information is available here.