“Matter, Matters” — 2027 Application Pool Statement

At Sculpture Space, we believe sculpture is more than form. It is a way of thinking through the world—of responding to change, uncertainty, pressure, and possibility. As stewards of this program, we support not only the making of objects, but the deeper inquiry behind them. This is a place where artists come to wrestle with ideas, to test materials, and to shape conversations that matter.

The 2027 residency application cycle reflects that ethos with clarity. This year we received 176 applications through a highly competitive process reviewed by the Sculpture Space Review Committee and invited guest panelists. Each application is considered with attention to artistic strength, originality, rigor, and potential for growth. What emerges from this process is not just a shortlist of candidates, but a portrait of a field that is alive, urgent, and deeply engaged with the world around it.

The applicants themselves reflect the breadth of contemporary practice. Artists applied from 20 countries, with strong representation across the United States and meaningful participation from abroad. The median applicant age this year is 34, with most artists falling between 25 and 45, underscoring that this program continues to attract artists at a pivotal point in their development—those for whom sustained time, space, and focus can have lasting impact. Gender representation is nearly balanced, with a significant number of applicants identifying as non-binary, trans, or gender diverse, and roughly 40% of applicants identifying as artists of color. It’s also worth noting that many international artists apply using U.S.-based addresses tied to schools, residencies, or temporary housing, meaning the true international character of this group is likely broader than the raw data suggests.

For the 2027 attendance year, Sculpture Space will welcome a full cohort of 20 resident artists, selected through a rigorous three-round review process conducted fully online. The care and seriousness of this process reflects our ongoing commitment to both access and excellence.

Here, matter truly matters. The work, the questions, the lived experience of the artists, and the transformations that unfold in the studio all shape the culture we are building. What begins here does not stay here—it enters the larger conversation. And that, ultimately, is the work.