Rocky Mountain National Park has selected six artists for its 2026 Artist-in-Residence program, continuing a decades-long tradition that connects creativity with the landscapes of the park.
The residency program, which runs from late May through mid-September, invites artists from across disciplines to spend two weeks living and working in the park. During that time, each artist creates work inspired by the environment while also sharing their process with visitors through public programs.
About 150 artists applied for the 2026 program, according to Kyle Patterson, management specialist and public affairs officer for Rocky Mountain National Park.
“Since the late 1800s, there has been a special connection between the arts and our national parks,” Patterson said. “The arts help people experience the wonder of our parks in long-lasting ways. Recognizing this special connection, in 1984 Rocky Mountain National Park was among the first national parks to offer an Artist in Residence program. We have hosted over 200 different artists and are pleased to welcome six new artists who will participate in an AIR residency in RMNP this summer.”
The six artists selected for the 2026 program represent a wide range of mediums, from music and photography to textiles and sculpture.
Francisco Lujan Villalobos, Antonio Pereira, and Santiago Suarez of the band Pavlov’s Bell are musicians. Daniela Mihaita specializes in sculpture and ceramics. Alexandra Bassett’s work focuses on painting and drawing. Kara Lynn Bressler is a painter and a writer. Theodore “Ted” Tahquechi is a photographer who makes 3D tactile prints. Rebecca Shewmaker works with textiles and is a thread painter.
During their residency, each artist will present two free public programs designed to help visitors engage with both the creative process and the park landscape.
The first program will be a lecture-style presentation held in the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center auditorium. The second will be a hands-on, interactive session in the Fall River Visitor Center discovery room. Details for each program will be announced as the summer season approaches and will be posted on the park’s online event calendar.
Details for each program will be announced as the summer season approaches and will be posted on the park’s online event calendar. Rocky Mountain Conservancy, the park’s nonprofit partner, supports the program and helps connect artists’ work with visitors.
“Rocky Mountain Conservancy is proud to support Rocky Mountain National Park’s long-standing Artist-in-Residence program, which connects people to the park through creativity, education, and shared experiences,” said Kaci Yoh, communications manager for Rocky Mountain Conservancy. “We’re especially looking forward to how this year’s six artists will engage with park visitors through their public programs, offering opportunities for people to experience Rocky Mountain National Park in fresh, creative, and interactive ways.”
Yoh said the program reflects the conservancy’s broader mission of encouraging stewardship of the park through education and philanthropy.
“This program reflects the Conservancy’s mission to promote stewardship of Rocky through education and philanthropy,” Yoh said. “We’re honored to help meet the park’s programming needs in ways that inspire connection and care for these landscapes.”
Rocky Mountain National Park launched its Artist-in-Residence program in 1984 and has since hosted more than 200 artists working in a variety of forms, including writing, music, painting, photography, and textile arts. The program traces its roots to a longer tradition of artists helping bring attention to the beauty of the American landscape.
Throughout the late 19th century, artists such as George Catlin, Thomas Cole, Thomas Moran, and Albert Bierstadt produced paintings and other works that helped inspire public interest in protecting natural spaces. Their work played a role in shaping the early conservation movement and the establishment of national parks.
Today, the Artist-in-Residence program continues that tradition by inviting contemporary artists to interpret Rocky Mountain National Park’s landscapes in new ways and share those perspectives with visitors.
Specific program details for the 2026 artists will be announced throughout the summer on the park’s calendar. Additional updates will also be shared through Rocky Mountain Conservancy’s social media channels.
Click here for more information on Rocky Mountain National Park and its programs.