Graham Foundation announces inaugural Fellows

Graham Foundation
Graham Foundation
Brendan Fernandes, Torkwase Dyson, Martine Syms, Mark Wasiuta, and David Hartt

The Graham Foundation is pleased to announce its inaugural Fellows as part of the organization’s new Graham Foundation Fellowship program: Brendan Fernandes, Torkwase Dyson, Martine Syms, Mark Wasiuta, and David Hartt.

Graham Foundation
Brendan Fernandes: The Master and Form.” 2018, Graham Foundation, Chicago. Installation in collaboration with Norman Kelley; dancers: Satoru Iwasaki, Yuha Kamoto, Andrea de León Rivera, Antonio Mannino, Leah Upchurch; photo: RCH

Integrating the Foundation’s grantmaking and exhibition programs, the new Fellowship provides monetary support for the development and production of new and challenging works and the opportunity to present these projects in an exhibition at the Foundation’s Madlener House galleries in Chicago.

Graham Foundation
David Hartt, “Carolina I,” 2017, archival pigment print mounted to Dibond, print size 36 x 54 inches. Courtesy of Corbett vs. Dempsey and commissioned by the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts

Artist David Hartt piloted the new program with his new body of work in the forest, which premiered at the Graham in the fall of 2017. The Fellowship program extends the legacy of the Foundation’s first awards, made in 1957 and 1958.

Graham Foundation
Marian and David Jacob, “Creative Research: Freeform in Architecture”, funded by a 1961 grant from the Graham Foundation. Copyright the artists, courtesy of the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts

These initial fellowships provided a diverse group of practitioners a platform to pursue experimental ideas in the field, and they included alumni such as Pritzker Prize winning architects Balkrishna V. Doshi and Fumihiko Maki.

Graham Foundation
Martine Syms, “Incense, Sweaters, and Ice” (still 1), 2017, Los Angeles. Courtesy of the artist.

With designer Harry Bertoia, photographer Harry M. Callahan, sculptor Eduardo Chillida, experimental architect Frederick J. Kiesler, and painter Wilfredo Lam, among others. The 2018 Fellows will continue this tradition of exploring new perspectives on spatial practices and design culture.

Graham Foundation
Torkwase Dyson, “Looking for the People in the Creek,” 2017-18. Polymer gravure on Hahnmuhle Copperplate White paper. Published by Brodsky Center

“As with the very first Fellows of the Graham, this new Fellowship program provides crucial direct support to individuals to make new work possible,” said Graham Foundation Director Sarah Herda, “and creates an opportunity to share this work with new publics through our exhibition program at the Madlener House in Chicago.” Source by Graham Foundation, photos Courtesy of Sutton PR.

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