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Contact: Dominique Shank, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, 614-512-0049 (cell)
Sept. 13, 2023
Columbus, Ohio – The Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center today announced it has selected Max Adrian and Grace Johnson as the Artists in Residence for 2023-2024. Adrian will serve his residency from October 2023 to January 2024, while Johnson will serve her residency from February 2024 to May 2024.
Max Adrian is a textile-based artist who creates soft sculptures, quilts and inflatables using materials such as faux fur, nylon, ripstop, spandex and vinyl. His artwork draws on themes of queerness, desire and consumer culture. Adrian’s pieces include references to various topics ranging from pet furniture to drag queens. Originally from Kansas City, MO, he graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2015 with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts before earning a Master of Fine Arts in Fiber and Material Studies from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture in Philadelphia. Adrian’s professional experience includes puppetry and performance design. Since 2016 he has been based out of Columbus.
Grace Johnson is a Columbus native who creates cloth-print pieces using plant and dye material. Often, she sources organic materials from right here in central Ohio. Finding her materials may include using foliage from Westgate Park or repurposing leftover flower arrangements. With each piece, Johnson hopes to tell a story that creates an essence of a particular time, place or feeling. Her experience includes working for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) in Southeast Asia and Central America during the 1980s. Upon returning to Columbus, she worked at The Ohio State University, where she served as the Director of International Programs and later as the Chief of Staff at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
 Launched in 2021 by Columbus Recreation and Parks Department and the Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center, the Artist in Residence program fosters engagement with the local community by providing opportunities for creatives in the city, with the aim of building a diverse network of local artists. Two participants are chosen annually by an independent panel of six, made up of a combination of community members and artists. Those who are selected as the Artists in Residence receive access to studio space, along with organizational and material support, as well as a stipend and a platform to present artwork created during their residency.
To learn more about the Artist in Residence program as well as the exhibitions, classes and opportunities the Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center has to offer, visit CulturalArtsCenterOnline.org.
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