Gallery Aferro’s Studio Residency program has been the creative home of inspirational and aspirational artists working, polishing and branding their craft in the heart of downtown Newark for 16 years. Within the walls of this 20,000 sq. ft. building, singular talents have brought to life everything from paper art to sculptures to interactive installations to photography to theatrical productions for the stage.

And here is your chance to meet, observe and chat with each of our incredible studio residents during the 2022 Newark Arts Festival’s Open Studios event taking place on Sunday, October 9th from 11am – 3pm. Connect with art and ideas while enjoying free coffee, tea and bagels as you wander the corridors of this 19th-century building in New Jersey’s largest city.

When you’re not waxing poetic with one of our 19 resident artists including three new Fellowship recipients, take a moment to savor our three amazing art exhibitions; our Community Book Room containing over 2,000 books, magazines, and journals; a classic board game from our all-ages games cabinet; and our charming Art Shop highlighting affordable works by celebrated artists, alongside buttons, T-shirts, CDs, posters, and a collection of postcards featuring the work of Aferro Studios residents.

Artists you can visit on October 9th include:

• Basement: Ken Weathersby, Jo-El Lopez
• Second Floor: Anne Dushanko Dobek, Noelle Lorraine Williams, Masakhane Center (Organization-in-Residence), Heather Williams (2022 Sustainable Arts Fellow), Ian King
• Third Floor: Lisette Morel, Matilda Forsberg, Amanda Thackray, Joe Silvestro, Jaz Graf, Krystle Lemonias (2022 Lynn and John Kearney Fellow for Equity)
• Fourth Floor: Juno Zago, Bleriot Thompson, Steve Rossi (2022 Sustainable Arts Fellow), Jesse Davis, troizel, Michael K. Taylor

Artist-run Gallery Aferro’s resident alumni now number more than 100 strong and include Fulbright scholars, Eyebeam alumni, and a wonderful cross-section of contemporary practice by different generations of artists. Over the last decade, the program has expanded to include two fellowships programs: The Sustainable Arts Fellowship supports artists and writers who are parents, and The Lynn and John Kearney Fellowship for Equity supports women artists of color of any age in support of gender-based, racial and economic justice.