The Lanesboro Arts BIPOC Artist Residency Program launched with a pilot program in fall 2022/winter 2023, supporting five artists in residence. Since the pilot residency, there have been two pubic rounds of residencies in 2023-24 and 2024-25. The third public round of residences in 2025-26 is currently underway.

BIPOC ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE FALL/WINTER 2025-26

Lynde Rosario (she/her/hers) is a Dramaturg and a Past President of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas. Current and former affiliations include: National New Play Network, The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Refracted Theatre Company, The Playwrights Realm, Playwrights’ Center, Guthrie Theater, The Latinx New Play Festival, Working Theater Company, Unicorn Theatre, Theatre Lab, Curious Theatre Company, Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company, The Catamounts, Local Theater Company, Creede Repertory Theater, Athena Project, Letter of Marque Theater Company, and The Anthropologists. She holds a B.A. in Drama from Hofstra University, and a M.F.A. in Dramaturgy from The American Repertory Theatre/Moscow Art Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University. Read more about Lynde’s residency experience here.

Alberth Chacon Salas is a Peruvian illustrator and cartoonist based in Minneapolis. His work explores the complex relationships between humans and animals through comics and visual storytelling, weaving together fantasy, science fiction, and personal narratives. A recent MFA graduate from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Alberth works across traditional and digital media to create stories that center nonhuman voices, mythic symbolism, and the quiet magic of everyday life. See Alberth’s residency-inspired Zine: Dreams by Alberth Chacon Salas

Elea Besse  is a Saint Paul, Minnesota raised artist. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Whitman College (Walla Walla, WA) in spring of 2023, with a concentration in Ceramic Studies. She also has a minor in Rhetoric, Writing, and Public Discourse from Whitman which she frequently draws upon in her creative practice. Combining themes of memory, time, place, and environmental processes, Elea’s artwork serves as material means for the exploration of these transient concepts. Her creative process lies in a deliberate embrace of abstract forms and utilizing decals, everyday objects and elements from nature. In creating ceramic sculptures and hanging objects, she translates introspective experiences and emotional processes into tangible and tactile objects. Elea is currently based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota where she gains much of her creative inspiration from the physical environment and her community. Read Elea’s reflection on her residency, and see images of her installation project here.

David Valentine is an Associate Executive Director at 825 Arts. In his creative life, he is an artistic vagabond who dabbles in acting, writing, music, woodcarving, and puppetry. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, he moved to the Twin Cities in 2020. In his spare time, David runs a BIPOC D&D group, plays Magic the Gathering, collects nerdy action figures, and rewatches his favorite Naruto arcs. Read Z Kaplan’s article about David’s residency experience here: Lanesboro Arts Article – David Valentine

Lara Mimosa Montes is the author of The Time of the Novel (Wendy’s Subway, 2025). Previous books include THRESHOLES (Coffee House Press, 2020) and The Somnambulist (Horse Less Press, 2016). Lara holds a PhD in English from The Graduate Center, City University of New York. She teaches in XE: Experimental Humanities and Social Engagement Master’s program at NYU. Read more: laramimosa.info 

Bayou Bay (he/stardust pronouns) is a Twin Cities based installation artist and designer born in St. Paul on the occupied lands of the Dakota & Anishinaabe peoples. Bayou creates mixed-media art called Affirmation Mirrors composed mostly of fabric wrapped wood, yarn, mirrors, and beads. He also creates murals, art installations, digital illustrations, digital and print materials for artists and organizations, woodwork, and works as a teaching artist. Bayou’s art and design embody themes of nature from the micro to the cosmic, black and collective liberation, healing trauma, time, portals, geometry, setting intentions for affirmations, asking questions, symbols, and identity exploration. Water is an especially strong theme in the work as HaHa Wakpa (the Mississippi River) has been a major influence in many levels of Bayou’s life. Bayou is 1/3rd of the Studio Thalo artist collective along with Nell Pierce and Oliiva Levens-Holden.

Cándida González (they/them) is a mixed Puerto Rican multimedia artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They most often work in temporary altar installations using found objects, words, digital collage, photography and elements of the natural world. Their projects explore how the manipulation of basic elements into different configurations produce distinct energies/spells. They approach their work by centering at the intersection of art, activism, healing and personal/community empowerment. They are deeply invested in the concept of using art and community design as tools to wage love and healing and prioritize participatory installations. González has shown installation work at Public Functionary, Lanesboro Arts, Indigenous Roots Cultural Art Center, Franconia Sculpture Park and CLUES as well as managed community engagement for various public art projects nationwide.

Isabella Dawis is a Filipina-American storyteller and musician from Minneapolis. She is the founder of Sansrival, a hybrid arts and media company that debuts “Lakecastle,” a docufiction podcast set in a Minnesota small town, in March 2026. Isabella is the recipient of the Kleban Prize in Musical Theatre for librettists, the Fred Ebb Award for musical theater songwriting, the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship, the Weston-Ghostlight New Musical Award, and the American Opera Project’s Composers and the Voice Fellowship. Her work has been presented and supported by Loghaven, the 5th Avenue Theatre, Musical Theatre Factory, Ten Thousand Things, Theater Mu, the Kurt Weill Foundation, Berkeley Repertory Theater, the Atlanta Opera, Weston Theater Company, Tofte Lake Center, Ancram Center for the Arts, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, and the O’Neill Center, among others. www.isabelladawis.com

BIPOC ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE FALL/WINTER 2024-25

Sho Nikaido is a photographer born and raised in Kamakura, Japan, living in Minneapolis. He received a BFA degree from the University of Minnesota, focusing on photography. He also attended the School of Visual Arts MFA graduate degree program but did not finish it. His photographs monumentalize ordinary subjects by focusing on everything with equal importance and that every detail deserves attention. At BlueSky Photo Workshop, he teaches the community to document one’s life and heritage through photography to connect with others. https://www.shonikaidophotography.com/

Kish Daniels is a Minnesota-based, first generation Liberian-American filmmaker and photographer. In his work he explores themes such as cultural identity, climate change and personal stories. Kish is the son of immigrant parents, and growing up in Queens, New York, Monrovia, Liberia, and the Twin Cities have shaped his experiences and influenced his creative voice. Kish’s other influences are Gordon Parks, Spike Lee, his career in athletics, his love  for the outdoors and his passion for social justice. In Kish’s free time he enjoys fly fishing, traveling, and spending time with his son. https://kishdaniels.com/

Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay is a Lao-American playwright whose work has been presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (NY), Theater Mu (MN), Lower Depth Theater (LA), Asian Improv Arts (IL), and elsewhere. She’s currently a Mellon Fdn Playwright in Residence at Theater Mu, a Jerome@Camargo Artist in Residence in Cassis, France, a Playwrights Center Core Writer, a Lanesboro Arts Artist in Residence, and a Forecast Public Art grantee. Recent honors include a Jerome Hill Fellowship, a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellowship, and being the first Minnesotan artist to be invited as an artist in residence at the Kennedy Center REACH. https://www.refugenius.net/

Vilay Dethluxay is a first-generation Lao creative producer and community connector. Born in a refugee camp in Thailand’s southeast Isan region, she proudly attributes her passion for storytelling, community building and a DIY spirit to her ancestral roots. Some of her favorite projects include event design for Pollen Midwest, curating events/films/music for Sound Unseen, and addressing DEI in the outdoors through joyful events with the Golden Bricks Events team. Having spent most of her career in big cities outside of Minnesota, Vilay has returned to navigate life in a small MN community and hopes this new environment will shape the next chapter of her creative journey. Currently, she is exploring ideas rooted in her diasporic intersectionality, focusing on shared histories, the loss of her native language, and preserving and honoring her Isan and Lao culture. https://vilaydethluxay.com/

BIPOC ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE FALL/WINTER 2023-24

Charvis Harrell is a rising artist using his time and ability to display the beauty in the often-overlooked aspects of life. To understand the artwork of Charvis Harrell, one must understand the driving force behind his art and life. A third-generation mason, he had only enough time for art as a hobby until June of 2004. That summer, at twenty-eight, Harrell was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a disease that produces polyps within various organs in the body. This diagnosis put him on very light duty in his occupation, but, more importantly, it gave him a newfound appreciation for living. His desire to make the most of his time by paying tribute to the people and things that impact his life impacts his work. Through art, Harrell shines light upon the unsightly realities that we live in. Refusing to revolt, he continues his journey to examine the darkness.

Ed Bok Lee is the author of three books of poetry and prose, Real Karaoke People, Whorled, and Mitochondrial Night, as well as numerous short stories, plays, and essays. Lee’s poetry has been translated into French, Italian, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese. Honors include an American Book Award, an Asian American Literary Award (Members’ Choice Award), a Minnesota Book Award, and a PEN/Open Book Award. As a literary translator, he is a recipient of the 49th Modern Korean Literature Translation Grand Prize in Poetry. Lee attended kindergarten in Seoul, South Korea, studied and worked variously while attending university (at Minnesota, Yonsei (Seoul), Al-Farabi Kazakh National, Indiana, Berkeley, and Brown). With a background in journalism and political theater, he currently teaches at Metro State University, and for over two decades has also taught poetry in youth centers, prisons, public libraries, and many other programs around the nation and beyond. https://edboklee.com/

Akiko Ostlund is a Twin Cities-based interdisciplinary storyteller, teaching artist, curator, and activist. The mediums she most commonly works with include poetry, music, dance, collage, and puppetry. Her work often includes themes of anti-oppression and social change. A native of Osaka, Japan, Akiko tells stories that reflect the narrative of immigrant women of color that are often underrepresented in white eurocentric society. For six years, Akiko has worked as an activist creating both visual and performing art pieces that center around social issues. Using puppetry, she aims to create moments for the audience in which they can slow down and be present, allowing them to take in the material more fully. As a non-native English speaker with a unique immigration story, Akiko also brings another cultural perspective which might aid in an interesting exchange. Telling stories for social change with new people is a crucial part of Akiko’s artistic practice.

In addition to creating and performing, Akiko has worked closely with the Minneapolis community through teaching at schools and museums, working for large-scale community art projects, curating shows, and working as an anti-oppression and wellness coordinator for the theatre company, Mixed Precipitation. These experiences have given Akiko vast experience in facilitating spaces where people with different backgrounds and abilities work collectively to achieve one goal. https://www.instagram.com/akikoostlund1/

Tiphanie (PH) Copeland makes art with her full body. For Copeland, life is the canvas for creation. Our full selves are the living colors. She has always been fascinated with timelines and understanding the connection between people, places, and events. For her, time is expansive, and she is fascinated by examining the overlap of timelines within her community and how they interact with personal narratives. She is a walking Think Tank who (re)visualizes engagement with self and others. In her skill range, this tangibly looks like visual & performance arts. Group facilitation. Organizing. Public Speaking. Leadership and Program Development. https://www.tiphaniecopeland.com/

Juan Perez’s creations are reflections of his odyssey, tales of migration and displacement, sharing intimate narratives woven from the collective memory, appropriated or borrowed. They offer a means of grappling with reality, in a strikingly candid yet poetic fashion. His works explore diverse rhetorical devices of imagery, revealing a quest for truth through the devices of accumulation, ellipsis, and derivation, across various artistic mediums.

Perez’s interest lies in excavating personal and intimate experiences, and how they intersect with and manifest in the public domain. The body, the land, and archives of all kinds form my essential resources, allowing him to generate images and sensory experiences, as he traverses diverse mediums such as photography, video performance, and installation. https://www.perezlacruz.com/

Riza Shahid is a visionary hip-hop artist hailing from the vibrant Twin Cities of Minnesota. With a rich tapestry of R&B and jazz influences woven into his sound, RZ Shahid’s music transcends genres, delivering a chill and authentic vibe that leaves listeners captivated. His unique style can best be described as bouncy, groovy, and effortlessly cool, inviting you to surrender to the rhythm and immerse yourself in his world. As he gears up to release his highly anticipated EP, brace yourself for a musical journey like no other, as RZ Shahid pushes creative boundaries and challenges the status quo. Beyond his artistry, RZ Shahid is a prolific songwriter, a versatile artist, and an astute creative director, infusing his vision into every aspect of his work. Get ready to groove and prepare for the captivating content that accompanies his upcoming release, as RZ Shahid continues to redefine the boundaries of hip-hop and leave an indelible mark on the music industry. www.rzshahid.com

Geno Okok is a Nigerian-American artist; at the age of seven, he started his passion for drawing and painting all through his youth. He eventually attended the Minneapolis Art Institute and received an Associate Degree in Fine Art in 2013. His work focuses on joyful moments in the lives of everyday people and documents the ways beauty, music, fashion, and grace manifest in the African spirit. He describes his style of painting as Expressionist Realism. He has partnered with galleries such as Gallery 13, Night Art Gallery, and Dow Gallery and has most recently worked on public mural projects in response to the police killing of George Floyd. In addition, he currently serves on the Brooklyn Park Task Force and as a member of the Advisory Council for the Center for Innovation and the Arts. He recently completed a public art piece at the Brooklyn Park Plaza next to Hennepin County Library with youth artists. The story and art were featured on Fox 9 News, Star Tribune, CCX Media News, and other media outlets. https://www.facebook.com/geno4art/

PILOT YEAR 2022-23 ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

Xiaolu Wang is a documentary filmmaker, curator, and translator born in the Hui Muslim Autonomous Region of China, whose practice is based in the mapping of interiority, with the use of video, poetry, memory, translations, and a decolonial lens. They contributed translations to journals including 單讀. Besides being a practicing cinephilia, they occasionally host podcasts, and frequently read Tao Te Ching. Their work has been generously supported by Metropolitan Regional Arts Council of Minnesota, Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, Jerome Foundation, International Documentary Association (IDA), APIA MN Film Collective, UnionDocs, and The On Being Project. They live on occupied Dakota homeland (present day Minneapolis) with two cats, Marvin and Moto, who sleep on separate couches.

R Yun Matea* is a moving image artist based in Minneapolis, on Dakota and Anishinaabe land. She was raised in California and Guatemala. Her practice in video and 16mm film is multimodal and research-based, and investigates race and labor, disease, and sites of historical and psychosocial trauma. R Yun is a recipient of the McKnight Media Artist Fellowship; Jerome Foundation Film, Video and Digital Production Grant; and University of Minnesota Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections Olson Innovation Artist in Residence Award. She earned her MFA in Film & Media Arts from Temple University and her BA in Geography from UC Berkeley. She has taught moving image studies and production at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, University of California at Santa Cruz, Minneapolis College of Art & Design and Carleton College.

Screenings and exhibitions of her work include: Center for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow; REDCAT Gallery, Los Angeles; Ghebaly Gallery, Los Angeles; Galerija Nova, Zagreb; Souvenirs from Earth International TV Project, Cologne; Raum für Projektion, Bergen, Olso & Buenos Aires; Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Minneapolis; PAPA Projects, St. Paul; Flaten Art Museum, Minnesota; Light Industry, Brooklyn; Mind TV/Media Independence, Philadelphia; Stella Elkins Tyler Gallery, Philadelphia; Philadelphia Film Festival, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia; Wits School of the Arts, Johannesburg; Festival Images Contre Nature, Marseille; Berlinale Talent Campus Editing Studio, Berlin.

[*formerly Keagy]

Mary Prescott is a Thai-American interdisciplinary artist, composer and pianist based in Minneapolis and New York City who explores the foundations and facets of identity and social conditions through experiential performance. She aims to foster understanding and create pathways for change by voicing emotional and human truths through artistic investigation and dissemination.

Prescott’s output includes several large-scale interdisciplinary works, improvised music, an immersive multimedia chamber opera, a 365-day sound journal, film music, as well as solo and chamber concert works.

As Co-Founder and inaugural Artistic Director of the Lyra Music Festival at Smith College, Prescott was named a New York Foundation for the Arts Emerging Leader. She has served on faculty at the Goppisberger Music Festival in Switzerland, the Louisiana Chamber Music Institute, and is a Teaching Artist with American Composers Orchestra.

Prescott holds degrees from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, and Manhattan School of Music.