The City's Artists to Work grant program, in its final year through ARPA (America Rescue Plan Act) funding, celebrated 21 of its recent grant-awarded artists at one of the Arizona's most meaningful art premieres in January at Audubon Rio Salado Center. Hundreds of attendees engaged with innovative pieces and performances by local artists that ranged from experimental media art to more traditional modes of creativity such as photography and dance. The show was presented and curated by City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture in collaboration with The Sagrado Galleria.
“This grant program really brought me to the forefront as an artist. I don't have any professional degrees in art or photography," said photographer Samaria Winans, standing in front of her piece capturing a trailer park resident in Maryvale. “The City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity to explore. The Artists to Work program is really crucial for emerging local artists."
The 2024 Artist to Work Grant Program cohort that exhibited included:
- Carla Keaton: Visual and Studio Arts IG: @Keatonfineart
- Dominique Holley: Performing Arts IG: @Bassisking
- Esteban Rosales: Performing Arts Website: https://estebanrosalesdance.wixsite.com/main
- Fernando Lino: Performing Arts IG: @Fernando.R.Lino
- Gabriel Vinas: Visual and Studio Arts Website: https://www.gabrielvinas.com/
- Gustavo Angeles: Music Website: https://linktr.ee/gangeles
- Junior Toltecatl: Visual and Studio Arts Website: https://jtoltecatl.com/
- Liliana Gomez: Performing Arts Website: https://lilianagomezdance.weebly.com/
- Mary Fitzgerald: Performing Arts Website: https://maryfitzgeralddance.com/
- Mary Lucking Visual and Studio Arts Website: https://www.marylucking.com/
- Mehrdad Mirzaie: Visual and Studio Arts Website: https://mehrdadmirzaiee.com/
- Nita Blum: Film Website: https://nitablum.com/
- Rebecca Pipkin: Multidisciplinary Arts Website: https://www.rebeccapipkinfineart.com/
- Rembrandt Quiballo: Media and Digital Arts IG:@Rembrandtquiballo
- Ri Lindegren: Multidisciplinary Arts Website: https://danceswithtech.com/
- Rogelio Juarez: Literary Arts IG:@Rogeliomybrogelio
- Ruby Morales: Dance Website: https://rubymorales.com/
- Russ Kazmierczak Jr.: Multidisciplinary Arts Website: https://jeff-k.com/dog-years
- Samaria Winans: Visual and Studio Arts IG:@Samwfilm
- Shomit Barua: Intermedia: Installation + Performance, TechArt Website: https://www.shomitbarua.com/
- Tiesha Harrison: Tiesha Harrison Website: https://www.iamundefinedart.com/
Councilmember Kesha Hodge Washington and more city leaders were present, some giving speeches and others just there as fans of art.
This is the final year of the Artists to Work program. The last and final group of awardees, the 2025 cohort, were announced at the event. They include:
- Adam Corona: Visual and Studio Arts Website: https://www.brasstuna.com/
- Amber McCrary: Poetry and Zines Website: https://ambermccrary.com/
- Antoinette Cauley: Painting Website: https://antoinettecauleyart.com/
- Camila de Andrade Bianchi: Interdisciplinary Website: https://www.bianchicamila.com/
- Christiane Agnese Barros: Visual (Short Documentary)
- Daniel Mariotti: Sculpture and Photography Website: https://www.danielmariotti.com/
- Dean Terasaki: Photomontages Website: https://www.deanterasaki.xyz/
- Diego Lozano: Graphic Designer, Photographer, Digital Organizer, and Multidisciplinary Artist Website: https://www.diegonacho.com/
- Francisco Diaz: Textile Art Website: https://ciscosews.com/
- Gayle Tomimbang: Filmmaking, Photography, and Camera-based multimedia work
- Harold Lohner: Visual Arts Printmaking Website: http://haroldlohner.com/
- Jared Peterson: Sculpture and Installation Art Website: www.jaredpetersonstudio.com
- Jennifer Datchuk: Visual Arts Website: https://jenniferlingdatchuk.com/
- Jesse Perry: Sculpture and Installation Art Website: https://www.shinethruart.com/
- Kenaim Al-Shatti: Visual Arts Website: https://www.kenaim.com/
- Marian Hanneken: Music Performance and Recording
- Maryhope Lee: Interdisciplinary Visual Artist: practices include, but are not limited to, collage, needlework, and poetry
- Matt Flores: Poetry and Prose
- Melanie LeGendre: Painter and Mixed Media
- Monica Gisel: Painter Website: https://monicagisel.com/
- Saskia Jorda: Site-responsive installations, soft sculptures, and drawing Website: https://www.saskiajorda.com/
- Shaunté Glover: Multidisciplinary Website: https://www.shaunteglover.com/
- Socorro Hernandez: Visual Arts: Printmaking and ceramics
- Yaritza Flores Bustos: Interdisciplinary
Their showcase will be staged in January 2026. Past winners of the grant include visual artist Gloria Martinez-Granados for her large cross-stitch installation “Braceros"; and conceptual artist/musician Lisa Tolentino for her sculptural and electronic “Solar Shamans."
