The Terra Foundation Affiliated Fellowship at the American Academy in Rome was designed for a Chicago-based visual artist to expand their artistic practice in the rich, interdisciplinary environment of Rome. The fellowship offered a six-month residency with room, board, a $15,000 stipend, and a $2,000 travel allowance, giving the fellow access to studio space, the Academy’s library, photo archive, and Archeological Study Collection. Fellows were encouraged to participate in the Academy’s Shoptalks, Walks and Talks, and other public programs, with support from Academy staff to engage with Rome’s artistic and intellectual community.
The 2024-2025 fellow, Kimmah M. Dennis, currently in residence at the American Academy in Rome is an Artist and Visiting Artist Coordinator at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Their project, entitled Interwoven, explores themes of mobility, displacement, immigration, and assimilation, and is inspired by Dennis’ own experiences and broader historical contexts. Through a blend of painting, drawing, collage, and installation, Dennis aims to create a body of work that reflects both personal and collective histories. The fellowship offers Dennis access to Rome’s cultural and archival resources, facilitating experimentation with materials and storytelling techniques that engage with both traditional and contemporary art forms.
Please note that this fellowship opportunity is now closed and no longer accepting applications.
AAR Terra Foundation Fellow, 2023–24
The 2023–24 Terra Foundation fellow is Lan Tuazon, Associate Professor, Department of Sculpture, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, in residence at the American Academy from January through July 2024. In Rome, they will continue a project called Future Fossils—sculptures made with mass-produced containers, and nested to grow layers like the rings of a tree. They will deep dive into the Roman history of material invention and recycling and include Italian-made, mass-produced containers within their archive.
