Preferred Residency Dates :
June-July 2025
September-November 2025
Motivations:
My motivation for applying to the Thread Residency is rooted in a deep desire to create work that honors the land, nature, and the connections to my own lineage, both known and unknown. I believe that art is a living force that is most powerful when it is in dialogue with the environment it inhabits. For me, this residency presents a unique opportunity to immerse myself in a place where I can be one with the land, allowing the rhythms and energies of the surrounding world to shape my practice in new and meaningful ways.
As an artist, I am committed to exploring the ways in which nature and ancestry intertwine within my creative process. Thread’s setting, embedded in the landscape of rural Senegal, provides a space for reflection on the spiritual and cultural dimensions of existence. By engaging with this environment, I aim to deepen my connection to both my personal heritage and the broader histories of the African diaspora, while also embracing the lessons that the land offers in its cycles of growth, renewal, and transformation.
This residency would allow me to expand my work into a space where my art can be informed not just by the memories of my ancestors but also by the living, breathing world that sustains us. It is my belief that in honoring nature and the land, I can more fully understand the complexities of my own identity and the interwoven histories that shape who I am.
CV:
Jonelle Austin
Brooklyn, New York |
Brooklyn, New York |
+1 609 7272955
jonelleau@gmail.com
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I am writing to express my interest in the Thread Residency in Sinthian, Senegal, and I believe this immersive, culturally rich environment would provide the ideal space to deepen and expand my artistic practice. As an artist whose work is deeply rooted in themes of diaspora, spirituality, and community, the residency’s unique setting offers an invaluable opportunity to engage with the intersection of rural life and contemporary art in a profound way.
The spirit of Thread—its focus on fostering individual creative practices while deeply engaging with the local community—aligns perfectly with my vision for art that is both personal and communal. I am particularly drawn to the residency’s emphasis on independent studio work, as I thrive in spaces where I can work autonomously while remaining open to the cultural influences and histories that surround me. My practice is already shaped by an engagement with collective memory, ancestral histories, and spiritual rites, and I see this residency as a chance to deepen these themes through an encounter with Senegal’s rich cultural and spiritual traditions.
The vibrant, collaborative atmosphere of Sinthian—where daily life is intertwined with celebration, music, agriculture, and community-building—speaks to my interest in blending ritual, personal history, and cultural practice. I am excited about the possibility of weaving the experiences and energies of the village into my work, creating a dialogue between the rural context and my exploration of black and brown queer identities. I am particularly drawn to the way Thread serves as a space for reflection and ritual, as it mirrors my own artistic interest in creating spaces of contemplation and transformation through color, form, and narrative.
I believe that this residency will provide the time, space, and environment to take my practice to new levels of engagement and growth. The unique architecture of Thread, offers a setting where I can respond to the natural rhythms and sounds of the land, incorporating its presence into my process in ways that deepen my work’s connection to both the personal and collective. Additionally, the residency's commitment to making space for local and international stories to converge is a practice I cherish deeply. I look forward to engaging with the community of Sinthian, not just as an artist working in isolation but as a participant in an ongoing, generative exchange that reflects the reciprocal nature of art-making.
In sum, I am excited about the possibility of creating work that speaks to my Caribbean heritage while simultaneously responding to the diverse, layered histories of Senegal, and by extension, the broader African diaspora. Thread’s residency would provide the transformative opportunity to expand my artistic vocabulary while honoring the collective and spiritual legacies that shape both my work and the world I seek to understand.
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Education
The Cooper Union, NYC
Bachelors in Fine Arts
2025
2025
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Selected Exhibitions
REM Studios Gallery (2022), NYC
Black Art Matters Pop Up (2023),NYC
“We’re Outside” Heath Gallery (2023),NYC
Black Art Collective Shows (2022,2023),NYC
Cooper Union Black Students Union Show (2022,2023,2024,2025),NYC
Girls.com Gallery Show(2022), NYC
25 East Gallery(2024), NYC
Brooklyn Art Haus (2024),NYC
Canada Gallery(2024),NYC
Weeksville Heritage Center “Imagining Our Future” (2024) ,NYC
Brooklyn Center for Theatre Research “Liberation Echoes” (2024) NYC
Bushwick Art Collective (2024)NYC
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Skills & Techniques
- Expertise in oil, acrylic, pastel, and airbrush mediums.
- Strong foundation in portraiture and abstract visual language.
- Experience working with cultural and spiritual themes in the context of the Caribbean and African diasporas.
- Ability to work independently in a focused studio setting while engaging with community contexts.
- Strong foundation in portraiture and abstract visual language.
- Experience working with cultural and spiritual themes in the context of the Caribbean and African diasporas.
- Ability to work independently in a focused studio setting while engaging with community contexts.
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Languages
- English
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References
Available upon request.