Pacific Northwest artists: apply to be an Amazon Artist in Residence in 2022

Seven artists from the Pacific Northwest will be chosen for the next round of Amazon’s Artist in Resident program, which is expanding in 2022 to host two additional artists on the company’s campuses in Seattle and Bellevue.

Each selected artist will receive a $15,000 grant in addition to studio space for 10 weeks in the newly remodeled 1,100-square-foot Seattle Studio or in the new Bellevue Expressions Studio that opens on September 13, 2021.

Interested artists can apply until October 18, 2021, through Amazon’s partner Shunpike, a Seattle-based organization empowering artists in the region. The first residency of the year will begin on February 28, 2022

“Our residency program is in its fifth year, bringing in more artists than ever from all over the Puget Sound,” said Jennifer Skipper, Amazon’s campus program manager. “Their diverse and inspirational artwork encourages and supports design-thinking principles that we hope influence our employees and local communities on a daily basis.

“Although there are currently fewer employees physically present in our offices due to COVID-19, we feel it’s more important than ever to provide a safe, creative environment for our local artist community.”

An artist sits at a raised desk, working on a project within an Amazon office building

Former Amazon Artist in Residence Matthew Szosz sketching in the Expressions Studio.Photo by James Harnois

After completing their residency, each artist will contribute a piece of work for display on the Amazon campus. Artists chosen for previous residencies include printmaker and public works artist Kristen T. Ramirez, filmmaker Inye Wokoma, and light artist Ben Zamora.

”Amazon's Artist in Residence program gave me the great gift of time, space, resources, and solitude for thinking and making new art,” said Ramirez, a 2020 Artist in Resident. “This could not have come at a more needed juncture. I used my time to push forward ideas and concepts that have been kicking around my studio and my journals for years.

“I played with new concepts. I tried out new materials. I gave myself permission to experiment and perhaps to fail. I listened to the news and to music, and I relished in the private space and the ability to leave a mess behind each day.”

The Amazon facilities team is diligently managing the studio spaces in Seattle and Bellevue to ensure the safety of all artists. In addition to following local health authorities’ guidelines, frequent tabletop and art supply cleaning is conducted at the artist’s discretion.

Photo at top: Former Amazon Artist in Residence Kristen T Ramirez installing art in the Expressions Studio.