The Artist in Residence program promotes health humanities by exposing and re-purposing historical materials preserved in the Archives and Special Collections. Through collaboration with the Makers Lab, the artist creates work that explores connections between art and healing, examines the process of scientific discovery, addresses contemporary issues related to health care and social justice, or addresses historical subjects in health sciences inspired by the Archives and Special Collections holdings including rare books, personal papers, photographs, artifacts, university publications, East Asian and Art collections.
Possible projects can include, but are not limited to: painting, photography, performance, sculpture, 3D scanning and 3D printing, programmable electronics, and digital, video, or installation art.
2021 artist: Pantea Karimi
Pantea Karimi lived, worked, and studied in Iran and England before moving to San Jose, California in 2005. Her work as a multidisciplinary artist investigates the intersection of art, science, and history. In her art, she combines visual and conceptual interpretations from her scientific manuscript research with contemporary issues and her life’s narratives. She creates two-dimensional works and interactive installations using a variety of materials and media.
Pantea has exhibited internationally across a range of solo, group, and traveling exhibitions in Iran, Algeria, Germany, Croatia, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Her hand-made and digital prints are in public collections including the University of California, Davis, Stanford University, and the Ruth Asawa Foundation. She is the recipient of the 2022 Mass MoCA the Studios Residency Award, the 2020 Holding the Moment Art Award, the 2019 City of San Jose Arts and Cultural Exchange Grant, the 2019 Silicon Valley Artist Laureates Award, and the 2017 Kala Fellowship-Residency Award. Pantea holds two master’s degrees in graphic design and fine arts and currently teaches in the departments of Digital Media and Studio Art at the Santa Clara University and Cabrillo College. She maintains a studio at Cubberley Artist Studios in Palo Alto, California.
For more info, see the Q&A with Pantea.
Past Artists in Residence
Eligibility
The UCSF Library Artist in Residence award, valued at $6,000, will be given annually to one candidate with a degree in Studio Arts or a related field and/or a history of exhibiting artistic work in professional venues.
Artist support
The recipient, who will be known as the UCSF Library Artist in Residence, will receive assistance from the staff of the UCSF Library and will have full access to the Library’s Archives and Special Collections and Makers Lab equipment. Please note that the artist will be accommodated as well as possible, but that there is no dedicated studio space available. The award is intended to cover travel, materials, and related expenses incurred by the artist; the amount given is set at $6,000, from which taxes may be deducted, and will be paid upon completion of the residency requirements. The work done during the residency will become property of UCSF, however, the artist will be recognized for all work.
Artist responsibilities
- Produce one finished work that will become part of the permanent collection of the UCSF Library
- Curate exhibit in the UCSF Library on work done during residency
- Facilitate/lead two public events (workshop/class and exhibit opening)
- Post three updates and a final narrative report on the Library website
- Promote residency on social media channels