Artists In Residence
The Upton Artist in Residence Program offers selected artists complimentary housing, a stipend, and public engagement opportunities. Curated by Gallery Residential, the program supports creativity across visual arts, sculpture, music, and culinary arts while embracing themes of Bohemian spirit, playfulness, and personal expression.
Meet the featured artists below!
Lacey Longino
Artist Lacey Longino Shapes the Vision for New Artist-in-Residence Program with Monumental Commission
Renowned artist, Lacey Longino, has been commissioned to create a monumental 6,101-square-foot artwork at the heart of The Upton. Entitled “Grounded In Your Light”, this large-scale installation positions Longino’s work as the centerpiece of the community, and over time has become a driving theme for The Upton’s Artist-in-Residence Program, setting the tone for the residency’s artistic dialogue. It will incorporate paint ofc, concrete mortar (Concrete Renewal LLC), custom stencils, hand-painted signage, light tracking, stained-glass, basketball hoops, crystals & lights, omg the lights. There will be many surprises as the installation unfolds.
Renowned artist, Lacey Longino, has been commissioned to create a monumental 6,101-square-foot artwork at the heart of The Upton, anchoring the newly launched Artist-in-Residence program. While not a resident artist, Longino conceived the program’s guiding theme, Grounded in Your Light, which serves as the foundation for the five selected artists to explore in their work.
“My vision for this project was to create an environment that embodies the essence of being ‘Grounded in Your Light’—a concept that now extends to the artists in residence, each interpreting it through their own lens,” said Longino. “While I am not part of the residency itself, I’m honored to bring this vision to life in a way that serves as both an anchor and an inspiration for the community.”
Adam Stephenson
This is one of the few times in my entire life where I have been permitted to imagine art without limitations. Just the opportunity to think this way has been a gift and a wonderful experience. The moment I learned about the theme of the residency, my mind began to overflow with ideas and images, big and small. possible and impossible. I found it challenging and exciting to try and capture this creative energy. This residency seemed to connect me to the potential of an infinite number of ideas
So I tried, to the best of my understanding, to capture a cosmological representation of infinity itself. The elemental forces of this world that work together to create never ending variations of life and its experiences. Here I am representing the five elements, Spirit. Air, Water, Fire, and Earth. The space, with its 4 surfaces, seemed to ask to be divided in such a way. Through the separation of the elements I was able to take the idea of light and split it, the same way that light separates as it travels through a prism. The room represents the full spectrum of light, and every color of the visible light spectrum is grounded centrally through the element of earth. In this space, I hope that everyone can find themselves grounded in their light.
Chef Justin Dixon
Chef Justin Dixon is an Atlanta native; he began his career studying at the Art Institute of Atlanta and working at the famed Pano's & Paul's in 2007. From there Dixon went on to work under some of the best chefs in the city of Atlanta; the list of noted chefs that he had the pleasure to train under include Ian Winslade, Zeb Stevenson, Shaun Doty, and Chris Hall. In fact, it was with Chris Hall and Ben Barth at Local Three where he really honed his skills.
He then went on to be sous chef at the Spence under Wesley True. Before being tapped, to take over the kitchen at The Shed at Glenwood and later opening Bully Boy to rave reviews. After his stint at Bully Boy, Chef Dixon took on the unique task of opening chef for Wonderkid serving updated takes on diner classics out of a 5000 sqft space that was open 7 days a week breakfast, lunch, and dinner and also included a Ice Cream Counter and 40 seat private dining room.
In my practice, the power of context is central. I approach site-specific installations as opportunities to transform space into an immersive experience, using scale, materiality, and light to evoke emotional resonance. My work seeks to draw viewers into a state of awareness-of themselves, their surroundings, and the connections that unite us.
For this residency, I am compelled by the theme "Grounded- In-Your-Light" and its invitation to explore the balance between rootedness and illumination. My work will build on this concept, creating installations that reflect the grounding nature of form and the playful, transcendent qualities of light. Through these pieces, I hope to offer a quiet sense of wonder, encouraging viewers to pause, observe, and reconnect with their own inner light.
Ultimately, my goal is to create art that lingers, not just in space but in memory-pieces that invite reflection and remind us of the stability and beauty found within moments of stillness.
Lisa Li
Sage Guillory
As an artist, my work is rooted in storytelling and symbolism, using large-scale paintings, murals, and sculptural elements to explore the intersections of personal identity, community, and transformation. Drawing inspiration from numerology, my cultural heritage, and the natural world, my art seeks to ignite introspection and foster meaningful connections.
The theme "Grounded-In-Your-Light" resonates deeply with my creative philosophy. To me, being grounded is about finding stability within oneself, while illumination represents the courage to share that inner brilliance with others. My artistic process reflects this balance-blending vibrant colors, textured layers, and meaningful symbols to convey stories of resilience and discovery.
Through this residency, I aim to create works that inspire others to reflect on their own journeys of self-awareness and personal illumination, fostering a sense of community and shared light. Whether through murals that transform public spaces or workshops that empower participants to embrace their creativity, I am committed to bringing the spirit of playfulness, grounding, and self-expression to life.
Courtney Brooks
Hi! I am Courtney Brooks, am grateful for the opportunity to express my sincere interest in as the curator in residence at The Upton. I am a valuable candidate due to my experience as an independent curator, visual artist, muralist and spearheading several public art exhibitions. I am prepared to create more elevating experiences and contribute my skills from my artistic background.
I identify and create spaces that amplify joy, healing and social solutions through narratives that reflect my journey as a Black woman curator, wearing many hats as a creative consultant, arts administrator and content creator. Through parallel and abstract experiences, I empower myself and my community through creative and business collaborations. Whether public or private, visual curation is problem solving. It's in-depth brainstorming sessions and a responsibility to encourage creativity through hands-on work, educational programming, intuition and strategic planning.
I share works of various multidisciplinary, conceptual creatives who approach their visions through innovative mediums. With open dialog and trust in their creative process, each exhibition, studio visit and artist talk is purpose-driven. My number one goal is to elevate artists, transform communities and engage new audiences. The intent behind each exhibition is to bring awareness to the importance of art collection, artist advocacy, promotion and development.
