Emerging Artists Program
Supporting equity artists
Austin Area Arts is proud to offer this program for another year, encouraging more diverse exhibitors at the event. The Emerging Artists tent on the festival grounds will feature a group of 8 Emerging Artists.
These artists identify as a member of one or more equity populations* and face barriers to exhibiting at the Austin ArtWorks Festival. With grant support, the artists are mentored and equipped to exhibit, gain experience, meet customers, network with peer artists, and build relationships with Austin Area Arts. In addition to potential sales at the event, the artists will gain a resumé credential and knowledge of exhibiting at festivals.
To apply contact kelsey@austinareaarts.org
*Equity Populations: An equity population for this program is defined as any group of people facing oppression, marginalization or other systemic barriers to success in the arts. Some examples of equity populations include Black, Asian, Indigenous, Latinx, biracial/multi-racial, immigrant, refugee, English Language Learners, living with a disability and/or mental illness, formerly incarcerated, low income, LGBTQIA+, etc.
The 2026 Emerging Artists mentor is ARK, 2024 & 2025’s mentor and an emerging artist from 2023.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
2026 Emerging Artists
Rockin Bakken, Acrylic Painting and Mixed Media | Dodge Center, MN
Ian Gearhart, Acrylic Paintng | Austin, MN
Jadyn Spann, Oil Painting and Drawing | Brooklyn Center, MN
Brooke-Lynn Taylor, Ceramics | Blooming Prairie, MN
Sophia Thome, Mixed Media | Mankato, MN
Val Weber, Mixed Media | Mankato, MN
Hansel Weiss, Ceramics and Painting | Blooming Prairie, MN
Jae Carpenter, Mixed Media and Digital Illustrations | Mankato, MN
Artwork gallery from Past Emerging Artists
ARK, 2023, multimedia works inspired by art therapy
Cora Feist, 2023, multimedia including portraiture
Love Quetee, 2023, acrylic and oil on canvas
Toby Holtz, 2023, welded metal sculpture
Luca, 2023, paper mache, soft sculture & video art
Kara Page, 2023, painting & multimedia
Aimi Dickel, 2023, acrylic & mutimedia
Niki Higgins, 2023, multimedia resin art inspired by nature
Christina Donley, 2024, digital illustration & printmaking
Nicktae Marroquin-Haslett, 2024, beading & painting
Pen McVay, 2024, digital illustration
Selena Medellin, 2024, mixed media
Love Quetee, 2024, acrylic and oil painting
Geoffrey Tollefson, 2024, mixed media
Dinorah Vazquez, 2024, oil painting
Bianca Wilson, 2024, textiles
Alexander Matuska, 2025, photography
Erin Peña, 2025, sculptural beadwork
Jasper Slichter, 2025, acrylic painting & drawing
Pen McVay, 2025, digital illustration
Rat Bastard Rocks, 2025, lapidary
Raya Watts, 2025, mixed media
Sage Rose, 2025, jewelry
Vio Abdi, 2025, acrylic painting & ceramics
Where are they now?
What year did you participate in the Emerging Artist Program at the ArtWorks Festival? 2024
What have you been working on since participating? Making more paintings, and prints. Trying to add different things to my table, like small woodburning projects and stickers.
What has been your biggest milestone as an artist since the program? Displaying art are a few local galleries and making more pieces
Have you exhibited your work anywhere recently? If so, where? Carnegie in Mankato, the arts center of St. Peter, Austin arts, a few smaller local shows as well like at a local bike shop, as well as making a mural in downtown Mankato.
Are there any upcoming exhibitions, markets, or events you'd like people to know about? Mankato art crawl, Mankato dia de los muertos, ACSP members show, and Pinot and paint at the Carnegie arts center Mankato
Looking back, how did participating in the Emerging Artist Program impact your artistic journey? Being able to go to any art event and set up a table without a booth fee, especially as a beginner, is undeniably huge. There were other artists setting tables up and offering different ideas on how to best display art at the booth and also a few objects were given to me that I still use to this day to help display things. Also it made it so I wanted to come back to Austin art fest,
I’m excited to be back for 2026! Being able to have that first year to gain insight on how to sit up a booth and make it look nice, being given materials to help in that task, and being able to not worry about the coast of the booth.
Where can people follow your work or purchase your art? @Mr.Babylungs.art on IG and prints art in the gift shop at the Carnegie art center Mankato
What year did you participate in the Emerging Artist Program at the ArtWorks Festival? 2025.
What have you been working on since participating? Loads of stuff; creating a new series of kits and instructions, in-person classes, grants, other art fairs, and a new body of work begun in residency in September 2025 at the Anderson Center, Tower View. I also had my first solo show in Mankato at the Carnegie Center.
What has been your biggest milestone as an artist since the program? Probably the residency at Anderson Center. It was my first residency and it was incredible. The location is historic and beautiful and my fellow artists were incredible people that I still keep in touch with. It was such a gift of time and care; they shopped and cooked for us, and as part of a Jerome program for emerging artists we had stipends as well.
Have you exhibited your work anywhere recently? If so, where? I have! I had my first solo show in Mankato at the Carnegie Center which was an amazing opportunity, and they were so good with my work and displaying it. We were able to set up a touch table too, which was a lot of fun. I’ve also shown some of my new canvas pieces at Indeed Brewing in Minneapolis during Art-A-Whirl and currently at Burl Gallery in St. Paul.
I am currently looking for more solo show opportunities for the new body of work I’m beginning.
Are there any upcoming exhibitions, markets, or events you'd like people to know about? I’m having a trunk show at the Textile Center in Minneapolis over Black Friday/Small Business day etc. I’ve accumulated a lot of jewelry odds and ends that I would love to find good homes for as they are taking up too much space in mine.
I would also encourage people to sign up for my newsletter as I am planning to begin offering classes online this winter and the newsletter is the best way to keep in touch with what I’m up to.
Looking back, how did participating in the Emerging Artist Program impact your artistic journey? It was amazing to be a part of! It can be pretty hard for me to get outside the twin cities because I don’t drive, so of course I jumped at this opportunity. I wouldn’t have been able to make it out otherwise, and it was such a lovely show. It was organized with a level of care and attention that isn’t always the case and is always so nice to see. Also, I won an award and I might have cried about it.
Where can people follow your work or purchase your art? My portfolio and my shop are both housed at www.erinpenaart.com. You can also sign up for my newsletter there, where all my upcoming events will be broadcast first. I’m on Patreon, Youtube, and Instagram @hummingbird_knight; Patreon is right now where I’m most active, you can follow me for free.
What year did you participate in the Emerging Artist Program at the ArtWorks Festival? 2024
What have you been working on since participating? Improving my skills as an artist; exploring new techniques, creative growth and improving communication.
What has been your biggest milestone as an artist since the program? Connecting with other artists and community.
Looking back, how did participating in the Emerging Artist Program impact your artistic journey? Building confidence, feeling motivated and supported by other creators and community. I am very grateful for the opportunity and mentorship along the program.
Where can people follow your work or purchase your art? Instagram: dinorahvazquez