Adobe’s renowned Creative Residency program seeks to provide emerging artists with new opportunities to develop their work and gain a stronger foothold in the broader art world. To this end, the program places artists in some of the most renowned art institutions in the world and gives them the opportunity to exhibit their work.
Adobe’s Creative Resident list of alumni is extremely influential, including renowned photographers such as aundre lareau, Christina Poku, Emily SetzgerAaron Bernstein, who passes hungry boyand many more.
This year’s photography resident, michael akuagwuPhotography blends photo manipulation and a true creative spirit to “explore themes of self, identity, culture and society.” Self-portraiture is an important part of his portfolio and has played a central role throughout his series jungle justice In 2023, michael’s toolkit in 2022 and 2021 the church hurts,
“They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I often think about how much more can be communicated through photo-composite, combining multiple images into a single, unified story,” says Akugwu.
The new 2025 Adobe Creative Residents group includes multidisciplinary artist Samora Pinderhughes, designer Jessica Stearns, and mosaics and ceramic artist Ciara Neufeldt. Akuagwu, Stearns and Neufeldt will be residents of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, while Pinderhughes is being welcomed to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
Akuagwu says she is particularly excited to be associated with the V&A collection, which contains photographs of the Black British experience from the 1950s to the 1990s.
“There weren’t very many (if any) black artists on my school curriculum, I didn’t really explore much about art until after university and I often felt like I was playing catch-up, so I’m excited to learn more about the black photographers in the collection, their work and practices, the photographers explain.
“We are thrilled to welcome our new group of residents and look forward to the many ways we can collaborate in 2025, from sharing photography, mosaics and ceramic tilework and the processes of creating inclusive design with our audiences. This includes enlivening the broader debate. creativity, socially engaged practice using the collection and access to creative careers,” says Dr Helen Charman, Director of Learning at the V&A.
The Adobe Creative Residency program works with world-class art institutions such as MoMA, V&A, the Museum of Art and Photography in Bangalore, the National Museum of Art in Japan, and the Museum of Image and Sound São Paulo (MIS). The work of the 2024 residents is on display at MoMA and the V&A.
“Through the Adobe Creativity Residency program, we are creating new pathways to bridge the gap between established arts institutions and the next generation of creators,” says Stacey Martinet, Adobe VP of Marketing Strategy and Communications and Adobe Foundation board member.
“The Adobe Foundation is honored to invest in this first-of-its-kind collaboration, helping creators represent their artistic vision in ways never before possible, and making creativity more accessible to everyone.”
Adobe aspires to reach 10 million young creators through its global Creative Residents program by 2028.
Image Credit: Adobe
