San Antonio, Texas, February 12, 2026–Contemporary Art Month (CAM) in partnership with Mercury Project are pleased to announce 2026 Residency Open Call for emerging artists in San Antonio. The CAM x Mercury Project Residency will offer one local artist time and space to create alongside other local artists and receive mentorship from established creatives in our community.

The selected artist will:

• Receive dedicated studio space at Mercury Project in the Southtown Arts District for 8 weeks from October 1, 2026 through November 31, 2026

• Have opportunities to engage with studio artists and mentors 

• Receive a $250 honorarium

• Exhibit their work in a professional gallery setting following their residency

We are seeking artists who may be just getting started in their career, or who may be returning to art making after a period of absence. The artist must reside in the San Antonio area at the time of application. Current students are eligible to apply. There is no application fee. 

The CAM x Mercury Project Residency recipient will be announced at the CAM Closing Party on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 6–9pm, at Space C7 Gallery.

Key Partners:

Contemporary Art Month (CAM) Every year during the month of March, Contemporary Art Month San Antonio offers the platform for artists, performers and curators to show the best our community has to offer at galleries, museums, performing arts spaces, schools, artist studios and various unconventional locations around the city. Contemporary Art Month is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  www.contemporaryartmonth.org

Mercury Project is a space to create, grow, and connect. A multifunctional creative space housing multiple forms of art and design, Mercury Project offers unique, mobile shared studios in a collective, supportive environment. www.mercuryproject.net

2025 Resident Artist: Lu Farrell

Lu Farrell (they/them) is a queer Chicanx artist, community arts organizer, and digital strategist living in San Antonio, Texas. Their visual art work, primarily using oil paint, is characterized by bold color and imagery, and explores themes of Tejanx identity, gender, and belonging.

In their professional life, Lu works as a digital strategist, supporting mission-driven organizations in storytelling and creative design. As a Curator with Future Front Texas, Lu collaborates with other local artists to host public arts programming centering queer creative expression including figure drawing classes and creative knowledge sharing events. They also serve as a Creative Director with Malflora Collective, a digital publication dedicated to archiving and uplifting Latinx lesbian histories and culture. 

Lu is currently getting their master's degree in Sustainable Design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. In their free time, Lu enjoys floating the river, cooking with friends, and exploring the hill country with their dog, Otis.