ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM

Through an artist’s perspective, the Canyon Country District Artist in Residence Program’s mission is to inspire, educate, and promote stewardship, that will enhance the understanding and need to protect our public land resources for future generations.

The Moab and Monticello Field Offices will alternate each year hosting the Artist in Residence program. The 2026 residency will be hosted by the Moab Field Office and is open to visual artists. Work completed during the residency must represent Canyon Country District.

The BLM may request the artist to focus on an area or theme within the field office boundaries to bring awareness to district goals or objectives.

2026 Artist in Residence

The BLM will soon be requesting applications for a new Artist in Residence. The residency is 2-4 weeks chosen by the selected Artist between Sept. 11 and Oct. 31, 2026. Artists must include the length and proposed dates of residency in their application. The purpose of the time span is to provide artists flexibility to meet their goals and cater to the availability of prospective artists in residence.

Please see the application and program information on the right of this webpage.

2024 Artist in Residence

The BLM Monticello Field Office hosted Susan Jackson. Jackson comes from a long background in landscape design and has held roles in private organizations and with public land management agencies, such as the National Forest Service. She is an avid hiker and backpacker and is enthusiastic about spending time on the river — having been on trips through Alaska and the Grand Canyon. She busies herself with plein air events and various art and landscape projects, and was very excited to join us for the residency here in Moab! Jackson hoped to share her love of the outdoors and the “magical connection between people and nature."

2023 Artists in Residence in Bears Ears National Monument

The BLM Monticello Field Office hosted Shelley Hull fall 2023 and Leslie Ann Hauer spring 2023.

Hull was inspired by the unique landscape and enjoyed spending time exploring — hiking to a place, then sketching and painting. Hull's goal was to spread the sense of awe she felt when exploring and painting Canyon Country. She hoped her work would encourage viewers to support protecting the Bear Ears region from pillage, desecration, or ruin.

Hauer was drawn to the abstract qualities within the reality of the landscape, the light and shadow, shape and color. Hauer found joy in trying to capture the moment in time while painting en plein air. She felt “called” to some scenes within the landscape, and those images often involve details like rocks or flowers, the “little picture” within the broad, sometimes overwhelming, Western landscape. Through her work she hoped to share the landscape with those who may not have the ability or opportunity to spend time in these amazing places.

2022 Artist in Residence Final Work

Bureau of Land Management is pleased to share the work produced by the first Canyon Country District Artist in Residence, H. Walck. Walck completed their three-week residency in October 2022. During the residency, they explored public lands in the Moab area, visited with BLM subject matter experts, and sought inspiration for new work. Walck’s piece - developed during the residency - will be on display at a later date. The location and date of availability will be announced on the BLM Moab and Canyon Country Facebook page.