about the fellowship
The UrbanArt Commission (UAC), in partnership with the City of Memphis, is launching the Public Art Fellowship Program to expand opportunities for local sculptors to complete their first permanent public sculpture with UAC. Recognizing the institutional barriers that many studio artists, particularly artists of color and women face when pursuing public sculpture commissions, this city-funded fellowship aims to bridge that gap through training, mentorship, and production support.
Modeled after the success of UAC’s New Public Artists Fellowship and District Mural Program, the initiative will select seven Memphis-based sculptors, one representing each of the city’s seven districts to design and create public sculptures for designated city sites. Fellows will participate in workshops led by experienced public artists and arts professionals, covering topics such as proposal writing, budgeting, fabrication, permitting, and community engagement. Each artist will also work with a mentor to refine their design and navigate the public art process.
At the conclusion of the program, each fellow’s approved design will be fabricated and permanently installed in their assigned district. Selected artists will receive a project grant (amount to be determined) to support the creation and installation of their sculpture, along with the professional training needed to pursue future public art opportunities across Memphis and beyond.
In February of 2026, the fellows had their very first meeting together at Off The Wall Arts. Apart from meeting each other for the first time, the fellows also had a chance to meet their core facilitator(Yvonne Bobo) and the 2023-24 npa fellows.
