The Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design is proud to announce that Kandy G. Lopez will join campus this fall as our Terri and Alan Spoon Visiting Artist. Lopez will be a featured artist in the upcoming on-campus exhibition Roots and Resilience: Art for Change and will spend time on campus directly engaging with students and the campus community.
Lopez is a nationally recognized fiber artist whose work explores identity, resilience, and representation within marginalized communities. Her large-scale woven portraits and textile-based works have been exhibited widely in museums and galleries across the United States, and her pieces are held in both private and public collections. Lopez is represented by ACA Galleries in New York, one of the nation’s longest-standing galleries devoted to championing progressive and socially engaged art. Her practice has earned her numerous awards and fellowships, and she is frequently invited to lecture and lead workshops at institutions across the country.
Throughout her residency, Lopez will work closely with students in Director and Chief Curator Tim Jaeger’s Exhibition Design and Management course, while also offering hands-on opportunities for the broader student body. Students will have the chance to participate in studio visits, critiques, workshops, and artist talks as part of her residency.
Lopez’s large-scale fiber works will be featured in Roots and Resilience, a landmark group exhibition curated and designed by Ringling College students. This exhibition highlights the transformative power of African American art, featuring pioneering artists such as Faith Ringgold, Aminah Robinson, Jacob Lawrence, and Romare Bearden, alongside contemporary voices including Lopez and Eme Omeh. Together, these artists illuminate how art preserves culture, fuels resistance, and inspires new futures.
Click HERE to learn more about Kandy G Lopez and her work.
Kandy G Lopez Artist-in-Residence Schedule
- October 6–12: Crits, studio visits, artist talk, and workshops
- October 24: Roots and Resilience exhibition opening
- October 25: Artist talk
- November 14: Weekend program
- December 5: Weekend program
About the Terri and Alan Spoon Visiting Artist Program
Launched through the generosity of the Terri and Alan Spoon Visiting Artist Fund, this program is now in its third year and continues to be a cornerstone of Ringling College’s commitment to experiential learning. The initiative provides national and international emerging contemporary artists with the time, space, and resources to share their practice with students and the broader community.
Each residency is designed to foster direct collaboration and dialogue between visiting artists and students. Through studio visits, critiques, workshops, and public talks, students gain invaluable exposure to diverse artistic perspectives and practices, while artists benefit from the fresh ideas and creative energy of our academic environment. The program not only enriches classroom learning but also cultivates an atmosphere of mentorship, experimentation, and professional development.
By inviting artists at pivotal points in their careers, the program creates opportunities for cross-generational exchange and cultural dialogue, ensuring that students engage with art as a living, evolving practice. Residencies often culminate in exhibitions that showcase the visiting artist’s work alongside the contributions of students, reinforcing the idea that creativity thrives in community and collaboration.
Ultimately, the Terri and Alan Spoon Visiting Artist Program strengthens the College’s mission to connect students with innovative thinkers and makers, preparing them to enter the professional art world with both technical skills and a deeper understanding of art’s power to inspire change.
