Artists Choose Artists
Since its inception, the Fellowship program has supported early career artists who receive financial and onsite fabrication support to realize ambitious public artworks. The program champions artists with a multi-disciplinary approach to public art, including outdoor sculpture, ecological “living” installations, performance, and community-engaged practice.
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the program and the Park’s 40th anniversary in 2026, Socrates turned to its esteemed alumni network to help guide the Fellowship’s next chapter through the Park’s first nomination-based process. Harkening back to Artists Choose Artists, Socrates’ third ever exhibition in 1987, artists who previously exhibited at Socrates nominated other artists for whom they believed the Fellowship would be a momentous opportunity at this stage of their artistic growth.
The 2026-2028 Artist Fellows Mrinalini Aggarwal, Cynthia Alberto, Francheska Alcántara, Josué Guarionex, Xayvier Haughton, Vaishnavi Ilankamban, Manami Ishimura, Jeremy John Kaplan, Nicole Mouriño and Andrew Robinson were selected for the artistic merit of their work and their projects’ potential to respond to the social, ecological, and historical dimensions of the Park.
The Socrates Annual projects will accumulate in the Park over the two year Fellowship cycle. This expanded timeline offers a unique opportunity for sustained artistic development, mentorship, and site-specific activation across the Park as we celebrate our 40th anniversary. Please check back for exhibition opening dates and details regarding artists activations.
Fellowship Anniversary projects were selected from over 100 submissions by a selection committee that included: Suhaly Bautista-Carolina, Chief of Programs and Partnerships at the American LGBTQ+ Museum; kier blake, Co-Founder and Director of NYC Programs as Earth Convergence; Carlos Jiménez Cahua, Artist & Socrates Fellow 2018; Kimberly Chou Tsun An, Artist & Socrates Fellow 2024; Dave Harper, Executive Director of the New York City AIDS Memorial; Jamie Maleszka-Tate, Director of Creative Arts at The Fortune Society; Prerana Reddy, Associate Director for Artist Programs at Recess ; Sofia Reeser del Rio, Curator and Associate Director of Programs at The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center
* Devra Freelander Award Recipient
Established in 2019 in memory of artist Devra Freelander, The Devra Freelander Fund supports The Socrates Annual Fellowship & Exhibition. Each year, one participating artist is named the Devra Freelander Artist Fellow, celebrating Devra’s adventurous spirit and her commitment to sustainability, identity, and feminism.
