Safe Harbors of the Hudson’s Ann Street Gallery has announced its 2026 Emerging Artist Fellows. The selected artists are Elena Kalkova, Duncan Richards, and Luis Mercedes Winter. A jury of local arts community members and program alumni chose the three recipients from an annual open call of applicants.
Now in its fifth year, the fellowship program supports early-career and under-recognized artists in Newburgh and the Hudson Valley. The six-month program is led by Gallery Director Alison McNulty and focuses on supporting artists from historically marginalized communities.
The fellowship runs from June through November 2026, providing participants with a shared onsite studio space in Newburgh and a $2,000 allowance for materials and supplies. Fellows receive professional development through workshops, critiques, and studio visits with regional artists, alongside trips to regional art institutions.
Elena Kalkova is an artistic researcher and educator working in conceptual sculpture and installation to address state censorship and the politics of memory. Kalkova holds a Master of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts and received a New York State Council on the Arts grant in 2026.
Duncan Richards is an interdisciplinary artist and spiritsmith who blends contemporary art with traditional folk magic under the moniker WhereTheWaterFlows. Richards has collaborated with the National Folklore Collection at the University of Dublin and holds a master’s degree from NYU’s Silver School of Social Work.
Luis Mercedes Winter, who also works under the name Louiefromtheblock, is an Afro-Latinx photographer and writer who studied at Bard College. His work has been exhibited at the Photoville Festival and the Dwyer Cultural Center, and his photobook is held in the collection at The Library for Arts & Culture in Brooklyn.
The public will have an opportunity to view the fellows’ work during the annual Fellowship Exhibition. The show opens in September to coincide with Newburgh Open Studios and runs through November, with specific exhibition dates to be announced.
The fellowship program is made possible through support from the TD Charitable Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Cowles Charitable Trust, the Dominican Sisters of Hope Ministry Fund, and the M&T Charitable Foundation.
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