Artist in Residence – Fall of 2023
Pronouns: he/him
Photograph by Tara Geyer
“I’m excited to get to know Pittsburgh. My work is often influenced by the places I spend time in, and the communities I engage with. There are so many creative resources in Pittsburgh, and I’m excited to be introduced to them through the residency. Whether I’m participating in workshops or meeting members of the arts community, I’m curious to see how the city influences my work.” — Tajh Rust
Tajh Rust is a visual artist based in New York. He received his MFA from Yale in 2019 and BFA from Cooper Union in 2011. Rust was in the inaugural group of artists participating in the Black Rock Senegal artist residency in 2019.
Solo exhibitions include Reflections, Palm Springs Art Museum (2023); Somewhere in Between, Matthew Brown, Los Angeles (2022); and Where We Meet, Matthew Brown, Los Angeles (2020).
Recent group exhibitions include Open Call, The Shed, New York (2021); and I will wear you in my heart of heart, The FLAG Art Foundation, New York (2021); A Face Like Mine, Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, CT (2021); For Which It Stands, Ford Foundation Gallery & Assembly Room, New York (2020); Permutations, Sibler Gallery, Goucher College, Baltimore, MD (2019); Vernacular Interior, Hales Gallery, New York (2019); Familiar Boundaries. Infinite Possibilities, August Wilson Center, Pittsburgh, PA (2018); and Strange Beach, Fridman Gallery, New York (2018).
In response to the question of what a residency at Alma Lewis means to him, Rust comments:
“It means a lot to have the support of the residency to learn new skills, to engage with the archive, and draw connections between historical and contemporary matters. The residency will allow me to introduce new questions, and materials, and references into my process, which is very exciting. Specifically, I’m intrigued by working more with glass and photography, in addition to my painting practice. It’s almost like going back to school. As a full-time artist, it is easy to settle into a routine, and get caught in a feedback loop. Participating in the residency opens up new possibilities; I’ve already started several works just based on my last visit to Pittsburgh , so there’s no telling what ideas generate over a three-month span.”
Find Tajh on Instagram: @tajhrust
