The Walker Youngbird Foundation is investing in Indigenous artists by launching a new residency focused on neon, a medium that has long remained difficult to access because of its technical demands, high cost, and reliance on specialized fabrication spaces.
The Walker Youngbird Foundation has partnered with Lite Brite Neon Studio to create Native Neon, a $50,000 annual residency supporting one Indigenous artist in producing their first neon work. The program is open to artists working in any discipline who have not previously worked in neon and is intended to expand access to a form that is often reserved for artists with institutional support or established studio connections.
While neon is typically associated with public art, signage, and large-scale visual presence, the process behind it is far less accessible than that of other media. Creating neon work requires specialized equipment, glass-bending knowledge, high-voltage electrical systems, and fabrication infrastructure that few artists can access independently. Artist residencies that fully support neon production are also rare, making entry into the medium especially difficult for emerging and mid-career artists.
Native Neon is designed to address those barriers directly. The selected artist will receive a $10,000 stipend and participate in a 7-10 day immersive residency at Lite Brite Neon Studio in Kingston, New York, and work alongside experienced fabricators to develop and complete an original neon artwork, with full production support.
“Entire media remain closed to artists for creative exploration, simply because the tools and training are expensive and specialized,” said Reid Walker, founder of the Walker Youngbird Foundation. “Native Neon changes that by giving Indigenous artists full access to neon fabrication from concept to completion.”
According to the organizers, the residency is structured as a teaching program rather than an apprenticeship. The selected artist will be fully immersed in Lite Brite’s fabrication environment and taught the full process behind neon production, including glass bending, gas and color composition, electrical systems, installation methods, and long-term stewardship of neon works. The completed artwork will remain the property of the artist, who will also retain full intellectual property rights.
Lite Brite Neon Studio founder Matteline DeVries-Dilling said the partnership reflects a broader commitment to widening access to a medium that has historically been difficult to enter. Artist Marie Watt, a citizen of the Seneca Nation, will serve as the program’s primary advisor, helping guide both artist selection and the residency’s long-term vision.
The residency will conclude with a completed neon work, professional photo and film documentation of the process, and a public presentation scheduled for fall 2026.
Applications for Native Neon opened March 5, 2026. The selected artist will be announced in May and the residency will take place between September and October 2026. The Native Neon residency is open to Indigenous artists 18 and older living in North America, including enrolled members of federally or state-recognized U.S. tribes, Alaska Native corporations, Native Hawaiian artists, and members of recognized First Nations in Canada.
For more information:
walkeryoungbird.org
litebriteneon.com
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