The End of an Extraordinary Chapter: Reflections on Artist Residencies & Corporate Vision

Today concludes my three-month artist residency at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai - an experience that transformed my artistic practice & reinforced the critical importance of residency programs in an era where traditional support systems are under threat.
On Residencies & Declining Academic Support
Artist residencies provide what we desperately need: uninterrupted time, space, & community to push creative boundaries. For my “Dialogue” project exploring Shanghai’s urban-nature tensions, this residency provided invaluable context that evolved the work in unexpected ways, shaped by daily encounters with the city’s energy & diverse perspectives of fellow residents Fred Van de Walle, Ye Fan, Shin Yatagai, Boemo, Mark & Marc, Maria, Marina, Julia, Daniel & many other remarkable artists.
This feels particularly poignant given the alarming trend at my university, where sabbaticals for artist-academics are increasingly difficult to secure. Traditional academic sabbaticals are being eroded by budget constraints, making corporate-supported residencies essential for maintaining our creative ecosystem’s health.
Swatch’s Strategic Brilliance
I want to acknowledge Swatch Art Peace Hotel not only for their extraordinary generosity but for their remarkable business acumen. By investing in the arts, Swatch positions itself at the intersection of culture, innovation, & global dialogue. Those historic walls aren’t just providing space - they’re building cultural capital, fostering international networks, & associating the brand with creativity.
This isn’t philanthropy for philanthropy’s sake; it’s strategic vision. Swatch understands what many businesses are beginning to realize: supporting the arts creates authentic connections with creative communities, generates cultural currency, & positions companies as thought leaders in an experience-driven economy.
A Model for the Future
The connections forged here - from our group exhibition at Art House Shanghai to new gallery partnerships in Hangzhou - demonstrate the exponential value of these investments. As traditional funding sources contract, corporate residency programs represent a crucial lifeline.
I hope more businesses will follow Swatch’s lead in recognizing that supporting artists isn’t just giving back - it’s investing in innovation, cultural dialogue, & the creative thinking that drives progress across all sectors.
Shanghai, you’ve been transformative. The dialogue continues.

This post included a video. Watch it on LinkedIn.