Arts District Liberty Station just announced their 2025/26 Emerging Artist Residency recipients, and we’re genuinely excited about the creative energy these eight artists are going to bring to one of San Diego’s most dynamic cultural spaces.

This year’s cohort includes four visual artists and four dance artists, all from the San Diego and Northern Baja region, representing the diversity and innovation that make our local arts scene so compelling.

What Makes This Residency Special

Each selected artist receives dedicated creative space at Arts District Liberty Station plus professional support for an entire year to develop new work, connect with audiences, and engage our community.

It’s the kind of program that transforms emerging talent into established voices by providing both physical space and professional development opportunities that can be hard to find elsewhere.

The selection process was particularly competitive this year, with Arts District receiving an unusually high number of submissions from local artists across both visual and dance disciplines. That level of interest speaks to both the program’s reputation and the strength of our regional creative community.

The Visual Artists Making Waves

The visual arts lineup brings together four distinct voices exploring everything from cultural identity to spiritual connections.

Eden DeLaVara works in mixed media, creating figurative pieces that draw from her Mexican-American and Black heritage, including influences from African American quilting traditions.

Ana Saad focuses on ceramics and fiber, crafting bold sculptural works that celebrate queer identity and challenge conventional boundaries.

Marcela Alarcón López, working under the name M.A.L., brings a fascinating background as a former psychotherapist to her conceptual art practice, experimenting with unexpected materials like food, cement, and transparencies to explore binational identity.

Audrey Gingras rounds out the group with her glass and ceramics work that bridges physical and spiritual worlds, planning technical workshops and collaborative installations that invite ongoing public interaction.

Dance Artists Expanding Movement Boundaries

The dance residency recipients represent an equally impressive range of approaches and backgrounds. Lilian Ibarra Pantoja fuses Folklorico with Contemporary Ballet and Modern Dance, honoring tradition while pushing into new creative territory.

Rachel Torres, a former Malashock Dance company member, focuses on contemporary modern work rooted in collaboration and individual storytelling.

Miguel Angel Galvan brings a hybrid style that blends breaking, hip hop, house, and popping with contemporary techniques for something boldly experimental.

Giovanna Francisco draws from improvisation, nature, and vulnerability to create immersive contemporary dance, with plans to expand her outdoor performance work through new collaborations.

Community Impact and Connection

What we love about this program is how it emphasizes community engagement alongside artistic development. These aren’t artists working in isolation—they’re specifically supported to connect with audiences and activate the Arts District space in ways that benefit everyone who experiences their work.

Several of the selected artists already have deep community ties, like Lilian Ibarra Pantoja’s connection to Liberty School, which suggests these residencies will generate meaningful ongoing relationships rather than just temporary projects.

See you there!

Arts District Liberty Station’s 2025/26 Emerging Artist Residency recipients prove that investing in emerging talent creates lasting benefits for our entire creative community.

ℹ️ More info here