tough art
An annual exhibit of innovative art pieces created by artists from around the world. The Tough Art artist residency challenges artists and audiences to rethink their ideas of interactive museum experiences in one of the toughest venues — a children’s museum. Participating artists learn how their artworks connect with visitors outside of the typical museum environment, and what it takes to create artwork that can sustain the rigors of a hands-on environment.
our task, regarding creativity, is to help children climb their own mountains, as high as possible. No one can do more.
Loris Malaguzzi
creator and developer of the Reggio Emilia Approach
tough art exhibit
The 2023 Tough Artists have been chosen!
Meet the artists
This annual exhibit, started in 2007, showcases the work of artists who complete a summer residency at the Children’s Museum to prototype and create a new piece where children interact with the art and the art can withstand the rigor and enthusiasm of the interaction. It is one of the Museum’s longest running and most rewarding programs.
The program connects artists from all arts to the resources and visitors at the Children’s Museum. Selected artists generate and implement interactive, immersive and/or collaborative projects and connect the art-making process to the larger museum context and the museum visitor. Artists are tasked to make a direct impact on the visitor experience by creating an entirely new piece to be displayed in the Museum. Throughout the residency, artists prototype and evaluate their process to achieve the desired outcome. We believe the magic of the Tough Art residency comes from this on-the-floor prototyping, where children interact with the art.
learn more
- Tough Art Residency web page
- NEW! Tough Art: Making Art as Strong as Kids by Anne Fullenkamp and Claire Pillsbury
- Attractions Management magazine, 2021 Issue 1
- Contact Lacey Murray, Art Exhibition and Residencies Manager, [email protected]
tough art @ home
Due to the COVID pandemic, we transitioned our Tough Art residency to a virtual experience in Summer 2020 and it yielded such interesting work that we continued it in 2021.
Selected artists created art-making activities related to and inspired by their artwork/process for people to engage with at home or wherever they might be.
Check out the projects:
past tough artists
Isaac Levine
Miranda Miller and Lumi Barron
Neil Mendoza
Arvid Tomayko and H. Gene Thompson
Megan Flod Johnson
Shohei Katayama
Robert Zacharias
Danny Bracken
Rachel Buse
Ann Tarantino
Jenna Boyles
Jesse Kauppila and Dakotah Konicek
Lindsay Packer
Stephanie Ross
Chris Beauregard
Katie Ford
Scott Garner
Isla Hansen and Luke Loeffler
John Peña
Scott Andrew & Jonathan Armistead
Jeremy Boyle & Kevin Clancy
Will Schlough
Anneka Herre
Ian Ingram
Matt Mets
Jennifer Van Winkle
Ben Bigelow
David Butts
Rick Gribenas
Wendy Osher
tough art on display in the children's museum
Cosmic Geometry
Artist(s): Owen Lowery, 2019
Residency: [add loccation]
Shy Lights
Artist(s): Charles Sowers, 2015
Residency: [add location]
An Obscured Neutral Moment #1
Artist(s): Rick Gribenas, 2008
Residency: [add location]
Reach
Artist(s): Scott Garner, 2013
Residency: [add location]
Temperamental Stairs
Artist(s): Agnes Bolt & Arthur Jones, 2010
Residency: [add location]
Lake Light
Artist(s): Isaac Levine, 2018
Residency: [add location]
tough art on display at museumlab
Compound Ringship
Artist(s): Ryder Henry, 2019
Residency: [add location]
Mechanical Masterpieces
Artist(s): Neil Mendoza, 2018
Residency: [add location]