Announcing the 2026 GAP Recipients

Published: October 27, 2026

Categories: Artists | Featured | Grants & Fellowships

2026 GAP Recipients

Congratulations to the 65 recipients of the 2026 Grants for Artist Projects (GAP)! In total, this year’s GAP program will deliver $162,500 in direct support to Washington State artists, providing each recipient with an unrestricted project-based grant of $2,500. The full lists of 2026 GAP recipients and panelists are below.

Significantly increasing support for Washington State Artists in 2026!

We are thrilled to significantly increase support for Washington State artists this year. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, Artist Trust has increased individual awards from $1,500 to $2,500, better meeting the needs of artists at a time when arts funding is being reduced or eliminated across the country. Funding will reach artists living and working across all of Washington State to support project related needs including, but not limited to, materials, space rental, travel for research, and professional development opportunities. We’re proud to support these 65 incredible artists and cannot wait to see their impact in communities statewide.

Oscar Pearson (Visual, King County), Fairplay, 2026, oil on canvas, 78″ x 63″

Awal Alhassan (Performing, King County), Damba Festival at Atlanta, 2024

Melissa Peterson (Literary, Grays Harbor County), Vera Violet, (Counterpoint Press, 2020)

“This award will help me continue developing an ambitious interstate community printmaking project to create the largest woodcut print ever made. More than a record, the project is an opportunity to bring artists and communities together through the physical, collaborative power of printmaking. It will let me expand this vision and create an experience where making art becomes a way to connect people, share stories, and build community.”

–Reinaldo Gil Zambrano (Visual, Spokane County)

2026 GAP Recipients (by discipline)

Literary
Charles Whitmont Asher, Whatcom County
Subhaga Crystal Bacon, Okanogan County
Garnet Juniper Bennet, Cowlitz County
Kayla Blau, King County
Sarah A. Chavez, Pierce County
Margaret Chodos-Irvine, King County
Sara DeVoe, King County
Christopher Sablan Diaz, Clark County
Molly Feuerman, Snohomish County
Kelly Froh, King County
Anis Gisele, King County
Mars Lauderbaugh, King County
Kristin Leong, King County
Lee Montgomery, Klickitat County
Melissa Peterson, Grays Harbor County

Performing
Sheimawu Abubakari, King County
Awal Alhassan, King County
Samantha Boshnack, King County
Erina, Thurston County
Monique Franklin, King County
Rivkah French, Pierce County
Yevhenii Hornishevsky, Clark County
Rainbow Jackson, King County
Yeonshin Kim, King County
Maggie Lee and Annastasia Workman, King County
Juliette Machado, Whatcom County
Bethany ‘B.Lyte’ Montgomery, Spokane County
Alana O’Farrell Rogers, King County
Mónica Ramos, King County
Annie Schermer, Whatcom County

Media
Thomas Scott Adams, King County
James Bradrick, Clallam County
Neely Goniodsky, King County
Alexandra Kumala, King County
Misael A. Martinez Melo, Thurston County
Cas Olatunji, King County
Kelvin Penn, Pierce County
renegadedumpling, Pierce County
Kahyun Uhm, Whitman County
jade wong, King County

Visual
Nadia Ahmed, King County
Bri Chesler, King County
Eunsun Choi, King County
Teela Misa DeLeón, Thurston County
Grace Athena Flott, King County
Ash Frantz, King County
Lydia Jewel Gerard, Pierce County
Reinaldo Gil Zambrano, Spokane County
Melinda Hurst Frye, King County
Lauren Iida, Snohomish County
Scott Keva James, Skamania County
Eriko Kobayashi, King County
Nifemi Madarikan, King County
Darrell Mckinney, Pierce County
Liz Chikayaasix̂ Morrow, Pierce County
Frances Grace Mortel, Spokane County
Rimus Nena, Grays Harbor County
Oscar Pearson, King County
Nik Penny, Douglas County
Paige Pettibon, Pierce County
Trenton Quiocho, Pierce County
J. Rycheal, King County
Amy Simons, Whatcom County
Natalie Woodlock, King County
Shelley Young, Snohomish County

2026 GAP Selection Panelists

Literary Panel
Wendy Oleson, Walla Walla County
Kalehua Kim, King County
Dr. M Eliatamby-O’Brien, Kittitas County

Media Panel
Remy Styrk, King County
Seoryung Samantha Park, Whitman County
Sadaf Sadri, King County

Performing Panel
Naomi Wachira, Yakima County
Monica Mota, Spokane County
Adrienne Mackey, King County

Visual Panel
Barry Johnson, King County
Dawn Stetzel, Pacific County
Tammie Dupuis, Kitsap County

The award means so much to me, as I will be able to take time off from my day job, in order to make work in the studio. It couldn’t come at a better time, as I’m working towards my first solo show in Seattle. I’m deeply appreciative of the support, and the anticipated impact on my practice, and of how much more work I’ll be able to produce in the studio.”

–Natalie Woodlock (Visual, King County)

Liz Chikayaasix̂ Morrow (Visual, Pierce County), Raven Daughter, acrylic on cedar, 22″ x 28″, 2026

Natalie Woodlock (Visual, King County), Lupe, screenprint on satin with fringe and trim, 33.5″ x 32″, 2022. Photo: Joshua Simpson

Funding

The historic increase in 2026 Grants for Artist Projects (GAP) reflects a collective investment in Washington State artists and their creative work. Artist Trust extends special thanks to the Bradburd Family Foundation and to the individual donors, foundation partners, and philanthropic supporters who help make GAP possible.

Edie Adams, Eve and Chap Alvord, Joan Alworth and Peter Ackroyd, Shari Behnke, Todd Beyerlein, Bradburd Family Foundation, Butler Community Foundation, Christopher Lee Campbell, Karalyn Carlton, Samuel Chapin, Donna Cochener, Christen Coomer, Delaney and Justin Dechant, Stephanie Ellis-Smith and Doug Smith, Chris Flick, Michelle Friars and Bruce Funkhouser, Helen Gamble, Katharyn Gerlich, Wendy Goffe and Scott Schrum, Pat Haase, Audrey Haberman, Phyllis Hatfield, Susan Hillman, Lynn Hubbard and David Zapolsky, Hyde Family Foundation, Mattie Iverson, Ethan Jackson, Klorfine Foundation, Kevin and Motomi Kudo-King, Alida and Christopher Latham, Lorna Jordan Foundation, Michael and Barbara Malone, Nancy Mee and Dennis Evans, Maya Mendoza-Exstrom and Travis Exstrom, W.R. Nickel, Grace Nordhoff and Jonathan Beard, Young and Jim O’Hanlon, Tim Pfeiffer, Maria Phillips and Josh Kornfeld, Mary Pigott, Colin Plank and Ronit Feinglass Plank, Sherry Raisbeck, Leslie Ray Bernstein and Michael Bernstein, Paula Riggert, Jennifer and Christopher Roberts, Roberts Family Foundation, Cathy Sarkowsky, Cynthia Sears, Kim and Jon Shirley Foundation, Rebecca and Alexander Stewart, Sally Sykes-Wylie, Timothy Tomlinson, Betty Tong, Sophie True, Ernest Vogel and Barbara Billings, Andrea Wagner, Susan Wagner, Brady Walkinshaw, Lindsey Warnick, Erin Weible, Merrill Wright

* Grants for Artist Projects (GAP) Auction Sponsors