Astoria Visual Arts (AVA) is pleased to announce that local artist John Crockett-Person has been selected as AVA's newest Artist-in-Residence. As part of the six-month residency, Crockett-Person will receive a free studio at the Astoria Studio Collective from July through December 2026. A self-taught artist who recently relocated to Astoria from Iowa, Crockett-Person creates mixed-media sculptures, masks, and ceramic forms inspired by folklore, childhood imagination, and the quiet strangeness of the natural world. During the residency, he will develop a new body of figurative work titled The Monster Monologues, an evolving series that explores storytelling, identity, and community participation.

This residency represents an important step forward in Crockett-Person’s practice. “The opportunity provides the time, space, and support needed at this critical point in my creative career, not only to grow as an artist by producing a new body of work, but to become established as an active participant in the cultural life of Astoria,” he writes. "While my work has long explored storytelling through ceramics and sculpture, this opportunity challenges me to move beyond creating individual objects and toward creating shared experiences. It gives me the space to connect with Astoria's story-driven culture while opening my practice to collaboration with other artists and the community.”

Ultimately, Crockett-Person hopes to create a space where curiosity, storytelling, and participation can flourish together, enriching both his practice and an investment in Astoria's creative future. Meet Crockett-Person in his new studio during Second Saturday Artwalks through December and follow him on social media @johnkcrockettperson.

Now in its 11th year, AVA's Artist-in-Residence program supports the creative, intellectual, and professional development of local artists by providing dedicated studio space and opportunities for public engagement. The program is made possible through the generous support of AVA members, Astoria Coffeehouse & Bistro, and Fine Art Supply. Founded in 1989, Astoria Visual Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with the arts.