Lite Brite Neon Studio in Kingston, New York, has partnered with the Walker Youngbird Foundation to launch Native Neon, a residency program providing Indigenous artists with access to neon fabrication. The inaugural recipient is Sarah Rowe, an enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and of Lakota descent, who receives $50,000, a $10,000 stipend, and a week-long residency to create an immersive neon environment. The studio, known for collaborations with artists like Glenn Ligon and Jeffrey Gibson, aims to lower the technical and financial barriers to working with neon.
This residency matters because it addresses the underrepresentation of Indigenous artists in the contemporary art world by offering specialized technical resources and financial support. By partnering with a foundation whose founder serves on major museum committees, the program also seeks to increase Indigenous visibility in institutional spaces. The initiative highlights how targeted access to expensive, niche media like neon can expand artistic practice and foster cultural exchange, potentially serving as a model for other equity-focused residency programs.