This program is more than a fellowship—it's a living tribute to Grant Wood’s artistic legacy and a celebration of Iowa's pivotal role in shaping American art.
Art, education, legacy: The Grant Wood fellowship experience
The Grant Wood Fellowship is a prestigious, year-long opportunity offered exclusively at the University of Iowa, designed to support bold and innovative artists in painting and drawing, printmaking, and interdisciplinary performance. Each year, three fellowships are awarded through a competitive national selection process.
Fellows are housed at the historic Grant Wood Art Colony in Iowa City, where they receive fully furnished accommodations, a private studio, a teaching salary with benefits, and—most importantly—the time and space to focus on their personal artistic research and practice.
During the academic year, each fellow teaches two courses at the University of Iowa, engaging with students and contributing to a vibrant creative community.
Applications open annually in January, with final selections announced in April.
Fellowship Program
Join a vibrant community of artists at the University of Iowa. The application window is open annually in January.
Our fellowship programs
Explore the specifics of each fellowship program and meet our current fellows.
Painting and Drawing
This fellowship is open to emerging and mid-career artists. The application period is currently open, and the search committee will begin reviewing submissions on February 10, 2025.
Printmaking
This fellowship is open to emerging and mid-career artists. Applications are currently being accepted, and the search committee will begin reviewing submissions on February 10, 2025.
Interdisciplinary Performance
This fellowship is open to emerging to mid-career artists in dance making, choreography, performance, and/or interdisciplinary digital media. This application window is now closed.
Current fellows
Current fellows
Hear from our past fellows
"The Grant Wood Fellowship not only became the conduit to which I get a tenure track job, which is unheard of, but also it's changed the way I think about my own artistic practices and serves as a catalyst for moving my work, my research, my artistic work forward...and even my thinking forward."
"The Grant Wood Fellowship has been a wonderful experience. Teaching motivated students at the stunning Art Building West designed by Steven Holl, researching at the library, being part of the distinguished School of Art & Art History at the University of Iowa, and experiencing the distinctive character of Iowa City while having the space to work and reflect on my practice has been generative in ways that will stay with me for years to come."