June Ankrom ’27 selected as Hillyer’s first Artist-in-Residence

Hillyer Art Library and the Smith Office for the Arts (SOFA) are thrilled to announce Studio Art and Religious Studies student June Ankrom ’27 as Hillyer’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence.

Through this pilot program, June will work closely with Visual Arts and Humanities Librarian Anna Helgeson to expand his research, culminating in an exhibition within the library in April. As Artist-in-Residence, June will receive a dedicated research carrel in Hillyer, a stipend for materials and labor, and opportunities to connect with the Smith community through a public talk or workshop.

“Having worked in art libraries for 20 years, I find immense joy in working with visual artists,” says Anna. “My hope is that this residency will bridge the studio and the library, and treat research as an artistic process. We have an incredible collection at Hillyer and beyond in the Five College Consortium, and I'm so excited to see how our collections will inspire and inform June’s work this year.” 

June’s research explores disabled and queer identity through themes of warmth, comfort, and softness, alongside disability justice, physical accessibility in art spaces, and the history of queer artists.

“Recently, I have been delving into the ideas of what it means to create a piece of art that emulates comfort and warmth, especially in gallery spaces that can often feel cold,” says June. “I find Hillyer Art Library to be a very warm and welcoming place, so I am very excited to spend time making art to interact with it!” 

We are excited to see how June’s research grows and shapes his creative work this year!

Contact

Anna Helgeson, Visual Arts and Humanities Librarian: ahelgeson@smith.edu