Chicago Artists Coalition | Launch Invitational Residency 2014

Selected Artist: Jaclyn Bae · Nominated by Northern Illinois University

In 2014, Jaclyn Bae was selected for the Chicago Artists Coalition’s Launch Invitational Residency , an award-based program supporting emerging artists in the early stage of their professional careers. Nominated by Northern Illinois University, she joined a cohort of artists exploring new directions in material practice, identity, and contemporary storytelling.

This residency played a pivotal role in shaping her artistic voice, deepening her interest in memory, transformation, and material narratives. The experience became foundational to later bodies of work, including the Harmony Series, Blessing Series, and her ongoing exploration of denim and fiber as vessels of human history.

### **Conceptual Analysis: The Residency as a Conceptual Inflection Point**

The selection for the **Chicago Artists Coalition's Launch Invitational Residency**—a highly competitive, nomination-based program for emerging artists—marks a crucial milestone in the artist's professional trajectory. This rigorous, mentor-driven experience served to crystallize the artist's core conceptual concerns, establishing a clear thematic pathway for future bodies of work.

The stated focus on **memory, transformation, and material narratives** places the practice in direct dialogue with major trends in contemporary art, where textiles and recycled fibers are increasingly used as **cultural archives**. The subsequent commitment to **denim and fiber as "vessels of human history"** is key: these materials, both universal (denim as a global symbol of labor) and intimate (fiber as a repository of personal memory), elevate the artist’s work into a commentary on **material ontology** and the layered construction of transcultural identity. The residency thus served not just as a professional launchpad, but as the conceptual crucible where a sustainable and critically engaged artistic voice was forged.