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Visual AIDS invites applications for our 2026–27 Research Fellowship, a mentored program supporting new scholarship on artists who have been lost to AIDS.
Deadline: November 10, 2026
Over seven months, three fellows will develop original research and writing on one of four artists in the Visual AIDS Archive: Mark Carter, Edwin Lacend, Kenneth Mitchell, or Joseph Modica. Fellows will receive a $1,000 research stipend, participate in group workshops, and receive one-on-one mentorship from an established scholar.
The group workshops, led by arts writer Nicole Kaack, will provide a shared foundation in art historical research and writing, while mentors will help fellows apply these approaches to their individual projects. Over the course of the program, fellows will produce an original essay to be published in the web-based Visual AIDS Journal and shared publicly at the annual Visual AIDS Research Symposium in October 2027.
What’s New This Year
Unlike previous fellowship cycles, applicants will select from four designated research subjects rather than proposing an artist of their choice. The addition of group workshops and individualized mentorship is intended to support researchers who are newer to art historical research and writing.
Who the Fellowship Is For
The Research Fellowship is designed to support emerging voices in writing and research about art, AIDS, and cultural history. We especially encourage applications including independent researchers, writers, artists, curators, archivists, and others who are newer to art historical research or have had limited access to traditional academic research opportunities. You do not need an advanced degree, university affiliation, or previous publication about HIV/AIDS to apply.
Applicants should be strong writers with curiosity about archival research and a compelling interest in one of the four artists below. Preference will be given to applicants who are early in their research practice and would benefit from mentorship in research methods, art historical analysis, argumentation, and archival research.
More experienced researchers and those working on other subjects can find additional opportunities under Research Beyond the Fellowship below.
Research Subjects
Applicants should propose a research project that falls into one of the following categories:
Black Artists in the Visual AIDS Archive
In September 2026, Visual AIDS published Black Artists in the Visual AIDS Archive, a research guide developed to make the lives, work, and archival materials of Black artists in our holdings more accessible to researchers. Building on that project, two of this year’s fellowships will support new research on one of three artists featured in the guide: Mark Carter, Edwin Lacend, or Kenneth Mitchell. These artists were selected because the Visual AIDS Archive holds substantial materials related to their lives and work, while their practices have received relatively little scholarly attention. We suggest consulting the research guide and the finding aid to the Visual AIDS Artist Files to get a sense of what materials are available.
- Mark Carter (1954–2005)
- Mark Carter was a New York-based painter and mixed media artist who used found materials to make figurative compositions that incorporate images of celebrities and religious figures. His art practice also addresses his experience with drug use, struggles with his sexuality, and spirituality.
- Edwin Lacend (1960–2013)
- Born in Puerto Rico, Edwin Lacend was a figurative painter whose work drew on a variety of influences including his costume design career, pop art, music, and his Puerto Rican roots.
- Kenneth Mitchell (1949–2008)
- Kenneth Mitchell was a New York-based artist and peer educator whose paintings and mixed media works celebrate Black subjects and apply his expertise in fashion and textile design.
Joseph Modica (1946–2018)
One fellowship will focus on Joseph Modica, a photographer and artist from Staten Island, New York. His photographic work documents the New York club scene in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as everyday life in the city and a wide circle of artists and musicians. He was also an illustrator and graphic designer.
Visual AIDS recently acquired a 27-box collection of Modica’s materials, including original artwork, photographic materials, and extensive personal papers. The finding aid for the collection can be found here. Visual AIDS is also in contact with friends and family members who may serve as resources for the fellow’s research.
Because of the size and nature of the Modica collection, priority for this fellowship will be given to applicants based in the New York City area or otherwise able to conduct regular in-person research at the Visual AIDS Archive.
How to Apply
To apply, submit the application form along with a writing sample by November 10, 2026.
The application will ask you to:
- Select the artist you would like to research.
- Tell us what draws you to this artist and what aspects of their life and work you are interested in exploring. Share two or three questions that you hope to answer over the course of the fellowship.
- Tell us about your background and interests and how they might inform your approach to this research.
- Tell us about your experience with research and writing and how you hope to develop through the fellowship’s workshops and mentorship.
We are not looking for applicants to submit a developed thesis or to have conducted previous research on the subject. A strong application will demonstrate curiosity, a thoughtful starting point for research, and the potential to develop a compelling piece of writing through the fellowship process.
Eligibility and Commitment
Applicants may be based anywhere and do not need a university affiliation. Fellows must be able to participate in virtual meetings and develop a final text in English.
Research on Mark Carter, Edwin Lacend, and Kenneth Mitchell can be conducted remotely or in person. Because the Joseph Modica fellowship requires sustained work with a large physical collection, priority will be given to applicants who can conduct regular in-person research at the Visual AIDS Archive in New York City.
From December 2026 through June 2027, fellows will participate in an orientation, three group workshops, and three individual mentorship meetings while conducting independent research and developing a final essay. Workshops will take place on Zoom and be scheduled on Eastern Time; mentors will generally also be based in the Eastern Time Zone.
Key Dates
Application deadline: November 10, 2026
Applicants notified: December 2026
Fellowship research, workshops, and mentorship: December 2026–June 2027
Final, edited text due: June 2027
Publication on Visual AIDS Journal: Fall 2027
Visual AIDS Research Symposium: October 2027
Questions about the application process can be directed to archive@visualaids.org.
Research Beyond the Fellowship
Researchers working on other subjects or at a later stage in their research practice can engage with Visual AIDS in several ways:
- Pitch the Visual AIDS Journal: The Visual AIDS Journal commissions original writing about art, HIV/AIDS, and cultural history. We welcome pitches for developed research on artists lost to AIDS and broader histories of AIDS and culture. Commissioned writers receive a fee.
- Add to the Artist Registry: If you are researching an artist lost to AIDS who is not currently represented in our online Artist Registry, we’d love to hear from you and discuss creating a page for them. Artists living with HIV are also always welcome to join the Registry.
- Research in the Visual AIDS Archive: The Visual AIDS Archive is open to researchers and the general public by appointment. You do not need to be a Research Fellow to access our archival collections and research library in New York.
For any of these opportunities, email archive@visualaids.org to introduce yourself and tell us about your research.
