The RMG is pleased to welcome Austin Henderson, Lana Yuan, and Yongzhen Li to the RBC Emerging Artist Residency Program in 2026-2027. In the coming year, these three artists will develop exciting new projects in our residency studio, then present that work in solo exhibitions at the RMG. We look forward to sharing their work with you!
Austin Henderson, In this room in Athens, 2025, lithograph.
Austin Henderson
Winter/Spring
Residency Dates: February 23 – June 7, 2025
Exhibition Dates: June 13 – August 9, 2025
Austin Henderson is an artist, writer, and cultural worker based in Tiohtià:ke / Mooniyang / Montréal, with familial roots in Oshawa, Ontario (Williams Treaty Territory). Working primarily in drawing, painting, and printmaking, Austin’s practice is attentive to queer histories and politics of the archive. Austin’s work has been presented in Canada and the United States, and his writing has appeared in Esse arts + opinions and Visual Arts News. Austin has participated in residencies with Union House Arts, Momus, and the New York Academy of Art. His practice has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. Austin holds an MA in Art History from Concordia University and a BFA from Queen’s University.
Lana Yuan
Summer/Fall
Residency Dates: June 15 – September 27, 2026
Exhibition Dates: October 3 – November 29, 2026 Lana Yuan is a Chinese-born artist living and working in Toronto in sculpture and kinetic installations. Drawing inspiration from her dreams, memories, and the urban landscape, she uses found materials to construct fantastical works that express her interest in play and the intricate layers of human experience. Lana graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto’s Studio Art Specialist program and has exhibited at venues such as the Art Museum at the University of Toronto and Red Head Gallery. She has participated in artist residencies supported by SKETCH Working Arts and DesignTO and won the 401 Career Launcher Prize, granting her studio space from 2022 to 2023. She is also a recipient of the Newcomer Arts Award and Newcomer Space Award from the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network.
Lana Yuan, Tender Scars, 2023, drywall compound, 3D printed mold, paint.
Yongzhen Li, I Betrayed Him—and the Fate of Becoming Him, 2020, xuan paper, ink, mugwort dye.
Yongzhen Li
Fall/Winter
Residency Dates: October 19 – December 20, 2026 and January 4 – February 14, 2027
Exhibition Dates: February 23 – April 18, 2027
Yongzhen Li is an emerging artist based in Oshawa. Trained at Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts and self-taught in contemporary practices, he merges traditional Chinese ink and mugwort dye with a modern sensibility to examine identity, memory, and resistance. His work has been exhibited at The Contemporary Art Market at the Carrousel du Louvre (2024) and at the Jewish Community Centre in Vancouver (2026). Li is committed to public engagement through community-based art and educational initiatives.
Learn more about the residency program here.
