September 29, 2025 — The RISD Museum is pleased to announce that Providence-based artist and educator Toby Sisson has been selected as the museum’s Research Resident for 2026.
Sisson is an abstract artist whose creative practice spans drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, oil, encaustic, and mixed media. Her research explores themes at the intersection of history and race in America, with a recent focus on migration movements, placemaking, and the concept of homeland. She has also worked extensively in community-based service learning, collaborative public art, and curatorial projects—approaches that align deeply with the museum’s commitment to making the creative process accessible and engaging for all.
Sisson earned her M.F.A. from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and is an Associate Professor of Studio Art at Clark University in Massachusetts, where she teaches painting, drawing, and contemporary art practices. Her work has been exhibited widely, including at the Tianjin Art Museum in China, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Hunterdon Museum of Art, the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute, Louisiana State University, Rhode Island College, and St. Thomas University. Her art is held in public and private collections such as Brown University, the Worcester Art Museum, and the Newport Historical Society.
Established to support Providence metro–area artists, the Research Residency for Artists provides one local artist with a $10,000 stipend, professional development support, and the opportunity to engage with museum collections, staff, and the wider creative community. The program also helps the museum deepen relationships with many local artists and their networks, expanding awareness of the diverse practices and perspectives shaping the region. With an emphasis on process, experimentation, and collaboration, the residency invites artists to shape the direction of their research and practice, free from prescribed outcomes.
As Research Resident, Sisson will collaborate with RISD Museum curators, educators, and staff across departments as she delves into the museum’s collection. She is particularly eager to connect with the campus community and expand her network among artists, scholars, and cultural practitioners in Providence and across Rhode Island.
“We are thrilled to welcome Toby to the museum,” said Deborah Clemons, Director of Public Programs. “Her innovative practice and deep engagement with issues of culture, identity, and materiality will bring a new viewpoint to our collection and strengthen the museum’s connections with the wider community.”
Now in its ninth year, the Research Residency has supported a range of Rhode Island-area artists, each bringing distinctive insights to the museum’s work with collections and communities.