Vail Art Studio

The Town of Vail’s Art in Public Places opened the doors to the long-awaited Vail Art Studio late last summer. The newly opened studio is Vail’s first dedicated space to the visual arts. Situated in Ford Park, Vail’s cultural epicenter, the studio serves as a space for Eagle County, regional, national, and international artists to be inspired and create. Fostering artistic growth and enriching community life, the studio is a hub where artists can interact with the public, demonstrate their processes, and foster meaningful connections. In a strategic move to deepen community engagement, the Vail Art Studio programs further enhance the visual arts within Vail's cultural vitality.

Overlooking Gore Creek in Ford Park and adjacent to the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, the Vail Art Studio has a vaulted ceiling,12-foot-high walls and windows that provide natural light and uninterrupted wall space. This 750 sq. ft. building has a 450 sq. ft open working studio. Designed by Harry Teague Architects, the concept creates a building that is both a working artist studio and a sculpture itself integrated into the landscape of the park.
Learn more about Vail Art Studio.

Second Annual Vail Art Studio Challenge Aug. 13 at Avanti Food and Beverage

Local Artists Compete for a Grand Prize of $5,000 and
Opportunity to Create in the Vail Art Studio

Visual artists who live in Eagle County are invited to apply to compete in the Second Annual Vail Art Studio Challenge taking place Thursday, Aug. 13. This is a high-energy live art challenge is on the patio of Avanti Vail, located at Golden Peak.

At the conclusion of the challenge, a panel of guest jurors will award a $5,000 grand prize stipend, sponsored by Vicki and Kent Logan, and the opportunity to create in the new Vail Art Studio for a two-week period this fall. Each participating artist will receive a $50 food/beverage gift card for use at Avanti.

Space is limited, with applications due by 9 a.m. on July 13. Selected artists will be announced at the at a Vail Art Studio reception for regional artist MarSha Yi Robinson on Thursday, July 23 from 4 – 6 p.m. The facility is located at the lower bench of Ford Park, near the Manor Vail bridge. Artists will also be notified by email on July 24.

Applicants must be current residents of Eagle County, Colorado and be at least 18 years of age. All traditional 2D and some 3D visual art forms will be considered, including painting, drawing, mixed media, etc. Artists are asked to email artinvail@vail.gov with the following:

A brief letter of interest including current Eagle County address and contact information, artist statement, proposed medium, previous art experience, and a resume if available.

A proposed concept sketch and/or description of the planned art piece. Vail’s Art in Public Places program seeks to create an inclusive, neutral space for the community, free from divisive or polarizing subject matter.

Contact information for two references.

Examples of previous work and accompanying detail including medium, scale and year, shared via website link or attached photos with 5 images maximum, not to exceed 8 MB. Please note that ZIP files are not accepted. If files are too large, a Dropbox link can be used. One of the submitted artworks should be in the artist’s possession so it can be displayed as a completed work during the challenge.

Artists will be responsible for their own supplies, easels, pop-up tents and other materials and will be required to sign a liability waiver prior to the event. Parking will be available at Avanti Vail or in the Vail Village parking structure.

The winning artist will enter into an agreement with the Town of Vail prior to occupying the Vail Art Studio at an agreed upon date this fall for a two-week duration. Overnight stays are not permitted in the studio, and the artist must adhere to guidelines regarding studio usage.

For more information about Art in Public Places and the Vail Art Studio visit Art in Vail

Artists participated in first Art Challenge Timeline:

Application deadline: 9 a.m. July 13
Artist notification: 4-6 p.m. July 23 at Vail Art Studio in Ford Park.
Art Challenge: 4- 7 p.m. Aug. 13.

Materials and questions may be emailed to artinvail@vail.gov.

Ten Eagle County-based artists (above) competed in the inaugural Vail Art Studio Challenge in 2025.

Artist-in-Residence Spotlight

MarSha Yi Robinson

Open Studio Hours:
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 12-18 and July 20-24

Artist Reception:
4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 23

Vail Art Studio Artist-inResidence Marsha Yi Robinson.

MarSha Yi Robinson is a self-taught artist who was born in Seoul, Korea—raised in both New York and Los Angeles —and currently lives in Denver. Her artwork—hand-drawn and primarily using India ink—combines both floral and geometric structures. Her paintings oftentimes take months to complete and challenge commonplace notions of floral beauty, expanding botanical aesthetics and concepts into more diverse and nuanced territory. MarSha will be creating her meticulous compositions in the studio for two weeks.

“My technique consists of many layers,” she explains. “It starts with an idea, then comes the pencil which lays out the groundwork, followed by a multitude of obliterated rubber erasers, which clears the way for the India ink, applied by both pens and brushes. The source of my inspiration is diverse and ever-changing.”

At the end of last summer, the Town of Vail’s Art in Public Places opened the doors to its long-awaited Vail Art Studio – the area’s first dedicated space to the visual arts. Located in Ford Park, the studio serves as a destination for Eagle County, regional, national, and international artists to be inspired and create. By fostering artistic growth and enriching our community, the Vail Art Studio has become an inviting place for creators to interact with the public, demonstrate their processes, and cultivate meaningful connections.

“MarSha’s compositions are simply exquisite,” says Molly Eppard, Art in Public Places Coordinator. “Experiencing this intricate and delicate process of her works coming to fruition will be a wonderful opportunity for the public. The Art Board was truly taken with the detail and precision of her pieces and we hope her time in the Vail Art Studio offers inspiration.”

When asked what Eagle County locals and guests can look forward to when visiting the space during her residency, Robinson adds, “They will have the special opportunity to see my work in person and catch me in the process of some of my work in progress. I’m constantly trying to find ways to evolve as an artist and keep how I express myself artistically open-ended.”

Generously supported with lodging from The Lodge at Vail.

Vail Art Studio

Second Annual Vail Art Studio Challenge Aug. 13 at Avanti Food and Beverage

Local Artists Compete for a Grand Prize of $5,000 and Opportunity to Create in the Vail Art Studio

Local Artists Compete for a Grand Prize of $5,000 and
Opportunity to Create in the Vail Art Studio