A Home from Home in London

The Cluster Illustration Residency seeks to offer an artist a life-changing opportunity to kickstart their practice in London, and to equip them with everything that they could need to develop an exhibition or project in this international art hub. The residency will last 4 weeks, and will include transportation to London, meals, equipment and materials, accommodation, and a private workspace in East London.

The artist will be hosted in a private studio located in Zone 2, just a few minutes’ walk from Bow Church Station, containing a workspace, bedroom, two bathrooms, a kitchen, private outdoor area, and access to a communal rooftop terrace. Benefiting from high ceilings and natural light, the studio will be supplied with equipment that caters to each artist’s specific needs, such as computer, paper, materials, softwares and more.

Bespoke Mentorship

The Cluster Illustration Artist-in-Residency Programme offers a bespoke four-week mentorship tailored to each artist's career trajectory and aspirations. Participants engage in one-on-one sessions with a diverse array of professionals - including industry leaders, collectors, makers - online, in person or within their private East London studio.

Exhibition Opportunities

Vienna Design Week is the official partner of the 2026 Cluster Illustration Artist-in-Residence Programme. As part of this collaboration, our four shortlisted artists and the residency winner will have the opportunity to showcase their work during the festival in a dedicated exhibition curated by Cluster.

In addition, the winner of the Cluster Illustration Residency will receive a complimentary exhibition space at the Illustrators' Fair in December 2026, providing an exciting platform to present their work to thousands of visitors.

The residency winner and all four shortlisted artists will also exhibit their work at Cluster's new Shoreditch space in London in December 2026, offering another opportunity to connect with audiences, industry professionals, and collectors.

Outside Studio Facilities

Beyond the primary studio, artists will have access to additional facilities through our network of partners. These may include:
- A fully equipped workshop
- Other specialised spaces based on the artist’s project requirements

Equipment Support

Cluster will provide:
- Project-specific tools and gear
- Equipment tailored to the artist’s proposal and production needs

Artist Rights & Terms Overview

Post-Residency Opportunities & Credit

Cluster is committed to protecting the rights and creative ownership of all participating artists. Below is a summary of the key terms:

• Copyright
  All artists retain full copyright of the work produced during the residency. Cluster does not claim any ownership. We will request non-exclusive permission to use selected images for promotional purposes directly related to the residency (e.g., website, press, social media) and to maintain a digital archive of the residency outcomes.

• Sales & Ownership
  Artists receive 60% of any sales made during the final solo exhibition, which is curated and produced by Cluster. The remaining 40% supports exhibition costs and platform sustainability. All unsold work remains the sole property of the artist following the exhibition.

• Formal Agreement
  All artists will receive a written contract clearly outlining rights, responsibilities, sales terms, and copyright protection. This ensures transparency, professionalism, and security for all parties involved.

Language Requirements
The residency is conducted entirely in English. Applicants must have a strong command of both spoken and written English to fully engage with the programme.

Visa Support
Cluster offers full assistance with visa applications and documentation to ensure a smooth arrival for international artists.

Medium/Discipline
This is an illustration-making-focused residency.

Apply and Join Us

Cluster welcomes applications from artists from anywhere around the world, at any stage of their career, and of any age or nationality, who actively engage with contemporary societal issues and global themes through their creative practice.

Application Guidelines | APPLY HERE NOW

1. Biography (100 words)

2. Artist Statement (100 words)

3. Objectives and Goals for the Residency (50 words)

4. Portfolio Submission

Artist-In-Residence Selection Process / Timeline

Applications are reviewed independently by the jury, with each submission scored from 1 to 10. The five highest-scoring artists are shortlisted for 15-minute interviews with the jury panel and the Cluster team. Following the interviews, jurors, partners, sponsors, and the Cluster team cast anonymous votes to select the final resident.

The selected artist will be contacted the day after the interviews to confirm their participation and finalise dates and details, with scheduling tailored as closely as possible to their availability. The residency will take place in 2026 or 2027.

ADDITIONALLY

In addition, the Cluster team will select 25 artists from the full pool of applicants to be featured across Cluster’s online platforms and special editorial showcases.

Post-Residency Opportunities & Credit

1.1 If an opportunity arises as a direct result of the Cluster residency or final exhibition - such as additional solo exhibitions, sales, commissions, or professional collaborations- Cluster requests appropriate credit and visibility wherever possible (e.g., in marketing materials, catalogues, press, or public statements).

1.2 In the event that further opportunities occur where public crediting is not feasible (e.g., due to gallery policy or institutional constraints), and the new opportunity involves the exhibition or sale of works produced during the residency, Cluster reserves the right to enter into a fair commission agreement with the Artist. This would be discussed and negotiated on a case-by-case basis, with the goal of mutual benefit and respect for the Artist’s success.

1.3 Cluster will remain flexible and artist-first in its approach, with all terms guided by transparency, conversation, and shared interest. The primary aim is to support the Artist's long-term trajectory while acknowledging Cluster's contribution to the development and exposure of the work.

1.4 If the Artist is invited to produce new work as a result of connections or introductions facilitated through Cluster, all we request is a clear mention of the Cluster Artist-in-Residence programme in any public or professional context where relevant.

DISCLAIMER

The Cluster Illustration Residency is committed to supporting opportunities beyond the residency award. Selected artists will be featured through dedicated editorial content across our social media channels.

*If you would prefer not to be featured, please email us at marketing@cluster-london.com

Kat Irannejad
Founder of Totally Reps & Executive Agent

Kat is the Founder of Totally Reps, a visual artist representation agency based in NYC, where she also serves as an Executive Agent.

Alongside agenting, she participates in illustration industry talks, university workshops, and portfolio reviews. She has taught illustration portfolio development at SVA, served on the D&AD Illustration Jury, and appeared on podcasts including On Design, Goodtype’s The Typecast, Inky Goodness, and The Illustration Department.

With a BFA and MFA in painting, she now channels her creative background into supporting the artist roster at Totally Reps, building meaningful collaborations and creating bespoke visual work.

Kapil Bhimekar
Creative Director & Artist

Kapil Bhimekar is a multidisciplinary artist and award-winning creative director based in Dubai. With a career spanning over two decades, he has left an indelible mark on both the advertising and art worlds. His signature black-and-white aesthetic—bold, intricate, and deeply immersive—defines his large-scale murals, experiential installations, and design pieces. Kapil’s work seamlessly blends art with its surroundings, creating powerful visual narratives that engage and inspire.

As a senior creative director at Leo Burnett Dubai, Kapil has led campaigns for some of the world’s most iconic brands, earning accolades at Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show, LIA, and Dubai Lynx. He has also served as a jury member for prestigious global award shows, recognizing and shaping the future of creativity.

Beyond his professional career, Kapil is a passionate educator, conducting workshops worldwide to inspire the next generation of artists and designers. He also runs K100, a design brand that transforms everyday objects into artistic expressions, celebrating the beauty of monochrome.

From painting murals in London’s Shoreditch to creating large-scale installations in Dubai, Kapil’s work continues to push boundaries, proving that powerful storytelling doesn’t need color—just vision.

Sebastian Freudenschuss
Illustrator & Animator, Co-Founder bounty.studio

Sebastian Freudenschuss works as an illustrator, animator, and experimental filmmaker.

The work he produces revolves around abstract concepts like the interior life of people, the act of collecting things, or the critical analysis of labour. The overarching topic is always a specific feeling which is hard to put in words. Therefore, he usually is drawn to illustration, animation, and video to convey his ideas. He currently works as part of bounty.studio and lives in Vienna, Austria.

In 2018, he co-founded bounty.studio with Matthias Innauer, where he produces and directs TV commercials, illustration series, and explainer videos. Bounty.studio fosters strong connections within the cultural scene of Vienna, and co-founded the independent short film festival “Landjäger Kürzestfilmfestspiele”.

Alongside the work Sebastian Freudenschuss does with bounty.studio, his own short films and visuals have been short-listed and selected for a variety of Austrian and international film festivals.

Paula R Rodriguez
Contemporary Painter & Cluster Residency Winner

Paula R Rodriguez (1989, Mexico City) is a Mexican artist based in London whose painting practice combines creative explorations of her native Mexico with social concerns. Being Latin American is integral to Rodriguez's identity and is a key part of her work; intersections between memory and place as sites of personal and collective belonging are central subjects. She is especially interested in the magical realism it evokes and aims to portray this whilst transporting people to imaginary places rooted in her own recollections, often evoking a pleasant feeling of solitude.

She is featured in several publications: Inverosimil Magazine (2021), Winsor and Newton “Featured Artist” (2021), La Vaquera, Universidad de Colima (2018), Juanjo Pregunton, Puerta Abierta Editoriales (2018). Rivas’ exhibitions include solo shows: Cavita (2025), Fabric Gallery (2024), Dreamscapes Gallery 205 Deptford (2023), Bienvenidos al Mictlan, Mexican Embassy in London (2022), Spaces Within, Oxo Tower (2021), Memorias de mi Tierra, Falling Piano Brewery, Mexico City (2021), and El Colima de Gregorio Torres Quintero, Archivo Histórico del Municipio de Colima (2019), as well as the group shows: May We Know Them, Lewisham Arthouse London (2022), Adidas International Women's Day, 425 Oxford Street (2022), Space Jam, 14 Bedford Square, London (2022), Dear Brockley, Lewisham Arthouse London (2021), and Sounds of the City, London Transport Museum (2017). She was also selected as the Artist in Residence for Cluster London, Cluster Illustration Residency Program (2021). She is currently represented by George Gallery, Brighton, UK, and Mata Ortiz Gallery, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Ema Marinova
Cluster Director and Founder

As the founder and driving force behind Cluster, Ema Marinova is dedicated to fostering innovative dialogues at the intersection of art, culture, and emerging ideas. Her work as an independent curator is rooted in uncovering new talent, amplifying underrepresented voices, and crafting thought-provoking exhibitions that resonate with contemporary audiences.

With a deep passion for building connections and creating platforms for creative exchange, she has curated over 90 exhibitions and projects in the past decade, many of which challenge conventions and act as forms of social commentary.

Giulia Meacci
Cluster Curator & Community Lead

Giulia is an Italian-American London-based Curator, focused on creating opportunities in the creative industry and supporting both emerging and established talent. She has led independent curatorial projects for Christie’s, Copeland Gallery, Petrie Museum, Barakat Gallery, and Museo Nazionale Romano. In 2025, Giulia featured on the Top 100 Leaders list for Independent Curators in Europe.

She is currently the Curator & Community Lead of CLUSTER London, an organisation reimagining the traditional art fair model by removing gallery representation and commission structures. Her work focuses on curating exhibitions, artist research and partnerships across photography, illustration, crafts, contemporary art and jewellery, alongside developing programmes, residencies and educational initiatives. Before CLUSTER, Giulia worked at the educational charity D&AD, and was responsible for managing the delivery of the D&AD Awards judge programme, specifically the onboarding of talent from junior to global creative levels. Giulia has also worked for major London cultural and heritage institutions, including 180 Studios and the Sir John Soane Museum.

An Oxford University and UCL graduate, Giulia specialised in Classical Art, Museum Studies, and Curating, combining research-led practice with a commitment to representation and community in the arts. She is a recurrent guest speaker for the Oxford Archaeological Society, of which she held the Presidency in 2019-2020, and for which she currently conducts research.

TOTALLY REPS is a visual artist representation and creative agency dedicated to championing a diverse roster of artists while fostering long-lasting client relationships. Working with some of the world’s most iconic brands, agencies, and publishers, Totally Reps was built on the belief that meaningful collaboration and bespoke visual art are central to the most engaging creative work in the industry.

Vienna Design Week is our official Partner for the 2026 Cluster Illustration Artist-in-Residence Programme. As part of this collaboration, our four shortlisted artists and winner from the Illustration Residency Programme will have the opportunity to showcase their work during the festival in a dedicated exhibition space curated by Cluster.

The winner of the Cluster Illustration Residency will receive a free exhibition space at the Illustrators' Fair in December 2026, providing an exciting platform to showcase their work to thousands of visitors.

*Please note, the selected artist will be staying in the studio.
The second floor of the studio contains a bedroom.