Mothership NYC is a combined live-work space and presentation arena for international artists across multiple disciplines in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, NYC. Run by a painter captain aided by a rotating crew of fellow artists, our ship’s mission is to serve as a welcoming landing platform for colleagues from elsewhere making the leap to NYC: We aim to support and promote our peers at all career levels through residencies, public programming & collaborative opportunities; build lasting transnational artist networks; and help retain creative forces in New York City.

Our History:
Some 20 years ago, Captain Sol set sail for New York with a dream to live and work in a community of other creatives of all stripes. A place to land in this amazing but demanding city proved hard to find for a penniless artist from a foreign country, so Sol resolved to build the platform she was looking for: Mothership NYC came about in 2005 as a home-cum-studio space for a handful of international artist friends. With a huge roof deck serving as an outdoor stage, our community of peers gradually and organically evolved into a destination for art events and performances of all kinds, as well as lively dinner parties and improvised salons uniting creatives from many disciplines.

The addition of more indoor space in 2016 allowed us to establish a residency program. Our international artists-in-residence – known as Sea Artists according to our nautical terminology – are selected based on merit and diversity of discipline, background and geographic origin.  We aim to host anywhere from 4 to 12 Sea Artists per year for periods from 1 to 3 months each, as well as several short-term visiting creatives.  Today, our salons occur on a regular schedule: At these monthly gatherings, Mothership artists share the floor with local peers for presentations of their work, creative exchanges and good cheer. Additionally, all hands on board can and do produce events and shows of their own devising, making full use of Mothership's own indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as our sister platform a few blocks away, Last Frontier NYC.

This is the rationale behind our name:
·  A mother ship, mothership or mother-ship is a large vessel – whether maritime ship, aircraft, or spacecraft – that leads, serves, or carries other smaller vehicles.
Mothership NYC is the base camp where rotating crew members dwell for some time before taking off for independent journeys. And sooner or later, the great majority of our sailors end up returning for new stints onboard.
·  The captain of this craft is a woman, and our permanent crew is usually majority female.
·  We like the ambiguity inherent in the name: while ‘mother’ generally has a nurturing ring, the spaceship connotation adds an intrepid note.
And that describes our crew – we are gentle warriors and jolly sailors. For some pointers, take a listen to our Mothership Anthem,
courtesy of visiting artist Carmela Tal Baron.

Our ship’s company comprises the following:

+ MAIN MEGA-TALENTED MOTHERSHIPPER MUSICIANS:

Katy Gunn, Singer-Songwriter and Multi-Instrumentalist (Tuczon, AZ – now NYC) ~ every year since 2010
Lesley Kernochan, Singer-Songwriter and Multi-Instrumentalist (LA) ~ more or less every year since 2013

Mothershippers on the Open Waters | From left: Captain Sol Kjøk (Visual Artist, Norway/US); on accordion, Quartetmaster Ernesto Villalobos of the Villalobos Brothers (Violinist/Singer-Songwriter/Composer/Multi-Instrumentalist, Mexico); on violin, our very favorite Superstar-in-Residence, Katy Gunn (singer/songwriter/musician/performing artist, US).

2018 Crew: Front row: Honorary Scholar-in-Residence, Fritjof Capra (author, scientist, educator, activist)
From left: Visiting Sea Artist Kirsty Whiten; Former Officer Carolyn A’Hearn; Captain Sol Kjøk; Former Officer Noam; Visiting Sailor Marianne Skjeldal

SOME FORMER RESIDENT AND VISITING ARTISTS:

aka MOTHERSHIPPERS, defined as artists who have stayed onboard our seacraft
to work on and/or present a creative project on one or more of our NYC stages:
Lisa Hennig-Olsen, Visual Artist (Norway) ~ 2024
Luke Foster, Visual Artist (Australia) ~ 2024
David Perez Perez, Filmmaker (Spain) ~ 2024
Angela Rossetti + Murray Johnstone, Installation Artist + Musician (Barcelona) ~ 2023-24
Leyla Levi, Theater Artist (Turkey) ~ 2023-24
Bart Hoevenaars, Musician (Netherlands) ~ 2023
Madalena Pequito, Visual Artist (Portugal) ~ 2024 ~2023
Sue Beyer, Visual Artist (Australia) ~ 2023 ~ 2022
Jan Chlup, Painter (Czech Republic | Prague) ~ 2023
David Mase, Visual Artist (Austria) ~2023
Marcus Riedler Visual Artist (Austria) ~2023
Hannah Jones, Visual Artist (Wales) ~2023
Isabelle Mequita, Artist and Fashion Designer (Brazil/France | Paris) ~ 2023
Tyr Jami, Cellist/Singer/Producer/Composer (Canada | Montreal) ~ 2023
Louis Detroit, Filmmaker (England | London) ~ 2023
Liberty Faith, Street Artist (South Africa|Cape Town) ~ 2023
Anna Thomson, Clown/Puppeteer/Comedian (Australia | ) ~ 2023
Matlakas, Visual Artist (Italy/UK | London)  ~ 2023
Michel Platnic, Visual Artist (France/Israel | Tel Aviv) ~ 2023
Holly Chang, Interdisciplinary Artist, Toronto, 2023
Julie Dumont, Curator (Belgium/Brazil) ~ 2023
Lars Fredriksson, Painter (Malmo, Sweden) ~ 2023
Peter Ackerman,  Filmmaker (US/Denmark) ~2023
Mary Naylor, Visual Artist  (Manchester, UK) ~2022-23
Giselle Barcasi, Actress (Rio, Brazil) ~2022-23
Chantal DeFelice, Visual Artist (US) ~ 2022-23
Carl-Martin Hansen, Visual Artist (Denmark-Norway) ~ 2022
Sparrowhawk Caught-on-Fire, Transcendental Story Artist (Apache Nation) ~ 2020-2022
Marjolijn de Wit, Visual Artist (Amsterdam, Holland) ~ 2022
Bad Sandy, Visual Artist (Australia) ~ 2022
Freya Finch, Theater Artist (Auckland, New Zealand) ~ 2022
David Helán, Performance Artist (Czech Republic | Prague)  ~ 2023-22
Pavel Tichoň, Performance Atist (Czech Republic | Prague) ~ 2022
Itonje Søimer Guttormsen, Filmmaker (Norway) ~ 2022
Gjert Rognli, Multidisciplinary Artist (Norway) ~ 2022
Stefanie Gerstmayr, Visual Artist (Munich, Germany) ~ 2022
Rolf-Maria Krückels, Visual Artist (Munich, Germany) ~ 2022
Mahtola Wittner, Visual/Performance Artist (Switzerland) ~2022
Sara Cowdell,  Performance Artist/Curator (New Zealand) ~2022
Juan Dies, Media Entertainer (Zaragoza, Spain) ~2022
Igor Revelis (Klone), Visual Artist (Ukraine/Israel) ~2022
Niels Blaesi, Illustrator (Switzerland) ~ 2022
Mai-Britt Wolthers, Visual Artist (Denmark/Brazil) ~ 2022
Kóan Jeff Baysa, Curator (Hawaii/LA) ~ 2022
Alexander Dolabi, Writer (US/Iran) ~ 2022
Isa Riquezes, Painter (Venezuela/US) ~ 2021/22
Michael Hilewitz, Painter (South Africa) ~ 2021
Karina Walgermo Johnsen, Actor & Vocalist (Norway) ~ 2021|2019
Noam Shoan, Painter & Poet (Australia) ~ 2018-2021
Émeraude Domingos-Mbuku, Filmmaker (Congo/Canada) ~ 2021
Andreas Sjöstrand, Visual and Performance Artist (Sweden) ~ 2021
Mark Doherty, Actor (US) ~ 2021
Andrew Hutton, Filmmaker (UK) ~ 2020
Carolyn A’Hearn, Visual and Performance Artist (US) ~2020 | 2010
Claire Romain, Visual Artist (France/Spain) ~ 2020
Constance Tenvik, Visual Artist (Norway) ~2020
Nina Zdanovic, Visual Artist/Scholar (Lithuania/Japan) ~2020
Xanthe Alexis, Singer-Songwriter (US) ~2020 | 2019
Branko Miliskovic, Performance Artist (Serbia) ~2019
Lesley Kernochan, Musician (US) ~2019 | 2016| 2015 | 2014 | 2013
Icaro Silva, Filmmaker (Brazil) ~2019 |2018
Sjaak Kooij, Visual Artist (Netherlands) ~2019 | 2018
Till Lauer, Visual Artist/Illustrator (Switzerland) ~2019 | 2018
Elena Greta Falcini, Sculptor (Germany) ~2019
Viktor Fucek, Visual Artist (Slovakia) ~2019
Tasha Whittle, Visual Artist (UK) ~2019
Ahmed Umar, Visual Artist (Norway/Sudan) ~2019
Dalila Honorato , Storyteller and Ritual Weaver (Portugal/Greece) ~ 2019
Adam Zaretsky, Bio Artist (Woodstock, NY) ~ 2019
Céline Pelcé, Food Artist (France) ~2019 | 2017
Dusa Jesih, Visual Artist (Slovenia) ~2018
Fritjof Capra, Scientist, Educator, Activist & Author (USA/Austria) ~2018| 2016
Marita Isobel Solberg, Performance Artist (Norway) ~2018
Kirsty Whiten, Visual Artist (Scotland) ~2018
Ina Otzko, Visual Artist (Norway) ~2018
Cynthia X. Hua, Researcher/Artist/Journalist (San Francisco) ~2018
Jue Yang, Trans-media Writer (Shanghai) ~2018
Mariana Alviárez, Multidisciplinary Artist (Caracas/Buenos Aires) ~ 2018
Siw Laurent, Actor/Performance Artist/Vocalist (Norway/France) ~ 2018-2017
Claire Zakiewicz, Visual Artist (London) ~2018 | 2017
Marianne Skjeldal, Performance Artist (Norway) ~2018 |2015
James Boddington, Photographer (Australia) ~2018 | 2013 | 2010
Hilde Marstrander, Visual Artist (Norway) ~2018
Alexa Wilson, Dancer/Performance Artist (Auckland) ~2017
Mayfield Brooks, Dancer/Performance Artist (US) ~2017
Mariana Soares, Painter (São Paolo) ~2017
David Alræk, Filmmaker (Norway) ~2017
Diane Victor, Visual Artist (South Africa) ~2017
Boo Paterson, Visual Artist (Scotland) ~2015 | 2016 | 2018 | 2019
Florian Pochlatko, Filmmaker (Austria) ~2016
Inger Johanne Rasmussen, Fabric Artist (Norway) ~2016
Peter Max-Jakobsen, Visual Artist/Musician (Denmark) ~2016
Æsa Bjørk, Visual Artist (Iceland) ~2016
Russ Havard, Visual Artist (USA) ~2016 | 2015
Aomi Kikuchi, Visual Artist (Japan) ~2015
Rakel Haslund-Gjerrild, Author (Denmark) ~2015
Anna Lidell, Compser-Musician (Denmark) ~2015
Shani Moffatt, Performance Artist (Australia) ~2015
Didem Civginoglu, Photographer (Turkey) ~2015
Karen Nikgol, Painter/Performance Artist (Iran/Norway) ~2015
Kai Kaoss, Painter (Afghanistan/Germany) ~2015
Molly Haslund, Performance Artist (Denmark) ~2014
Barbara Fragogna, Visual Artist/ Publisher (Italy) ~2014
Mik Kuhlmann, Performing Artist (USA) ~2013
Andreas Savva, Visual Artist (Cyprus) ~2013
Judy Nyambura Karanja, Actress (Kenya/Norway) ~2013
Gisle Harr, Visual Artist (Norway) ~2013
Jannik Abel, Visual Artist (Norway) ~2013
Jim Thompson, Musician (USA) ~2012
Wren Steiner, Photographer (Australia) ~2012
Agnes Nedregard, Performance Artist (Norway/France) ~2012 | 2009
Moray Hillary, Visual Artist (UK) ~2012
Zoog von Rock, Musician (Australia) ~2011
Gaby Steiner, Video Artist/Photographer (Switzerland) ~2011
Vanna Bowles, Visual Artist (Sweden/Norway) ~2011
Anna Christina Lorenzen, Visual Artist (Norway) ~2011
Ellen Bang, Sculptor (Norway/USA) ~2011
Marit Victoria Wulff Andreassen, Visual Artist (Norway) ~2011
Marianne Darlén Solhaugstrand, Visual Artist (Norway) ~2011
Kristin Skrivervik, Visual Artist (Norway) ~2011
Matthew Cowan, Performance Artist (New Zealand) ~2011
Cara Judea Alhadeff, Photographer/Performance Artist/Writer (USA) ~2010
Lars Strandh, Visual Artist (Sweden/Norway) ~2010
Lidy Six, Performance/Installation Artist (Netherlands) ~2010
Anne-marte Eidseth Rygh, Performance Artist (Norway) ~2010
Björn Hegardt, Visual Artist/Publisher (Norway/Germany) ~2010
Txuca, Photographer (Spain) ~2010
Matilde Soligno, Photographer/Publisher (Italy) ~2009
Henrike Stahl, Photographer (Germany) ~2009
Davide Fiore, Photographer (Italy) ~2009
Jennifer Mizenko, Dancer/Actor (USA) ~2009
Jon Haukeland, Filmmaker (Norway) ~2008
Alison Pilkington, Visual Artist (Ireland) ~2008
Margaret Tuffy, Visual Artist (Ireland) ~2007
Juan Fabuel, Photographer (Spain) ~2006
Be Andr, Visual Artist (Norway/UK) ~2006
Regine Polenz, Visual Artist (Germany) ~2005

SOME OF THE MANY TALENTS FEATURED ON OUR ROOFTOP:

aka PRESENTING ARTISTS, defined as creatives of all sorts who have shown their work on our Main Deck outdoor stage.
For more names in this category, check our Monthly Salons page.

Sindy Butz, Performance Artist (Germany)
Richard Borge, Animator (USA)
Robin Eubanks, Musician (USA)
Autumn Kioti, Performance Artist (USA)
Duckie L’Orange, Performance Artist (Australia)
Poems While You Wait, Poet (USA)
Cat del Buono, Visual Artist (USA)
Jeanne Wilkinson, Visual Artist (USA)
Daniel Maldonado, Film Director (USA)
Charles Davi, Musician/Writer (USA)
Loren Crabbe, Performance Artist (USA)
Bad Faces, Band (USA)
Ark Calkins, Musician (USA)
Pierre Lionel Matte, Visual Artist (Norway)
Peter Daniel Straus, Actor/Comedian/Circus Artist (USA)
Hillary Chaplain, Actor/Comedian (USA)
Mark Ettinger, Musician/Juggler (USA)
Emily James, Clown/Multimedia Artist (USA)
SlinCraze, Musician (Norway)
Saurabh Tak, Storyteller (India)
Porpentine Theater Co., Shakespearean Troupe (USA)
Jess Bayuk, Architect and Visual Artist
The Bandroidz, Band (USA)
Hair Jail, Band (USA)
Sirens, Band (USA)
Urban Research Theater, Performance Artists (USA)
Arturo Vidich, Performance Artist (Italy/USA)
Flavio Sciolé, Actor/Director (Italy)
Luff Josa, Spoken Word (USA)
Alberto Fiori, Musician (Italy/Germany)
Leila Adu, Musician (USA)
Tilda Lovell, Visual Artist (Sweden/Germany)