The Artist in Residence Program
Art, History, and Nature
The Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum Artist in Residence (AIR) program provides a unique opportunity for visual artists, writers, composers, and researchers to explore the intersections of history, nature, and memory within our historic grounds.
This program is essential to Bellefontaine advancing the cause of being a premier cultural institution in the region. It fosters a creative dialogue, allowing artists to draw inspiration from the Cemetery's rich tapestry of funerary architecture, diverse arboreal collection, and the profound stories of those interred here. The resulting work enriches our communityβs understanding of the Cemetery as a dynamic cultural landscape.
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The Bellefontaine Cemetery AIR program is a structured opportunity designed to facilitate the creation of new work rooted in the artist's experience of the site.
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- Duration: Residencies typically last for twelve months.
- Exhibition Rotation: The AIR's work is displayed in the Willow Gatehouse, with pieces rotating three times per year to showcase the evolution of their residency.
- Access & Research: Artists gain unparalleled access to the Cemetery's grounds, historical archives, and specialized staff for research purposes.
- Public Engagement: Each AIR agrees to attend three featured events throughout the year, which provide the public with an opportunity for Q&A and appreciation of their work.
- Contribution: The AIR will agree to create one piece of art that is donated to Bellefontaine Cemetery at the end of their term.
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The Artist in Residence is expected to actively use the Cemetery environment as a primary source of inspiration. The work produced should reflect themes related to the history, landscape, architecture, or the emotional significance of the site.
Spotlight: Current and Past Residents
This Year's Resident:
Abraham Mohler (2026)
Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum is thrilled to announce that Abraham Mohler will be our next Artist in Residence. Abraham is an accomplished sculptor who specializes in stone carving and bronze sculpture, with a special focus on the human figure. His residency will run from October 2026 through the end of December 2027.
If you've walked on our grounds, you may already know Abraham's work. Families have commissioned many of his pieces, which now stand among Bellefontaine's historic monuments. During his residency, we are adding five new pieces of his art to our collection. A life-size ballerina statue will be placed in one of the formal gardens at our Willow Gate entrance. Four Greek caryatid statues will mark the entrances and exits of one of our paved, accessible nature trails on the Calvary Avenue side of the Cemetery.
Art Through the Eyes of the Artist:
Abraham's residency will focus on "Art Through the Eyes of the Artist." One Saturday monthly for 15 months, Abraham will be on the grounds from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. hosting our "From Stone to Story: Live Sculpture with Abraham Mohlerβ event. Guests will witness history in the making as Abraham sculpts outdoors and brings a new creation to life from stone. Bring a chair or blanket and settle in. Abraham will take a short break at the top of each hour to answer questions. The first AIR Saturday is Saturday, October 24. Registration is open now, and registration is required. Please follow this link for registration. Register here.
That same afternoon, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Abraham will lead our βArt Through the Eyes of the Artistβ trolley tour. Each tour will offer a unique look at Bellefontaine's rich collection of sculpture and architecture, and at the places where horticulture and monuments meet. No two tours will be the same, so you won't want to miss one. Register here.
Follow Along:
The arts are part of what makes a community whole. They give us ways to remember, to grieve, to celebrate, and to see familiar places with fresh eyes. When a community champions its artists, it invests in its own identity and leaves a legacy for generations to come. Bellefontaine has understood this since its founding, when families turned to sculptors and architects to honor their loved ones in stone and bronze. Our Artist in Residence program, now in its third residency, carries that tradition forward. By inviting working artists onto our grounds to create, teach, and share their process with the public, Bellefontaine is helping to lead the way for how a historic cemetery and arboretum can be a living cultural resource for the St. Louis region. We are proud to open our gates to the arts, and grateful to every member and friend whose support makes this work possible.
Abraham will share written and video updates throughout his residency on this Artist in Residence page of our website, on our social media, and in our monthly e-newsletter. We are excited to follow Abraham's artistic journey and to see the lasting impact of his time with us.
Second Resident:
Erin Johnston (2025)
Our 2025 Artist in Residence, Erin Johnston, explored the inseparable relationship between mortality and the earth through a special editioned print portfolio.
- Project Focus: Erin is translating archival Cemetery lot diagrams into steel etching plates, layered with imagery referencing the siteβs historical evolutionβfrom tallgrass prairie and orchard to rural and city Cemetery.
- Technique: Each diagram is paired with a small multicolor lithograph portrait of the ground itself. The diagrams frame the discussion of change, while the ground portraits capture ephemeral moments, prompting reflection on mortality and regeneration.
Inaugural Resident:
Charles Turnell (2024)
Charles Turnell served as Bellefontaine's inaugural Artist-in-Residence, launching the program with a series of introspective fine art installations displayed at the Willow Gatehouse.
- Artistic Process: Charles creates mosaic-style fine art by assembling photographs of flowers, plants, and landscapes (his "little pieces of glass") to form final, abstract images. His pieces include core elements that balance color schemes, senses of color, and composition.
- Installations: His debut installation included three pieces titled βHope,β βLove,β and βPinocchio.β These works, along with subsequent rotations, were displayed at the Willow Gatehouse.
- Community Contribution: During his residency, Charles invited the public to participate in his creative process by submitting their best photos of flowers or scenery at the Cemetery to help create the color palette for the final mosaic piece gifted to Bellefontaine.
Apply to the Residency
We invite applications from professional artists who demonstrate a serious commitment to their discipline and a clear vision for creating work inspired by Bellefontaine Cemetery.
Call for Proposals
Applications are accepted annually between September 1 and November 30. Please check the requirements below and submit your proposal during the open window for the next available cycle.
If you have questions about the application process, please contact Joe Shields, Director of Development, at: 314- 381-0750