Creative Reuse is well known as a vital resource for Pittsburgh’s art community. Artwork incorporating materials provided by Creative Reuse has been featured in the Pittsburgh Biennial, Emerging Artist of the Year exhibitions, installations commissioned for the Three Rivers Arts Festival, and many, many gallery shows and pop-up exhibitions throughout the Pittsburgh region and beyond. In addition to our everyday support of artists through our retail shop and Project Sponsorships, we also support one artist a year with our Artist in Residence program, and several others through our gallery program.
Past gallery shows have featured sculpture, found material collage, fiber art, and assemblage, and more. The themes of the work vary but often speak to environmental and social issues that affect our communities. Many artists relate strongly to the Creative Reuse vision of creating an accessible and welcoming art gallery for neighbors and community members who otherwise may not have easy access to galleries and museums. At our location at the intersection of Homewood, Wilkinsburg, and Point Breeze, we are grateful for the opportunity to promote artists and engage community members through our Artist in Residence and gallery program.
Interested in our Artist in Residence and gallery program?
Read below for up-coming season information, sign up for our newsletter (bottom of page), and follow us on social media for news, updates, and calls for applications.
2026 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Join us for the opening reception of our Artist in Residence gallery show, grief is a beautiful name for a baby girl, by Sara Jean Ruiz. The reception will take place 6 to 8 PM on Saturday, April 4 right here at Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse. The show will be on view through June, and visitors to the Center are welcome seven days a week from 11 AM – 5 PM.
Timeline
- Application opens: December 27, 2025
- Deadline for applications: January 3, 2026
- Decision announced: January 24, 2026
- Full residency period: February 1 – June 30, 2026
- Demonstration Days: Sundays, March 15 and 22, 12 to 3 PM
- Free and open to the public, this demonstration day encourages conversation around art and reuse between the artist and community members. The artist will actively work on their pieces for the show in view of visitors to our center.
- Artist in Residence Gallery Show: April 5 – June 30, 2026
- Opening reception April 4, 6 to 8 PM
- Starting with an opening reception, this three-month gallery show will be on view and accessible at no cost to visitors to our center seven days a week. The placement of our gallery is such that all visitors to the center will see the artwork as they peruse the rest of our space. In this way, we disrupt the typical retail experience and encourage a thoughtful and unexpected engagement with local art.
- Community Workshop: TBD
- The artist in residence will also hold at least one Community Workshop that relates to the art, materials, and processes used in the gallery show. The workshops will be offered for free of charge to encourage full participation by our community members.
We’re thrilled to announce the artist chosen for the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse Artist in Residence 2026 is Sara Jean Ruiz!
Sara Jean Ruiz grew up in rural South Texas, where she spent her childhood looking for ways to give a voice to intense feelings. As an adult with C-PTSD, this desire to create images from difficult experiences only grew. Sara received her BFA from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2019, and went on to complete her Master of Fine Arts at The Ohio State University in 2023 with a specialization in printmaking. In 2023 Sara relocated to Pittsburgh, where she now lives and works.
Artist in Residence Demonstration Days
Sundays, March 15 and 22
12 – 3 PM
Creative Reuse Gallery
Visit with our 2026 Artist in Residence, Sara Jean Ruiz, while she demonstrates her creative process and takes questions from the public. This is an informal event. Feel free to drop by any time during 12 to 3 PM.
Information
Benefits:
- Cash Stipend: $3000
- In-Store Material Stipend: $700
- Three-month gallery show
- Artist support
- Plenty of opportunities for community engagement and exposure
Who can apply?
Pittsburgh-based artists with a demonstrated history of art creation and some experience with exhibiting work (does not need to be professional or gallery-based exhibitions) are welcome to apply. They must have some history of using reclaimed, used, found, materials in their work. Additionally, they must display a willingness and passion for engaging with community members, as well as a passion for the environment and reuse. Members of marginalized, underinvested, and underestimated communities, especially Black and Brown, low-income, disabled, LGBTQIA+, and immigrant and refugee communities are encouraged to apply.
- Apply by: January 3rd at 11:59 PM EST
Creative Reuse receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.