Gender Roots: Artist Residency Program Launches in Trapani, Sicily | March – December 2026
wushuSTUDIO is excited to announce the launch of “Gender Roots,” its inaugural artist residency program dedicated to the exploration of the interplay between identity, territory, and gender. Curated by Elena Alaimo and Rosalba Riscatto, this residency will take place at the picturesque Chiostro di San Domenico in Trapani, Sicily, from March to December 2026.
This unique program invites twelve contemporary artists to immerse themselves in the cultural richness of Sicily—a location famously known as a crossroads of diverse cultures and traditions. “Gender Roots” aims to be a dynamic laboratory where artists can imagine new ways of belonging and identity, reflecting on the intersections between the local and the global.
Throughout their two-week residency, each artist will engage with the community and surroundings, culminating in a collective exhibition that showcases an array of artistic expressions, such as visual art, installations, photography, sound, and performance.
Featured Artists + Exhibition Program:
– 3 – 25 April 2026 – Luca Ignomeriello (Bari, 2003): Known for his sculpture and performance work, Ignomeriello explores social and spatial dynamics using materials such as nets and metal frameworks.
– 25 April – 16 May 2026 – Davide Dalla Valentina (Verona, 2004): His work delves into personal memory and self-perception, examining the dichotomy between aesthetic ideals and deeper meanings.
– 16 May – 13 June 2026: Mela
– 13 June – 11 July 2026 Auraiguel (Laura Reyes & Miguel Uribe, Chile): This duo seamlessly blends architecture and contemporary art, focusing on themes of space, gender, and ecological materials.
– 11 July – 8 August 2026 – Francisco Tomás / Rabisco (Portugal, 1992): Tomás creatively transforms discarded materials into poignant sculptural forms, prompting reflections on beauty, value, and the essence of everyday life.
– 9 August – 9 September 2026 – Cecilia De Lazzaro (Italy, 1992): A singer and researcher, De Lazzaro investigates ecoacoustics and the historical significance of women’s work songs in her sound art.
– 26 September – 17 October 2026 – Kairigai (Alba Balmaseda, Ines Lechleitner & Kathrin Doppler): This collective integrates architecture, choreography, and multisensory experiences through a hydrofeminist perspective.
– 7 October – 14 November 2026 – Viviana Bonura (Palermo, 1999): Bonura uses photography to investigate themes of identity and belonging, exploring the complex relationships between body and context.
– 4 November – 14 December 2026 – Rebecca Lena (Italy, 1992): An innovative artist who connects visual art with sound and writing, Lena translates the movements of plants into both drawings and musical notation.
About wushuSTUDIO:
Founded in Trapani in 2023 by Elena Alaimo, wushuSTUDIO is an independent hub dedicated to contemporary artistic research and sonic experimentation. Established as a form of cultural resistance, it serves as a platform for emerging artists, interdisciplinary collaborations, and site-specific projects. Through residencies, exhibitions, performances, and productions, wushuSTUDIO promotes dialogue between visual art, sound, and territory, aiming to cultivate a sustainable cultural ecosystem that bridges local communities with international contemporary networks.
Follow wushuSTUDIO
Donations + support HERE
The opening event on 3 April 2026 took place at Chiostro di San Domenico, Trapani.
The first exhibition featured the work of Luca Ignomeriello, available until April 25th.
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT wushuSTUDIO?
In 2026, Gender Roots will transform wushuSTUDIO into an international artistic research laboratory, where identity, territory, and gender perspectives meet through contemporary art. From March to December 2026, artists from various countries will be invited to live and work in Trapani, developing new projects that investigate the relationship between cultural roots, personal memory, and gender representation. Each residency will culminate in exhibitions, installations, performances, and public meetings, creating a space for dialogue between the local community and the international art scene. But for all this to happen, we need your support, too.
Why donate
Supporting Gender Roots means contributing concretely to the growth of contemporary culture in Southern Italy. Your donation will help to:
• Host artists in residence
• Produce new works and installations
• Organize exhibitions and public events
• Engage the local community in workshops and meetings
• Keep a space dedicated to artistic research independent
In territories like Sicily, independent cultural projects are often possible only thanks to the participation of those who believe in the value of art as a tool for change.
A project that connects local and global
Situated in the Mediterranean, Sicily is historically a crossroads of cultures, languages, and transformations. Gender Roots was born right here to interrogate what it means to belong to a place, a community, or an identity. Through artistic practices ranging from sculpture and photography to sound and performance, the invited artists will explore new narratives of gender and identity, creating works that dialogue with the landscape, history, and contemporary society. The result will be a series of exhibitions and artistic productions that will remain as a living trace of this encounter between roots and the future.
Every contribution counts
Even a small donation can make a difference. With your support, we can:
• Give space to young, emerging artists
• Support independent cultural production
• Build international networks starting from Southern Italy
• Make art accessible to the community
Become part of Gender Roots
Supporting Gender Roots means participating in the construction of a space where art, identity, and territory can be rethought together. Help us grow this project. Donate now and help make Gender Roots 2026 possible.
Donations + support HERE
33 MAGAZINE 