Redwood National & State Parks Announce Spring 2026 Artists-in-Residence

This is a press release from the National Park Service:

The National Park Service, in cooperation with California State Parks and Redwood Parks Conservancy, are excited to announce that Eva Agus and Nick Vasquez of Oakland, California, have been selected as Redwood National & State Parks’ (RNSP) Spring 2026 artists-in-residence. Beginning in April, Agus and Vasquez will immerse themselves in the breathtaking landscapes of the parks, creating art and poetry inspired by the region’s unparalleled natural beauty and unique ecosystems. Stay tuned for updates on public presentations from the artists during their residency.

About the Artists

Eva Agus (b. Jakarta, Indonesia) is a multidisciplinary artist and environmental engineer whose work bridges cultural heritage and sustainability. After two decades in water and energy infrastructure, she now creates batik-inspired wood panel paintings of urban greenscapes and wildlife encounters that reflect her California journey through an Indonesian visual lens. Her work has been exhibited at the San Francisco Opera, Sausalito Center for the Arts, and the Los Angeles Gamelan Festival, and she holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley with artistic training from Javanese and Balinese master artisans.

Nick Vasquez is a poet whose work is shaped by his upbringing in California’s foster care system and his life in rural Northern California. Centering nature as both inspiration and a mirror for self-examination, his work has been published in The Dewdrop, Toyon Literary Magazine, and The Write Launch, and he is a reader at Frontier Poetry. Vasquez holds undergraduate degrees in English and Psychology and a Master’s in Developmental Psychology from Humboldt State University. He is also the founder and lead editor of Grey Hands, a creative writing mentorship program for foster youth.

About the Artist-in-Residence Program

Redwood National & State Parks’ Artist-in-Residence program invites artists to explore and interpret the unique landscapes of the parks through their work. By connecting art with the environment, the program aims to inspire deeper public appreciation and stewardship for these treasured lands.

To learn more about the program, visit https://www.nps.gov/redw/getinvolved/artist-in-residence.htm.

About Redwood Parks Conservancy

Founded through the merger of two organizations, RPC has supported public land stewardship in northern California since 1978. Through partnerships with the National Park Service, California State Parks, and other agencies, RPC enhances visitor experiences and ensures the preservation of these iconic landscapes for future generations. Visit redwoodparksconservancy.org for more information