The Annex
The Annex supports emerging and mid-career Augusta-based artists by providing studio space at subsidized rates and by engaging artists in a collaborative, connected and creative environment.
The Annex offers individual artist studio workspaces as well as collaborative space, both inside and out. The program offers Annex artists opportunities to meet and begin conversations with curators, arts writers, collectors and visiting artists. Several times a year, at open studio events, the community is offered the opportunity to take a peek behind the curtain to see the creative spaces and the artists’ process.
Studio Rates
The Annex offers 24/7 access to individual studio spaces, a large shared collaborative space, private restrooms, a secured courtyard, parking and open studio events. All utilities (water, electric, and HVAC) are included.
Studio A-1
350 sq. ft., 1 skylight, 1 window, side entry + studio sink
$225/month
Studio A-2
300 sq. ft., no natural light
$175/month
Studio leases are annual and offer the option to renew month-to-month after one year.
Studio A-1 available for rent in April 2024.
Studio A-1
Katie Scarborough
Katie Scarborough was born and raised in Blythe, Georgia - the quaint, rural city outside of Augusta. Music and visual arts were fundamental to her upbringing. As the youngest of six children, every member of her family has been a mentor in some form, teaching a plethora of skills and mediums. She focused on drawing and painting at Davidson Fine Arts School. Afterward, she continued as an autodidactic artist, experimenting with 3-dimensional art forms, further broadening her breadth of work.
Katie expresses her being, a whirlwind of complexity encompassing political, spiritual, and aesthetic ideals in her artwork. She boldly captures her existential viewpoint which finds beauty and purpose in all things. She believes wholeheartedly in equality for the human rights to love, be empowered, and reach self-actualization. Through her work, Katie strives to create harmonious color, striking forms, and reflective concepts to depict reality as she perceives it.
In recent years, Katie has been grateful to freely pursue her passion. She has fulfilled many commissions, enthusiastically participated in local live-painting events and displayed her work in galleries across the state. Now, given this opportunity to create in a focused space, Katie strives to push herself like never before to create an inspired body of work that will mark the beginning of her career.
@katiescarboroughart
Studio A-2
Aort Reed
Aort Reed was born in Augusta, Georgia in 1982. His parents, being from two different parts of the world, created an interesting ecosystem for him to learn & dwell. His mom, Anna Phimsoutham, was a native of Bangkok, Thailand and his father, Oscar Reed, a native of Augusta, Georgia. As a child, Aort’s imagination ran wild with all kinds of colorful imagery and exciting ideas. Any surface that he could find automatically became his canvas. Whether it was blank pages at the beginning of a book, his grandmother’s recipes, or even the walls of his closet, he made sure that he expressed what was in his mind’s eye.
Being biracial had a big impact on Aort’s creativity. Combined cultures enabled diversity throughout his childhood which broadened his perspective and paved the way for the rest of his life and artistic journey.
After grade school, Aort attended three different colleges but ended up earning his BFA in painting and drawing at Augusta State University (AU). During the early years of his creative credibility, Aort’s work was selected for two juried art exhibitions, one in 2012 and another in 2014. This also marked the time period his work began to take off conceptually. As a result, his artwork became published in magazines, online platforms, social media, and news articles, and continues to be featured today. For example, multiple large-scale local mural works (including Georgia Cyber Center & Jackie M’s & Son Restaurant) have recently been shown in the 2020 Augusta Visitors Bureau Experience Guide as well as the 6 o’clock news on channel 12.
Today, Aort expresses that inspiration comes from multiple sources; “I could name multiple artists from throughout the history of Fine Art, but I think that would be too typical. Outside of artists, what really drives me the most is empiricism, emotions, and communication. All three sort of create somewhat of a diary or pictorial journal of the journey”.