UA Little Rock Freshman Preston Lowe Selected for Prestigious Kennedy Center Emerging Young Artists Program
Little Rock native Preston Lowe is making a national impact as a freshman in the School of Art and Design at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Lowe has been selected as one of just 15 artists nationwide for the 2026 Access/VSA Emerging Young Artists Program at the Kennedy Center, whose We Hold These Truths exhibit centers on identity, access and lived experiences. This program is a highly competitive national initiative supporting rising artists with disabilities through professional development, mentorship, and national visibility for emerging creatives.
As part of the 2026 cohort, Lowe receives a stipend and a fully funded professional development residency in Washington, D.C., including workshops and networking events that prepare young artists for professional careers in the visual arts. The program culminates in a national touring exhibition offering significant career-building exposure. Lowe’s piece, Flip Side, will be featured in the exhibition opening at the Kennedy Center in March and was previously selected for the iCREATE Public Art Program, where it was exhibited at Little Rock City Hall.
Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at UA Little Rock, Lowe is exploring an emphasis while developing a strong practice in painting, mixed media, and textile-based approaches. Art has long been central to his ongoing reflection on how people perceive themselves, see one another, and interact with their environment, through which he explores and communicates his relationship to these ideas. His work uses layered imagery and tactile, unconventional materials, inviting engagement and connection. This focus often appears through repeated figures, objects, and other elements arranged in ways that preserve the work’s immediacy and textural qualities. His body of work is shaped by his lived experience moving through the world from a neurodivergent perspective.
Lowe’s work is making an impact on campus, in the community and beyond. Through art that explores identity and human experience, he encourages viewers to notice beauty where it’s least expected and immerse themselves in the work on their own terms.
Reflecting on his experience, Lowe said, “I truly believe that the School of Art and Design at UA Little Rock is exactly where I am meant to be right now, giving me the space to grow, the support to thrive, and the chance to refine my voice as an artist. This space has allowed me to develop my skills more intentionally, build meaningful connections, and stay grounded in my purpose.”
As a freshman earning national recognition, Lowe is bringing visibility to UA Little Rock while illustrating the possibilities for emerging artists to lead through creativity. Through mentorship, collaboration and professional opportunities, he continues to develop his practice and strengthen the campus community, modeling leadership and artistic excellence for his peers, the broader Little Rock community and on a national stage. Learn more about the UA Little Rock School of Art and Design and explore what your next creative chapter could be.