Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian Launch a New Creative Residency in Menorca
A New Creative Sanctuary in Menorca: Inside the Residency at Casa Gràcia
In the heart of Mahon, on the Balearic island of Menorca, a new residency program is emerging not as a spectacle, but as a sanctuary for artists and writers seeking something increasingly rare: time, silence, and the freedom to create without expectation.
Founded by acclaimed artists Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian, the Residency at Casa Gràcia offers a deeply considered retreat where creative practices can unfold organically, away from the pressures of production and performance. Set within a historic 19th-century property in Mahon, the program embraces a slower rhythm – one rooted in reflection, dialogue, and connection to place.
Rather than demanding outcomes or public presentations, the residency encourages artists and writers to simply exist within the atmosphere of Menorca, allowing ideas to surface naturally. It is an approach that feels almost radical in today’s accelerated creative landscape.
Menorca’s Mystical Pull
For years, Menorca has quietly attracted artists, collectors, and thinkers drawn to its understated beauty and almost spiritual stillness. Unlike its louder Mediterranean counterparts, the island moves differently. Ancient Talayotic stone structures remain scattered across the landscape like silent witnesses of another civilization, creating an atmosphere that feels suspended between history and myth.
“Menorca has always been a place that expands inner space,” explains Hovsepian. It is precisely this sensation – of openness, clarity, and creative possibility – that lies at the heart of Casa Gràcia.
Johnson, whose relationship with the island began through Hauser & Wirth Menorca, speaks of the island as a place that sharpens attention and deepens one’s relationship to making. Together, the artists envisioned a residency that would function less as an institution and more as an incubator for thought, experimentation, and meaningful creative exchange.
A Residence Designed for Reflection
The residency itself is housed in a meticulously restored building dating back to 1860, discreetly located within a quiet residential neighborhood in Mahon. Overseen by the renowned Paris-based architecture and design studio Laplace alongside Menorcan architects Maimó&Brosa, the transformation balances historical sensitivity with contemporary restraint.
What was once a former nightclub entrance with private living quarters above has been reimagined into an elegant live-work environment centered around simplicity and calm. Residents have access to a vast 300-square-meter studio, a study space, and the largest private walled garden in Mahon’s city center – a rare luxury on the island. The interiors reflect the same philosophy. Traditional Menorcan furniture sourced locally coexists effortlessly with carefully selected contemporary pieces, creating spaces that feel timeless rather than designed. Nothing appears forced. Everything invites contemplation.
A Global Dialogue Rooted in Menorca
Each year, the Residency at Casa Gràcia will welcome five residents: three visual artists for stays of up to three months, and two writers for longer residencies extending up to six months. While immersed in the residency, participants will also benefit from the support and knowledge of the team at Hauser & Wirth Menorca, located on Illa del Rei.
An impressive advisory board underscores the cultural ambition of the initiative, bringing together influential figures from the worlds of art, literature, publishing, and philanthropy, including Colson Whitehead, Patrick Radden Keefe, Hank Willis Thomas, and Iwan Wirth.
Ahead of the official 2027 launch, the residency will begin with an inaugural season in fall 2026, hosting the recipient of an artist grant from the Institut Menorquí d’Estudis, supported by Es Baluard Museum and Hauser & Wirth Menorca.
Applications for the 2027 residency program are now open, with a submission deadline set for July 31, 2026.
In an era obsessed with visibility, Casa Gràcia proposes something far more enduring: invisibility, stillness, and the quiet luxury of uninterrupted thought.
For more information or to apply, visit:
Casa Gràcia Residency
