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.