Nestled in the majestic landscape of Estes Park, Colorado, the YMCA of the Rockies’ Artist in Residence Program continues to be a beacon for creativity, storytelling, and artistic connection. Rooted in a tradition that began in 1943, this unique residency invites artists to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains while engaging with the community through workshops, pop-up events, and personal storytelling through their craft.

A Storied Legacy

The Artist in Residence Program began with Alfred Wands, a plein air painter whose expressive brushstrokes captured the sweeping mountain vistas surrounding Estes Park. Wands taught painting and fly fishing during his tenure, leaving behind a legacy preserved in the Lula W. Dorsey Museum and other buildings on property.

His successor, Ruby McIntosh, took the reins in 1959 as the first female artist in residence. With a style she called “expressionism realism,” McIntosh painted not just what she saw, but what she felt. A strong believer in art for everyone, she introduced craft workshops that invited guests to create meaningful art from jewelry, paint, and nature-found materials—an inclusive spirit that remains central to the program today.

For over 70 years, the Artist in Residence Program showcased diverse artistic styles and mediums, including mural painting. The program ran for over 70 years and was reinstated in 2022, rekindling a tradition that continues to inspire creativity.

See the 2025 Artist in Residence Lineup below:

Holly Wright is a pastel artist based in Santa Fe and Tucson, drawn to the expressive spirit of animals and known for her bold, contemporary style. After years of navigating the high-stakes world of global manufacturing and tech, she traded boardrooms for the studio, pursuing a lifelong pull toward creative work. Whether she’s painting, hiking desert trails, making micaceous pottery, or perfecting her mole recipe, Holly brings authenticity and soul to everything she creates.

Tammie Dickerson is a Kansas City-based plein air and daily painter whose vibrant works in ink, watercolor, and oil capture the spirit of the landscape with expressive energy and a deep love for the process. A nationally recognized artist, Tammie has earned numerous awards, residencies, and exhibition honors, including Best of Show and First Place wins in major plein air events across the country. As a passionate mentor, keynote speaker, and active member of multiple art organizations, she continues to inspire through her daily painting practice, workshops, and community involvement.

Merging playful symbolism with bold sculptural form, Jessica Bell crafts immersive public art that invites viewers to unpack layered stories rooted in both personal experience and collective memory. Her work bridges traditional craft and contemporary design, often drawing on themes of motherhood, identity, and overlooked everyday objects to spark deeper reflection. A recipient of numerous honors—including the Red Bull Artist Grant and a museum exhibition at the Museum of the Southwest—Bell also shares her expertise as a sculpture professor, shaping both landscapes and minds through her dynamic creative practice.

Ramona Lapsley is a printmaker whose vibrant, nature-inspired works reflect a deep-rooted connection to the Colorado landscape, from native birds and sport fish to sandstone formations and wild botanicals. A lifelong artist and former art teacher, she now creates full-time from her studio at the Manitou Art Center, where Pike’s Peak and the Garden of the Gods offer daily inspiration. Through her prints and workshops, Ramona continues to share her passion for art and the natural world with a sense of wonder and place.

Julissa Contreras has her off-Broadway debut with her play Vamonos at INTAR theater in spring 2023. As a writer, performer, podcaster, educator, and advocate, Julissa focuses on storytelling as a framework for the expansion of our collective consciousness and the preservation of our nuanced yet meaningful histories. Julissa leans into her perspective of the world as a Dominicana from the Bronx as well as those of the surrounding communities that have socialized her experience.

Based in Colorado, Kate Fitzpatrick is a visual artist whose vibrant, symbol-rich paintings celebrate the emotional lives of animals and the complex beauty of the natural world. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design with a background in film, writing, and illustration, she combines expressive brushwork, shimmering textures, and a personal visual language to explore the wonder and fragility of life on Earth. As an emerging muralist, her work has appeared in public spaces through projects like the Fort Collins Mural Project, Fraser Mountain Mural Festival, and Roswell Arts Fund, inviting communities to reconnect with nature through color, story, and empathy.

Lorraine Danzo is a Colorado Springs-based painter whose bold, expressive landscapes and animal portraits celebrate the vibrant spirit of the natural world. Trained at Pratt Institute and formerly a professor in New York and New Jersey, she brings a rich foundation in art disciplines to her intuitive, gestural work—layered with color, emotion, and texture. Represented by galleries in Colorado and the Southwest, Lorraine continues to explore both realism and abstraction as a way to connect viewers with the beauty and vitality she sees in the world around her.

Each residency includes interactive workshops, artist-led pop-ups, and opportunities to observe the creative process firsthand. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or curious first-timer, there’s a place for you in the community of creativity at YMCA of the Rockies.

Check the Activity Guide for upcoming sessions and events with our artists in residence.