Reviewed by Artists

Montello Foundation

Montello, Nevada, United States

Montello Foundation logo
5.0(2 reviews)· 100% recommend
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About

The Montello Foundation, established to support artists who enhance our understanding of nature and its need for protection, offers a unique residency experience in the Nevada desert. Since its inception, the Foundation has been dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation and awareness of nature's fragility. Artists are encouraged to engage in creative exploration, contemplation, and innovation, reflecting on humanity's relationship with the natural world. Located in an isolated valley in Northeastern Nevada, the Foundation offers a retreat designed for solitary reflection amidst the desert landscape. The residency provides artists with a space that supports both their physical needs and their artistic work. The main structure, designed with minimal environmental impact, includes separate areas for living and working, promoting creativity and inspiration. Each year, the Foundation invites six artists from various disciplines and career stages to engage with the desert environment and the local community. The selection process for the residency is conducted by the Foundation's board members, focusing on the quality and relevance of the artists' work to the Foundation's mission. The residency experience is transformative, offering artists a chance to recalibrate and reassess their connection to nature and their creative process. The Foundation's commitment to solitude and reflection allows artists to immerse themselves in their work, free from the usual distractions of daily life. This approach has a profound impact on the residents, as evidenced by their reflections and the work they produce during their stay.

Rating Breakdown

Location
5.0
Studio
5.0
Professional
5.0
Support
5.0
Community
4.5

Reviews(2)

A
Anonymous
Mar 2026
5

The Montello Fiundation was an incredible experience- 2 weeks in solitude in the pristine high desert of Nevada. The residency house is beautiful and simple, with everything one needs for a comfortable stay, and the adjoining studio has fabulous views of north and south facing mountains, along with the most incredible sun rises and sunsets. You are literally alone with nature, the sounds of the wind, coyotes in the distance. It was an amazingly peaceful and productive time for me! **make sure to rent a 4 wheel drive car though, as the road in can be a bit treacherous!

Location 5Studio 5Professional 5Support 5Community 5
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A
Anonymous
Mar 2026
5

This residency is for the adventurous and the solitary individual only, not the faint of heart. If you are willing to break away from technology, live off-grid, commune with nature and are comfortable alone 20 miles into the undeveloped Nevada desert landscape, this residency is for you. You are provided with a simple cabin with an attached studio for two weeks. The experience will challenge every sense of yourself and your relationship to the world. It's a detox from civilization and a place to commune solely with your work and nature. No cell service, no internet, no people. This place will stimulate you sensory perception and you will come out enriched and strong...that is if being in your own head for two weeks doesn't break you.

Location 5Studio 5Professional 5Support 5Community 4
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