Fort Collins Artist to Discuss Kitchen-Based Photography Project November 14
Fort Collins residents can hear from Sidian Liu, the artist behind the current exhibition "The Conch Girl in Fort Collins," during a free reception and artist talk November 14 at The Lincoln Center.
The reception runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in The Lincoln Center Art Gallery, with Liu's talk scheduled from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Columbine Room. The exhibition remains on view through December 19.
Liu's project began in 2022 after she moved from China to New York City in 2021. She asks strangers to use their kitchens alone, then prepares meals for them with minimal in-person contact. The exchange explores the isolation and social barriers newcomers face when building connections in unfamiliar places.
Liu photographs each kitchen visit and collects responses from hosts. She wheat-pastes these images on New York City construction boards alongside self-portraits, a QR code, and the question "May I use your kitchen?" The posters function as both public art and an open invitation for participation.
The Center for Fine Art Photography brought Liu to Fort Collins in September 2024 through the Denis Roussel Fellowship, which provides a $1,500 stipend and professional support to emerging photographers working with alternative or experimental processes, according to the organization. The fellowship requires recipients to complete a residency project and exhibition in Fort Collins.
Artist residencies have become integral to Fort Collins' cultural development over the past decade. The City of Fort Collins supports visiting artists through its Art in Public Places program, which celebrated 30 years in 2025, while The Lincoln Center regularly hosts exhibitions tied to residency projects.
The Denis Roussel Fellowship, named for an artist who died in 2017, is among the final programs of the Center for Fine Art Photography, which will cease operations at the end of January 2025, according to the organization's website.
The Lincoln Center opened in 1978 and underwent major renovation in 2010. The city-owned facility serves as Fort Collins' primary venue for visual and performing arts, hosting rotating contemporary art exhibitions, concerts, theater productions and community events.
Liu's exhibition includes photographs and recipes from her Fort Collins residency. Limited copies of her publication "The Conch Girl's Cookbook: Issue Two, October 2025, Fort Collins" will be available free during regular gallery hours on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Light refreshments will be served during the reception.
The Lincoln Center is located at 417 West Magnolia Street. The Art Gallery is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m. and before most performances. Admission is free.