UNDERSTUDY
ART INCUBATOR 
SPACE

Understudy is a 700 square foot arts and culture incubator space dedicated to creative exploration. Understudy provides a free, central, and innovative platform to artists and creative groups for experimentation.Located in the Colorado Convention Center (CCC) at 890 C 14th St., Understudy is operated, curated, and funded by the Denver Theatre District.

Current Installation

Fynbos Abstracted: An Exploration of Houseplants from South Africa’s Floral Kingdom
The South African fynbos is an ecology like no other. It is the most floristically diverse ecosystem on the planet and is dependent on fire for renewal. Many common houseplants are endemic to this extraordinary South African shrubland, including string of bananas, asparagus fern, pencil cactus, aloe, pelargoniums, heather, African daisies, and amaryllis. While these species are widely available at garden centers, they are rarely planted together indoors. This type of specimen-driven planting—one plant per pot—removes interdependencies that sustain plant health in the wild. This project contends that we can become better stewards of indoor plants by integrating the mechanics of their native ecologies into the design of the armature, soil, and plant palette. Using field research conducted at the De Hoop Nature Reserve as the basis of design, this project aims to create indoor armatures for three plant communities– limestone, sandstone, and granite–tied to soil type. Through these imaginative displays, we can connect viewers to the extraordinary complexity of the fynbos, a globally threatened environment, and to the plants in their own homes.
May 8 - June 8, 2025
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Current and Upcoming Installations

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Fynbos Abstracted: An Exploration of Houseplants from South Africa’s Floral Kingdom
May 8 - June 8, 2025
Cali Pfaff of Studio Campo
The South African fynbos is an ecology like no other. It is the most floristically diverse ecosystem on the planet and is dependent on fire for renewal. Many common houseplants are endemic to this extraordinary South African shrubland, including string of bananas, asparagus fern, pencil cactus, aloe, pelargoniums, heather, African daisies, and amaryllis. While these species are widely available at garden centers, they are rarely planted together indoors. This type of specimen-driven planting—one plant per pot—removes interdependencies that sustain plant health in the wild. This project contends that we can become better stewards of indoor plants by integrating the mechanics of their native ecologies into the design of the armature, soil, and plant palette. Using field research conducted at the De Hoop Nature Reserve as the basis of design, this project aims to create indoor armatures for three plant communities– limestone, sandstone, and granite–tied to soil type. Through these imaginative displays, we can connect viewers to the extraordinary complexity of the fynbos, a globally threatened environment, and to the plants in their own homes.
https://studio-campo.com/View installation
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Past Installations

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Heard to be Seen, Seen to be Heard
March 27 - April 27, 2025
Emma Balder
"Heard to be Seen, Seen to be Heard" is an exhibition and collaborative project between Artist Emma Balder and formerly unhoused residents of Saint Francis Apartments (SFA). Balder held three collaborative sessions, featuring dialogue and regenerative art-making, at SFA in September 2024. The residents created a reconstructed painting-turned-sculpture based on Balder’s studio practice - they collectively painted an abstract artwork, then cut it up, rearranged the pieces, and reconfigured them around a boulder-like structure. Alongside this process, they created drawings and writings as an alternative approach to processing hardship. Activities aligned with discussions about residents’ past and current struggles, the emotions associated with them, and determining actions to overcome their challenges. The culminating artwork symbolizes resilience and new understanding: how reframing difficult experiences can be an opportunity for learning, growth, and healing. The project not only addresses the emotional, physical, and financial barriers people face transitioning out of homelessness, but also seeks to recognize the dignity in every human being.
http://www.emmabalder.com/View installation
Taste Test: Art In Tandem
January 13 - March 16, 2025
Various Artists
Understudy’s Taste Test pairs Three Primary Artists with Recommended Secondary Artists to create collaborative works showcased in our Window Box Gallery, visible from 14th Street and the light rail. Featuring multimedia installations, sculptures, and augmented reality, this vibrant outdoor exhibition celebrates creativity and mentorship. Explore the power of collaboration as we look toward Understudy's next evolution this spring.
View installation
Botanical Stories
October 19 - November 24, 2024
Maki Teshima
"Botanical Stories" invite visitors to connect with nature through hand dyed textile art created by Maki Teshima. The installation uses silk organza dyed entirely with organic materials sourced from local restaurants, flower shops, and the gardens and kitchens of Maki and her friends. Each hue tells a unique story, reflecting Maki's personal connections to these colors. The transparent fabric layers overlap, revealing new visuals as viewers move through the space, creating an ever-changing display of nature.
https://www.tomorrowisalwaysnew.com/View installation
We Will Be Strange
August 30 - October 6, 2024
Tricia Waddell
Discover Tricia Waddell's "we will be strange," a captivating exhibition that transforms personal memories of alienation into life-size, modern totem-like sculptures. Experience an immersive, dream-like journey that challenges you to confront and connect with the hidden emotions we often keep to ourselves.
https://www.studioblkbird.com/contactView installation
Christine Nguyen
July 11 - August 18, 2024
Christine Nguyen
Dive into "Cosmographies Imagined", Christine Nguyen's solo exhibition exploring the connection between the microcosm and macrocosm. Encounter otherworldly landscapes shaped by salt crystal sculptures and intricate installations, where ceramic and porcelain pieces inspired by sea life and microscopic forms create a captivating cosmos. Reflect on our place in the universe and the need to care for our environment in this journey of wonder and discovery.
https://www.christinenguyen.art/View installation
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