We are excited to introduce Savanah Leaf, one of 99 Canal's artists in residence, using Studio 5 throughout the summer to conceptualise a new personal project to be presented in the fall.
While in residence at 99 Canal, a conversation between the artist Savanah Leaf, choreographer Kyle Abraham, and curator Habiba Hopson took place on the 24th of July 2025, following the screening of RUN + RUN 002, two single-channel videos functioning as a self-portrait that explores the physicality of the Black female form. Starring the artist, William Richards and Willem Dafoe, the short film series was previously exhibited at Hauser & Wirth, Los Angeles and SFMoMA.
Presented as the final episode of 5x5, 99 Canal’s annual performance series, the talk engages questions of performance, authorship, vulnerability, and the act of being seen.
Savanah Leaf is an artist, filmmaker, and 2012 Olympian whose work bridges cinema and contemporary art. Her debut feature “Earth Mama” premiered at Sundance to critical acclaim and was released theatrically by A24 and Film4.
The film earned her the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut, a BIFA for Best Debut Director, and placement on the National Board of Review’s list of top debut films of 2023. Leaf’s film-based installations have been exhibited at institutions including Hauser & Wirth and SFMOMA, and will soon be on view at Crystal Bridges and the Pérez Art Museum Miami.
Studio Program | 99 Canal
The Studio Program is a one to three-month opportunity for emerging and mid-career artists based both within and outside New York City.
Collaborating with artists, galleries, and institutions, our selection process draws on the insights of the local creative community to ensure a continuously diverse and vibrant studio cohort.
The program initially launched in 2022 as a response to the lack of affordable spaces in Manhattan and provides access to an intimate and context-specific environment to work in.