Every year, The Florence Academy of Art offers students from the graduating class an opportunity to bridge the gap between their education and an independent artistic career. After completing the three-year Drawing & Painting or Sculpture programs, a small number of students become Graduates in Residence and are offered a studio at the Academy for one more year. These students are chosen by the faculty for their understanding of the FAA curriculum and their desire to dig deeper into their own practice. This assembly of “fourth year” students come from different backgrounds and experiences. However, what unites them is their desire to deepen their knowledge after training at the FAA. The Graduate in Residence Program is an opportunity to explore methods outside of the curriculum, experiment with different subjects, and pursue a personal artistic direction. As part of the Academy’s lineage-based teaching tradition, FAA Founder Daniel Graves mentors the Graduates in Residence throughout the year. In this way, the knowledge and principles of the Academy are continually passed from one generation of artists to the next, strengthening its enduring tradition.
We are proud to present the 2025-2026 Graduates in Residence: Ronja Arleij and Gabriel Montechiari e Silva, for the Sculpture Program, and Silvia De Arcangelis, Laura Espinosa, Andrea Kirlieva, and Jikke Ten Cate for the Drawing & Painting Program.
Ronja Arleij
Ronja Arleij, is a graduate of the Sculpture Program. For her excellence in Écorché Sculpture, Ronja was awarded the Golden Pelvis award in her second year at the FAA, and Best Sculpture Drawing of the Year in her final year of study. Ronja’s goal is to develop a better dialogue between her teaching and her artistic practice.
Ronja Arleij, life-size final project made in her third year of study in water-based clay.
“I’m an educator and artist who loves inspiring learning and exploring creativity through hands-on work. I come from a background in mentoring and guidance counseling, which continues to shape how I support and connect with students. My love of creativity and art is what led me to study at the Florence Academy, where I continue to grow as an artist. Alongside teaching, I maintain an active studio practice. This year, I’m focused on growing as a teacher, building confidence in my own projects and improving my sculpture portraiture skills. I also want to develop a professional portfolio and take time to reflect on how my experiences in education and art can come together to shape the direction of my future career.”
To see more of Ronja’s work, please visit:
Instagram: @ronjaarleij
Gabriel Montechiari e Silva
Gabriel Montechiari e Silva was awarded the Best Sculpture of the Year in his third and final year of study. As he continues to develop his practice, his goal is to further strengthen his sculpting skills, building a solid foundation for the dialogue he seeks to create between himself and his audience.
Gabriel Montechiari e Silva, 3/4 life-size reclining figure, completed in his third year of study in water-based clay
“I am a 37-year-old sculptor from Brazil. I am interested in figurative art as a framework that can offer both a set of constraints in which to exercise creativity and also as a platform for communication with the viewer. This can be through work that is adjacent to a tradition (thus understandable in a rational sense) or through the innate empathic response that the human figure can evoke. During my residency at the FAA, a multicultural institution of excellence, I am reflecting on my own cultural background and on how to best present these cultural elements to our community. I have also been considering a pathway outside of tradition, hoping to find a personal aesthetic language in the exploration of color, texture, and translucency through material experimentation during the casting process.”
To see more of Gabriel’s work, please visit:
Instagram: @gabrielmontechiari
Silvia De Arcangelis
Silvia De Arcangelis studied in both London and Rome before completing the FAA’s Drawing & Painting Program. Her experience in Art History influences her painting practice and inspires her as an artist. Silvia was awarded Best Figure Painting in her second year of study.
Silvia De Arcangelis, Final project, Portrait with Hands, completed in her third year of study
“Entering the Florence Academy fulfilled a lifelong dream and has been a transformative experience. Through traditional training and the study of the Old Masters, I have grown both technically and personally. Sharing knowledge through teaching has allowed me to refine my own practice and develop a more conscious and mature vision of painting. As a Graduate in Residence, I am grateful for this opportunity to share a studio with three exceptionally talented colleagues and to have the support of a strong artistic community around me. I am excited to finally find my own voice through painting, moving beyond academic studies.”
To see more of Silvia’s work, please visit:
Instagram: @silviadearcangelis
Laura Espinosa
Laura Espinosa was surrounded by drawing and painting during her childhood in Colombia, which influenced her to pursue traditional training in Florence with determination and desire to become an artist. Laura was awarded Best Painting of the Year in her final year of study.
Laura Espinosa, Final project, Portrait with Hands, painted in her third year of study
“Studying at The Florence Academy of Art has shaped me in ways I never imagined. Learning the traditional methods and techniques from such incredible teachers has been fundamental, but what left the greatest impression on me is the discipline and perseverance the Academy instills — learning to show up and work even on the days when you don’t feel like it, and trusting the process. In my work, I’m especially drawn to portraiture and the human figure, searching for a strong sense of presence and beauty, and using the portrait as a way to discover my own voice. This Fourth Year feels like an important moment in that search. I love setting big challenges for myself, and this year I’m pushing beyond what I ever imagined I could do — especially through exploring fashion and its relationship to the figure. Teaching alongside this feels like a natural extension of my own learning, allowing me to connect with students and share the process we are all moving through together. More than anything, I feel grateful to be here — motivated, dedicated, and excited for what is still unfolding.”
To see more of Laura’s work, please visit:
Instagram: @lauraespinosaart
Andrea Kirlieva
Andrea Kirlieva was awarded Best Figure Painting in her final year of study. Since graduating, she has continued to pursue a deeper understanding of creativity and technique, further developing her artistic practice.
Andrea Kirlieva, The Morning After, Oil on linen, 130 x 170 cm, 2026
“I am very delighted to have this opportunity to share a studio on campus with three of my colleagues, while being able to teach at the FAA. The three years at the Florence Academy are an intense learning experience — one that you finish feeling proud of yourself for the effort you have put in throughout the years, while also realizing how much more there is to discover in the world of painting. This year is an opportunity for me to deepen my understanding of form, colour, and drawing, while at the same time exploring ideas and searching for ways to bridge creativity and technique. What I love most about having our studio on campus is that it allows us to talk about our work and show it to other artists who were our teachers just a few months ago, learning from each other and evolving together.”
To see more of Andrea’s work, please visit:
Instagram: @andreakirlieva
Jikke Ten Cate
Jikke ten Cate, from the Netherlands, was awarded First Place in the 2024 Art Renewal Center (ARC) Scholarship Competition and Best Cast Painting in her second year of study. During her fourth-year residency at the Academy, Jikke would like to focus on developing a body of works that conveys a more personal artistic voice.
Jikke ten Cate, Final project, Portrait with Hands, painted in her third year of study
“During this year, I’m focusing on taking everything I’ve learned over the past three years and applying it to work that is more personal and meaningful to me. I enjoy painting alongside my fellow fourth-year students, sharing ideas, and learning from each of them. I’ve always loved still life and portrait painting, and this year I’m pushing myself to take on more ambitious work, both technically and in terms of expression. At the same time, I’m grateful for the opportunity to teach, which has been an invaluable part of this experience. Learning how to guide others, share knowledge, and provide constructive feedback has deepened my understanding of my own practice, and I can’t imagine a more supportive and patient environment in which to do this than at the FAA. I’m excited to see how my work and ideas will grow over the course of the year.”
To see more of Jikke‘s work, please visit:
Instagram: @jikke_cate
The Graduate in Residence Program allows students who have completed the FAA curriculum with excellence to continue to develop their artistic practice in a supportive environment, with the help of instructors and peers. As they prepare to become independent artists, they become role models and, more importantly, valued members of the FAA community. Congratulations to Ronja, Gabriel, Silvia, Laura, Andrea, and Jikke, and best wishes for continued success in your artistic endeavors!
