The Crit Lab is inclusive. We cultivate safe brave spaces for all art and all artists.

The Lab intensifies focus, helps structure studio practice, and gives artists the language to speak about their work in their own voice. Through intensive, guided, engaged viewing and discussion, the artist is supported in pushing boundaries in the work.

The Crit Lab is Mobile, IRL, Virtual, Adaptable

From 7 IRL Labs in 3 Cities to mobile virtual Labs with artists from around the country. Labs are led by Patricia Miranda and organized with in studios around the country with artists in their region. Labs meet in Port Chester, NY; Boston, MA; and Pawtucket RI as well as via Zoom (all Labs are virtual until it is safe to meet in person). In the Labs we build trust and community, engage intensively with the work, gain a common language, and nurture bodies of ideas over time.

The Crit Lab is a supportive forum for exploration and discussion of new, vulnerable, in progress, and experimental works and ideas. The connection and community transcend the Lab. The ongoing, intensive, inclusive, space of the meetings encourages work to flourish and grow in critical depth and perception, while building a strong community of committed artists.

The Crit Lab offers several ways to engage:

click on each Lab for dates, registration etc.

Main Labs

5 month sessions, with 5 concentrated full day meetings and max seven artists. The same artists meet for all five sessions. Each artist's work has a 30-40 minute individual critique. Artists have a critique every session.

Next Level Labs (NxtLvL)

Structured the same as the Main Labs with a more academic focus, including creating a studio plan, additional readings, discussion, and professional development. NxtLvl includes a private meeting to develop an individual curriculum for the session, including creating artist families, individualized reading lists, and professional development needs of each artist.

One-on-One

Labs are private single or ongoing advising and critique sessions with Crit Lab faculty.

Alt MFA

A multi-day intensive, with small group critiques from Visiting artists, Artist Lectures, Critical Theory discussions, and studio/gallery visits. Our first Alt MFA was November 12-15, 2020 and was an inspiring success. 2021 will be a hybrid event. Details coming soon!

The Crit Lab Italy Residency

At the Venice Biennale and RUC residency in the Italian Alps. 2022 we will visit Venice, Padua, Milan, and RUC in Cividate Commune, and will include an exhibition and collaborative projects.

New Labs in the Works

MaxLab: 5 sessions total. 4 sessions with a different faculty member each session. 5th session is a group crit with all 4 faculty and the artists. Max 6 participants.

Stay tuned.

Short Lab: The Short Lab takes place over 5 months in 10 shorter more frequent sessions. Artists rotate critique every other session.

Critical Reading Lab: Stand alone or add-on to a current Lab. Discussion-only meetings centered around a series of readings. 90 min/month/5mo.

Stay tuned.

All Labs Include:

The Crit Lab website is a public space where current Crit Lab artists are featured in several ways:

1. A free Artist page

2. The Crit Lab Flat File, a space to purchase work. 10% of proceeds go to Color of Change and Earth Justice (free for all current Labbers, $45/year for those not currently in a Lab)

3. A private Facebook group for current and participants only; we share images from crits, articles, commentary, resources and more. Access is permanent upon participating in any Crit lab.

The Crit Lab plans regular events at galleries and studios.

The Crit Lab newsletter sends occasional updates on the Crit Lab, MAPSpace, Patricia Miranda, and artists from the Labs. Sign up for our mailing list here.

The Crit Lab Travels

When we are safe to meet in groups, The Crit Lab IRL travels.

Form a Crit Lab in your community. With a space large enough to accommodate 8 people and wall space to hang work- we can set up a group. Groups require 7 people to run. Additional costs may incur for travel, lodging and space.

Private Consultation, Critique, Studio Visit, Professional Biz Assistance.

Patricia Miranda and select Crit Lab faculty are available for private studio visits, critique, and ongoing consulting on your work and professional practice.

The Lab offers consulting on building a sustainable studio and professional practice utilizing Miranda's 18+ years of teaching professional practice in undergrad, grad and community organizations. Our virtual assistant artist Florencia Escudero (Flo) offers technical digital assistance organizing digital files, preparing portfolio images, websites, research and more.

Check the consulting page or contact us for more info.