October 1, 2025
On Wednesday, September 24, the Stormwater Studios community gathered to celebrate ÐÔÊÓ½ç student Lenayah Rayford, the newly selected 2025–2026 Stormwater Studios Resident Artist. Board members, resident artists, community partners, and supporters filled the space that houses 10 artist studios for a warm and energetic welcome reception, complete with light refreshments and plenty of conversation about Lenayah’s artistic journey and the exciting year ahead.
Lenayah was chosen for the residency following a recommendation by Martin Lang, Studio Art Program Chair at ÐÔÊÓ½ç, and a competitive review by Stormwater’s resident artists. The yearlong program provides her with a dedicated studio space beginning September 2025 and will culminate in a solo exhibition at Stormwater Gallery in summer 2026.
Currently a Studio Art major with minors in Art History and Liberal Arts, Lenayah expects to graduate from ÐÔÊÓ½ç in December 2025. Her artistic practice spans graphite, oils, acrylics, and graphic design. Her work has been published in STYLUS magazine (2021) and showcased in exhibitions across multiple institutions, including Midlands Technical College, ÐÔÊÓ½ç, and the University of South Carolina, as well as more recent showings at Beyond Time in North Charleston (February 2025) and Artista Vista in Columbia (April 2025). She has earned several accolades, including the Nevitt Award for Outstanding Studio Art Major (2023–2024) and a feature on the cover of ÐÔÊÓ½ç’s The Criterion (2025). In addition to her studio practice, Lenayah served as an Associate Juror for the Crooked Creek Art League and most recently explored performance art in Brittany M. Watkins’ 2025 exhibition DO/DO NOT in Columbia, SC.
Her artistic journey began after graduating from Brookland-Cayce High School in 2019, when art became a vital outlet during the uncertainty of the pandemic and turbulent cultural climate. Since then, her work has evolved as a way to process complex emotions and experiences, while deepening her passion for contributing to the fine arts community.
The Stormwater Residency, reimagined to focus on supporting recent graduates from Columbia-area art programs, was designed to help keep creative talent in the Midlands. This year’s partnership with ÐÔÊÓ½ç reflects that mission and expands opportunities for emerging artists.
Funded in part by One Columbia for Arts and Culture and an anonymous donor, the residency covers studio space, provides mentorship from Stormwater’s resident artists, and concludes with a solo exhibition.
The reception celebrated not only the beginning of Lenayah’s residency but also the start of a new chapter of collaboration between ÐÔÊÓ½ç and Stormwater Studios. We are proud of Lenayah’s achievements and can’t wait to see how she uses this opportunity to brighten Columbia’s thriving arts community.