Artist Residency — William XO
MATI Mesaria welcomes artist and musician William XO as the first Artist in Residence of its 2026 public program Resonance.
During his residency in Santorini, William XO will explore the relationship between sound and painting through a site-responsive creative process inspired by the island’s landscape, natural resources, and cultural environment. Alongside the completion of his album Oneiros, the artist will create a new series of paintings and a curated sound experience for the permanent exhibition Confession.
About the Artist
William XO’s practice is deeply enmeshed with the environments in which it is developed, drawing direct inspiration from natural landscapes and their sensory impact. During his residency in Santorini, he will engage in a process of research and creation informed by the island’s geography, natural resources, and cultural narratives.
His work moves across sound and visual art, dissolving boundaries between the two mediums. In his own words:
My work moves between sound and image, seeking to dissolve the boundaries between what we hear and what we see. During a recent music residency in the northern wilderness of Ibiza, I created my EP MY EMOTIONS (released April 10). The songs were born from open skies, salt air, and endless Mediterranean light. Immersed in nature, I spent my days outdoors, writing music and painting simultaneously, allowing each medium to nourish the other. Sound influenced color; color shaped rhythm.
In Santorini, this dialogue between disciplines will continue through the development of his upcoming album Oneiros, alongside a new series of paintings responding to the island’s topography and atmosphere.
Residency Structure
June 2026
Research & Creation Residency
September 2026
Public Presentation
Exhibition + Live Performance
Final Presentation and Music Live Performance
The residency will culminate in a public event at MATI Mesaria in September 2026, presenting the outcome of the artist’s work through exhibition and live performance.
