Late-afternoon sunlight filters through a window the size of a Hula-Hoop in Aaron Glassons’ revamped homestead cabin in Landers. The soft glow touches artwork on the walls and shelves — some his own pieces, others created by artists who have stayed here from around the world.
“As someone who has participated in a lot of artist residencies and gained a lot from them, I’ve always wanted to start my own to give that back,” he says. “The model for the house has been somewhat of a dream come true.”
The accomplished painter, sculptor, and designer from New Zealand has lived in the United States for 11 years, though his art and exhibitions take him everywhere. While he is working on large-scale relief murals from his other home base in Mexico City or while traveling, the 400-square foot structure and its detached studio host a monthlong artist residency.
The name of his refurbished 1956 homestead, Jana Koya, combines its street name with the Japanese word for “shack.”
Photo by alexandra Lopez
Many of the artists experience the Mojave Desert for the first time. “I encourage them to connect with the environment and the community,” he says. “I introduce them to people who might be able to help with their art practice.”
Glasson and friend Prescott McCarthy purchased the property in 2020: a “scrappy abandoned cabin” built in 1956 on 2.5 acres. “With our friends, we did 99 percent of the home’s design by hand,” Glasson says, using natural, found, and donated materials. The result is a livable sculpture, much of it mirroring his own artistic language, from furniture to cabinetry.
“I wasn’t sure what the plan was when we bought it,” he says, but it evolved into something meaningful — a home, a creative workspace, and a gift to fellow artists. Jana Koya, now solely owned by Glasson, has hosted 10 residencies so far.
“Everyone who has come through seems to have had a fulfilling experience,” he says. “The house and land are very sculptural, and the desert is such a peaceful and expansive place. That quality is reflected in what people make. Some have explored new styles or materials or had small breakthroughs. It’s been surprising to see what happens when they’re out here.”
