As Chelsea finally starts to wake up from its summer slumber, Pace Gallery played host to a one night only presentation of the de Kooning Trust’s artist-in-residence program on Wednesday, September 4. Lisa de Kooning, daughter of Willem, founded and ran the East Hamptons residency for two years, until she sadly passed away last year. Now, her 17-year-old daughter Lucy de Kooning-Villeneuve has taken over the program and is managing it as she starts college at the New School. This year’s exhibition included Alexander Massouras’s “Divers” paintings, Aakash Nihalani’s graphic pasted shapes, and Carlos Soto’s moody video piece. ARTINFO spoke to de Kooning-Villeneuve about the artists she chose and her favorite de Kooning.

Your mother began the artist in residency program in 2010. Why was it important for you to continue with it?

She actually made the first attempt in 2009 with just one artist and continued to grow it into something larger until she passed. It was her thing, her way of giving back and in some ways the manifest of her generosity. She acquired a property next to her father’s studio, and designed and almost completed a building dedicated to the residency program with two studios for artists to create their work. When she passed away last November, honoring her legacy became extremely important to me and what could be better than continuing the one thing she felt so passionate about?

Are you daunted by the task of taking over this program?

I know I still need to have a much better understanding of what it means to support the artists in order to continue her vision of the program. However, I don’t feel scared or intimidated by it. I am rather excited for the opportunity to learn.

Are you currently in school? Are you working on this program at the same time?

Yes, I just enrolled at the New School: Eugene Lang. Although I ultimately plan to major in art history, I am currently interested in a few science courses including cognitive neuroscience. And yes, I will continue to work on the residency program at the same time.

How did you choose the artists on view?

Aakash and Carlos actually did the residency program last year, which was a great success. My mother believed it was beneficial for an artist to repeat the residency and return the following year, so when I began to look for artists, it was clear to me Aakash and Carlos needed to be a part of this. In addition, early last year my mother was shown Alex’s diver pieces and immediately connected to his work. She wanted him to come this year.

Do you hope to eventually head the de Kooning foundation?

I think this is better question to answer when I graduate because as of now my main focus is college and the residency program.

What’s your favorite de Kooning?

If you were to ask me this question as a child I would have most likely said the painting that provides the best hiding spot in the studio. However, there are a couple paintings that are fairly iconic of my childhood that I could consider some favorites including the one my sister nicknamed, “hurricane with a door.”