Nef Studio, the first entirely new studio built after 1937, was donated by esteemed photographer, explorer, author, and MacDowell Fellow Evelyn Steffanson Nef in 1992. Endowed funds for the studio’s maintenance in perpetuity and an annual Fellowship for photographers were given in addition to funds for construction. Mrs. Nef said she had known about MacDowell all her life and that it gave her particular pleasure to be able to give the program such a gift.
The timber frame structure was designed by architect Richard Monahon to provide abundant natural light and functional flexibility. Cathedral ceilings, lofty windows, beautifully planed beams, and freedom from tree overgrowth result in an active interplay of light and shadow. The studio also has a two-story living room, a spacious production darkroom, and a sleeping loft.
