Update: A week ago (February 9) we asked you, our readers, to help us continue building this list. And you did! The original list of “101” didn’t include every Black artist making work in Texas (though it kicked off the conversation), and the following names are some notable omissions.
As this overall list continues to grow, please come back often, and visit the artist websites we have listed below, as well as the comments section of this article (and on our social media accounts) for the names of even more Black artists living and working Texas.
Israel McCloud
Ayanna McCloud
Julie Devries
Colby Deal
Irene Reece
El Franco Lee II
Dawolu Jabari Anderson
Regina Agu
Ann Johnson
Autumn Knight
Rosine Kouamen
Massa Lemu
M’Kina Tapscott
Arnea Williams
Sapphire Williams
James C. Watkins
Ike E. Morgan
Kentra Gilbert
Olaniyi R. Akindiya (AKIRASH)
Lenard Brown
Anitra Blanton
Madelyn Sneed-Grays
Jamie Robertson
Carris Adams
Erin Carty
robert legans-johnson
Inyang Essien
Emmanuel Gillespie
Kijana Martin
Chris Herod
Andrew Scott
Dr. Clarence Talley, Sr.
Jess W. Coleman
VET
Theresa Newsome
Edward Warren Harris
Thomas Stokes II
Celica Ledesma
****
Black History Month is here. I wrote here last year about the need for art spaces to work with Black artists beyond the month of February, which is, historically, when museums and other institutions focus their attention on Black artists at the expense of truly finding ways, year-round, to diversify the exhibitions and collections of largely white institutions.
To that end, we have compiled a list of 101 Black artists in Texas (myself included), who are actively making work that engages with contemporary art criticism. This list can be referred to the other eleven months of the year.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it is a start, and you would be hard-pressed to find another list of Black Texas artists this expansive. Believe me: we checked.
Our list ranges from artists whose works are represented in multiple national and international museums and collections, to mid-career artists, to emerging artists — some with their first couple of exhibitions within the past year. Artists’ website links are embedded in their names, while a mention in Glasstire, where applicable, is linked in the image associated with each artist or their work.
Special thanks to artist Jenelle Esparza, Rigoberto Luna at Presa House, and my colleagues Christina Rees, William Sarradet, Jennifer Battaglia, Seth Mittag and Brandon Zech, who helped me compile this list.
If we omitted your favorite artist, please send us a link in the comments section below, or on this story’s link on our Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Let’s keep building this list.
Austin
EndsBeginning, 2020, Free motion sewing + charcoal on cloth, 42 in x 33 in.
The Future is A Constant Wake. Artists: Ariel Rene Jackson, Micheal J. Love.
untitled (our misunderstanding of time, of ourselves), Detail, 2020, Rocks, watches, simulacrum grass
Tammie Rubin, Always & Forever (forever ever ever) No. 2, Slipcast & handbuilt porcelain, underglaze, pigmented clay
by Ryan Runcie.
“Portrait No. 4,” by Alannah Tiller.
Dallas/Fort Worth
Chesley Antoinette’s Tignon
“Porch Monkeys,”-Jessica Bell, 2018-2020.
Jeremy Biggers
Nostalgia-Sanh Brown Bowers.
Ciara Elle Bryant, “Server 3.0”, at Ro2 Gallery in Dallas
“A woman’s work,” Missy Burton.
“Hat Lady,” by LaShonda Cooks.
Jer’Lisa Devezin sculpture “Kiss my ass.”
“Happy Birthday Misi!” by Tiara Unque Francois.
Untitled work by Dr. Valerie Bennett Gillespie.
Daniel M. Gunn (designer) and winner of Perot Museum’s Stair Project.
Riley Holloway Home installation view.
“Untitiled,” Nitashia Johnson
Ratification Grid 2020, Annette Lawrence,
Poly-Knit Fabric Flag, 5′ x 8′ 2020
Sam Lao’s Muse 004 wall rug. Photo: Sam Lao
Letitia Huckaby at Artpace
Xxavier Edward Carter’s-Start livin’ in a New World.
By Niki Dionne
Oshay Green.
Jammie Holmes, Four Brown Chairs, 2020, acrylic on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art.
Vicki Meek: “Stony the Road WeTrod.”
Adam W. McKinney.
“Tignon,” by JD Moore.
Installation view of David Jeremiah’s solo show “Things Done Changed” at The Public Trust in Dallas. (Photo: Darryl Ratcliff)
By Michael Johnson
Jas Mardis “The Old Man’s Cotton.”
“And Chill,” Jamila Mendez.
Child Of No Nation.
“Juke Joint Tillman,” by artist Shayna Sutton.
“Temporal Jungle,” by Molly Margaret Sydnor.
Brandon Thompson, “The Hustle Really Don’t Stop”, Oil on Canvas at Ro2 Gallery in Dallas
“Somewhere in Between,” by Austin Uzor.
Desireé Vaniecia
Lauren Woods, American Monument. Photo courtesy of the artist.
by Donnie Williams.
Untitled Asia Youngs-Bailey.
Houston
Black Angel, Mathieu Jean Baptiste.
by Sebastian Boncy.
“Diaspora,” 2019, Analogue Collage, Inkjet print on canvas-Tay Butler
Works by Gregory Michael Carter and
A print by Michael Ray Charles
Jamal Cyrus “Blues in Spring.”
Nathaniel Donnett from “Floor Plan Series.”
Bloodshot Eyes, Trippy Patterning, Red, Green and Yellow Coloration, Yep, This Piece is About Traffic Lights
Robert Hodge’s “Slowed and Throwed.
By Bria Lauren.
Jesse Lott, installation shot
A painting by Rick Lowe installed in the MFAH’s Kinder building’s third-floor corridor.
Installation image of The Little Girl in the Lion’s Den by Tierney Malone. Photo by Nash Baker, courtesy of Lawndale.
Angelbert Metoyer, The Ursidae in the Field Next to the Other Road, 2016, mixed media on paper.
“Know All Men By These Present,” Marsha Dorsey Outlaw.
Lovie Olivia, Open Carry, 2018. Plaster, pigment and acrylic on birch plywood, 48 x 72 x 2.” Courtesy of the artist.
Phillip Pyle II, “Broken Obelsik Elbows.”
Robert Pruitt, “Stone Cut,” 2011
conte and charcoal on hand-dyed paper, 50 x 38 in
by Romeo Robinson.
“8 Seconds, 2020,” by Lanecia A. Rouse.
Bert Samples’ “Malcom Marco Malcom Marco,” via Houston Chronicle.
George Smith, “Ancestral Star, 2011.”
Kaneem Smith for “Triple Treat” at Unit B.
“MC510: Towards an Elective Clinical Peer Review,” 2018, Michael Stevenson.
Lubbock
Danielle Demetria East, “Lubbock, Texas, 2020.”
San Antonio
From “All We Be,” series by Anthony Francis.
by Rafael Gutierrez.
“HEART OF THE HOUSE,” by Carmen Cartiness Johnson.
“Another Day at the Holes,” Alethia Jones
Bernice Appelin-Williams
Waco
52 comments
An omission:
Genevieve Marcel in Houston hand engraves lettering in glass and metal
http://www.genevievemarcel.com
Awesome list!
I am proud to say that a few artist from our collective are mentioned. Please add The Art of Four.
Artist: Claudette Hopkins, Akaimi Davis, Kwanzaa Edwards, Ronney Stevens, Drew Johnson,
Already mentioned, Kaldric Deshon Dow and Xavier Gilmore. Congratulations also Barbara Felix!!!!
Israel McCloud
Ayanna Mc Cloud
Julie Devries
Colby Deal
Irene Reece
Gabriel, Thank you!
Came here to say this 🙂 Ayanna’s website is https://www.ayannannaya.com/
Reginald Adams, Houston is missing.
Thank you, Linda!
Wonderful idea – and I’m sure many will appreciate the request to add artists to make this a more comprehensive listing. If no one has suggested them already, I ask that you add El Franco Lee II and Leamon Green, both working in Houston. Find El Franco’s work at http://elfrancosartchives.com/. Leamon was featured on Glasstire last year. He’s represented by Hook-Epstein Galleries (http://www.hooksepsteingalleries.com/node/12). Both are amazing artists.
Thanks so much Azar!
Houston:
Dawolu Jabari Anderson (https://artadia.org/artist/dawolu-jabari-anderson/)
Regina Agu (https://reginaagu.com/)
Ann Johnson (https://www.solesisterart.com/)
Autumn Knight (http://autumnjoiknight.com/)
Rosine Kouamen (https://rosinekouamen.com/)
El Franco Lee II (http://elfrancosartchives.com/)
Massa Lemu (http://www.massalemu.com/)
M’Kina Tapscott (http://www.countercurrentfestival.org/artist/mkina-j-tapscott/)
Arnea Williams (https://hcponline.org/event/the-art-of-trauma/)
Sapphire Williams (http://www.box13artspace.com/2013/08/17/wordplay-curated-by-sapphire-williams-downstairs-front-and-back-box-2/)
Thank you Dennis! Exactly the input we hoped for.
Lubbock ommission: James Watkins
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_C._Watkins
Ike E. Morgan – Austin, Texas http://www.webbartgallery.com/ike-e-morgan
Thank you!
Houston
Kentra Gilbert
https://kgdaartist.wixsite.com/kgdaartist/paintings
Austin
Olaniyi R. Akindiya (AKIRASH)
http://www.artwithakirash.com
https://www.ro2art.com/akirash—bio.html
Thanks for the reminder, Jordan!
Rio Grande Valley/Houston
Add Lenard Brown to your list. He is a superb painter and printmaker.
https://lenardbrown.com
love this! two of my favorites not listed are
Austin – Chris Rogers @chrisrogersart
Dallas – RaSun Kazadi @rasunart
I love how this list keeps growing. Represent!
Darryl Ratcliff / DFW (I think he’s currently based in Dallas?) would be near the top of my own list.
San Antonio omissions include Paul Hurd, Gracie Poe, Ronney Stevens, Claudette Hopkins and several more in San Antonio Ethnic Art Society (saethnicartsociety.org for bios).
Also Rabea Ballin (Houston), Anitra Blayton (DFW area).
Thank you!
Madelyn Sneed-Grays!
Houston
Colby Deal (https://theartistcolbydeal.wixsite.com/colbydeal
Irene Reece (https://www.irenereece.com/)
Kentra Gilbert (https://kgdaartist.wixsite.com/kgdaartist/paintings)
Jamie Robertson (https://www.jamievrobertson.com)
Carris Adams (https://www.carrisadams.com)
Erin Carty (http://erin-carty.squarespace.com/about)
Robert Legans- Johnson (http://www.yonderboy.art/)
Catherine Martinez (https://catherinedavilaart.com/index.html)
Thank you for beginning this list!
This artist is based in DFW
Inyang Essien
http://www.inyangessien.com
Dallas: JA’TOVIA GARY
Well all the artists I was going to add were cited by others in these comments expect Emmanuel Gillespie-Dallas http://www.emmanuelgillespie.com
Vicki, thank you! This list obviously goes beyond 101. It is my hope that it continues to grow and be shared.
Angela Weddle San Antonio Very talented artist!
https://angela-weddle.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AWeddle83
Artists of color or not, an absolutely stunning collection of art exemplifying the volume of commendable talent Texas should be proud to share. Bookmarking this page to go shopping later. Thanks to you and the Glasstire family and the ongoing commenters for compiling this list.
Thanks Douglas! Agreed.
Oh and I forgot:
Kijana Martin- https://www.artbykijana.com
Chris Herod- http://www.chrisherodart.com
Also the Talented
Darryl Ratcliff
Tramaine Townsend
Mattie Michelle
Dom Jones
Andrew Scott!
Andrew Scott — a powerful presence in Dallas, though from other places such as Brooklyn, Ohio and Savannah, he has been in Dallas long enough to have been my thesis advisor. Thankful for his mentorship and presence in TX.
This is a wonderful compendium. Great start for educators to use to branch out from the white supremacist patriarchal canon of art examples. Thank you.
Please add:
Sontonya Necheal
http://www.sontonyanecheal.com
Visual artist
Akaimi Davis aka Akaimi the Artist http://www.akaimidavis.com
Please add Mira Johnson, an emerging artist in Houston. @liveartbymira
Missing is Dr. Clarence Talley, Sr. Professor of Art, Prairie View A&M University. He has been with the University for the last 45 years.
Missing is Jess W. Coleman Houston artist, Prairie View A&M University.
Ronney Stevens great Artist from San Amtonio
Thanks!!! for this amazing list Christopher and All! You might like to add VET who is a native Texas artist who incorporates environmental recycling awareness through her artwork,
commissions, and workshops. Her muralists and art installations combine the aesthetics of fine art
with an inventive application of found objects. In addition to her wide variety of cultural-based and
educational arts programs, she always shares innovative ways to re-think, re-purpose and re-design
discarded items. VET has been touring nationally and regionally for over 25 years where she offers
hands-on classes, workshops and other customized programming. She is a graduate of the University
of Texas Dallas (BA Arts & Performance). VET’s work has been on exhibit throughout the U.S., Mexico,
Canada and Africa; and the recipient of numerous grants that include The National Endowment of
the Arts (NEA), Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA), Dallas Cultural Vitality Program, Dallas
Community Fund Project, Dallas Community Artist, TACA CultureBank, MetLife Foundation, and
Urban Genesis. https://www.artcycleclubtx.com http://artcycletx.blogspot.com
Some additions:
San Antonio:
Theresa Newsome (has solo exhibition at BSC through May) – https://www.theresanewsomephoto.com
Edward Warren Harris – https://edwardwarrenharris.wixsite.com/arte
Thomas Stokes III- https://www.thomas-stokes.com/shop
San Marcos:
Celica Ledesma: http://www.celicaledesma.com/
Ashlin Thomas: https://bfa2020.wp.txstate.edu
Calvin Pressley (OKC but teaches in North Texas)
Thanks Chris for compiling this list!
Eddie Filer should be on this list representing Texas City. His work is outstanding.
Eddiefilerart.com is his website.
Great site, you have to add Paul Hurd and Wardell Picquet of San Antonio
What a great list with great artist! I know a few of these artists. I am an artist who is in the Dallas as well. Please add me to the list. My gallery is http://www.cjagallery.com and follow my IG @cjazzyart. Thank you!
Lauren Luna
http://www.artistaluna.com
Daryll Phillips in Tyler — @dphillgood, https://www.facebook.com/spangbang.filmz
Leon Collins, Navasota
https://www.vintagetexaspaintings.com/artists/465-leon-collins-paintings
kYmberly Keeton, Chief Library Curator
http://www.artlibrarydeco.space