Update: 101 Black Artists Living and Working in Texas

by Christopher Blay February 9, 2021

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 EsparzaRigoberto 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


Adrian Armstrong- High’s and Lo-Fi’s at LHUCA in Lubbock February 7 2020

Adrian Armstrong

 

EndsBeginning, 2020, Free motion sewing + charcoal on cloth, 42 in x 33 in.

taylor barnes

 

Christina Coleman

 

"An Offering of Grace," Aimée M. Everett.

“An Offering of Grace,” Aimée M. Everett.

Aimée M. Everett

 

The-Future-Is-A-Constant-Wake-SXSW-Art-Program-2020

The Future is A Constant Wake. Artists: Ariel Rene Jackson, Micheal J. Love.

Ariel René Jackson

 

untitled (our misunderstanding of time, of ourselves), Detail, 2020, Rocks, watches, simulacrum grass

 

Betelhem Makonnen

Dave McClinton- Absolute Relativism at Ivester Contemporary in Austin December 5 2020Dave McClinton

 

Sabrina Bible by Adriane McCray

adriane mccray

 

Dawn Okoro- Burden of Respectability at Dimension Gallery in Austin November 2020Dawn Okoro

 

Deborah Roberts- I'm at The Contemporary Austin in Austin January 23 2021Deborah Roberts

 

Ceramics by Austin Texas artist Tammie Rubin

Tammie Rubin, Always & Forever (forever ever ever) No. 2, Slipcast & handbuilt porcelain, underglaze, pigmented clay

Tammie Rubin

 

 

Ryan Runcie

by Ryan Runcie.

Ryan Runcie

 

No. 4 by Alannah Tiller

“Portrait No. 4,” by Alannah Tiller.

Alannah Tiller

Dallas/Fort Worth

 

Chesley Antoinette’s Tignon

Chesley Antoinette’s Tignon

Chesley Antoinette

 

Porch Monkeys,-Jessica Bell, 2018-2020

“Porch Monkeys,”-Jessica Bell, 2018-2020.

Jessica Bell

 

Jeremy Biggers

Jeremy Biggers

Jeremy Biggers

 

Nostalgia-Sanh Brown Bowers

Nostalgia-Sanh Brown Bowers.

Sanah Brown-Bowers

 

Ciara Elle Bryant, "Server 3.0", at Ro2 Gallery in Dallas

Ciara Elle Bryant, “Server 3.0”, at Ro2 Gallery in Dallas

Ciara Elle Bryant

 

A woman's work, Missy Burton

“A woman’s work,” Missy Burton.

Missy Burton

 

Hat Lady by LaShonda Cooks

“Hat Lady,” by LaShonda Cooks.

Lashonda Cooks

 

Lauren Cross- familiar africanness Mountain View College art showDr. Lauren Cross

 

Jer'Lisa Devezin sculpture "Kiss my ass."

Jer’Lisa Devezin sculpture “Kiss my ass.”

Jer’Lisa Devezin

 

“Happy Birthday Misi!” by Tiara Unque Francois

“Happy Birthday Misi!” by Tiara Unque Francois.

Tiara Unique Francois

 

Untitled work by Dr. Valerie Bennett Gillespie

Untitled work by Dr. Valerie Bennett Gillespie.

Dr. Valerie Bennett Gillespie

 

Daniel M. Gunn (designer) and winner of Perot Museum's Stair ProjectjpgDaniel M. Gunn (designer) and winner of Perot Museum's Stair Projectjpg

Daniel M. Gunn (designer) and winner of Perot Museum’s Stair Project.

Daniel M. Gunn

 

Riley Holloway Home installation view

Riley Holloway Home installation view.

Riley Holloway

 

Untitiled Nitashia Johnson

“Untitiled,” Nitashia Johnson

Nitashia Johnson

 

MAP2020-Anette-Lawrence-Ratification-Grid-2020-Poly-Knit Fabric-Flag-5 x 8-2020

Ratification Grid 2020, Annette Lawrence,
Poly-Knit Fabric Flag, 5′ x 8′ 2020

Annette Lawrence

 

sam lao wall rug

Sam Lao’s Muse 004 wall rug. Photo: Sam Lao

Sam Lao

 

Letitia Huckaby at Artpace

Letitia Huckaby

 

Sedrick Huckaby

 

Andrea Tosten

 

Ari Brielle

 

Xxavier Edward Carter's-Start livin' in a New World

Xxavier Edward Carter’s-Start livin’ in a New World.

Xxavier Carter

 

By Niki Dionne

By Niki Dionne

Niki Dionne

 

Works by Charles Gray at Fort Worth Community Arts Center in Fort Worth September 4 2020

Charles Gray

 

Oshay Green

Oshay Green.

Oshay Green

 

Jammie Holmes, Four Brown Chairs, 2020, acrylic on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art

Jammie Holmes, Four Brown Chairs, 2020, acrylic on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art.

Jammie Holmes

 

Vicki Meek- Stony the Road WeTrod

Vicki Meek: “Stony the Road WeTrod.”

Vicki Meek

 

Adam W. McKinney

Adam W. McKinney.

Adam McKinney

 

Tignon by JD Moore

“Tignon,” by JD Moore.

JD Moore

 

Installation view of David Jeremiah's solo show

Installation view of David Jeremiah’s solo show “Things Done Changed” at The Public Trust in Dallas. (Photo: Darryl Ratcliff)

David Jeremiah

 

By Michael Johnson

By Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson

 

Pierre Krause

 

Jas Mardis the old man cotton

Jas Mardis “The Old Man’s Cotton.”

Jas Mardis

 

Jamila Mendez

“And Chill,” Jamila Mendez.

Jamila Mendez

 

Blue-Dot-By-Jeremiah-Onifade-and-City-of-Dallas-OCA

Jeremiah Onifadé

 

Child Of No Nation

Child Of No Nation.

Abi Salami

 

Juke Joint Tillman-Artist Shayna Sutton

“Juke Joint Tillman,” by artist Shayna Sutton.

Shayna Sutton

 

Molly Margaret Sydnor

“Temporal Jungle,” by Molly Margaret Sydnor.

Molly Margaret Sydnor

 

Evita Tezeno and Jas Mardis- Sharing Memories at the ArtsCentre of Plano February 6 2021.jpgEvita Tezeno

 

Brandon Thompson, "The Hustle Really Don't Stop", Oil on Canvas at Ro2 Gallery in Dallas

Brandon Thompson, “The Hustle Really Don’t Stop”, Oil on Canvas at Ro2 Gallery in Dallas

Brandon Thompson

 

Somewhere in Between by Austin Uzor

“Somewhere in Between,” by Austin Uzor.

Austin Uzor

 

Desireé Vaniecia

Desireé Vaniecia

Desireé Vaniecia

 

Lauren Woods, American Monument. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Lauren Woods, American Monument. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Lauren Woods

 

by Donnie Williams.

by Donnie Williams.

Donnie Williams

 

Untitled Asia Youngs-Bailey

Untitled Asia Youngs-Bailey.

Asia Youngs-Bailey

 

Houston

 

 

Black Angel, Mathieu Jean Baptiste

Black Angel, Mathieu Jean Baptiste.

Mathieu Jean Baptiste

 

by Sebastian Boncy

by Sebastian Boncy.

Sebastien Boncy

 

Diaspora-2019-analogue-collage-inkjet-print-on-canvas-Tay-Butler-2019

“Diaspora,” 2019, Analogue Collage, Inkjet print on canvas-Tay Butler

Tay Butler

 

Works by Gregory Michael Carter and

Gregory Michael Carter

Print by Michael Ray Charles at Flatbed Press

A print by Michael Ray Charles

Michael Ray Charles

Jamal Cyrus Blues in Spring

Jamal Cyrus “Blues in Spring.”

Jamal Cyrus

 

Nathaniel Donnett from "Floor Plan Series."

Nathaniel Donnett from “Floor Plan Series.”

Nathaniel Donnett

 

Ronald L. Jones- Wave (Goodbye) at the Galveston Arts Center in Galveston January 30 2021Ronald L. Jones

 

Brian Ellison

 

Leamon Green

 

Bloodshot Eyes, Trippy Patterning, Red, Green and Yellow Coloration, Yep, This Piece is About Traffic Lights

Bloodshot Eyes, Trippy Patterning, Red, Green and Yellow Coloration, Yep, This Piece is About Traffic Lights

Trenton Doyle Hancock

 

LISA E. HARRIS- CRY OF THE THIRD EYE at Houston Public Library Smith Building in Houston March 5 2020

Lisa E. Harris

 

Slowed-and-Throwed-by-Robert-Hodge

Robert Hodge’s “Slowed and Throwed.

Robert L. Hodge

 

Earlie Hudnall

 

Jonathan Paul Jackson: A Natural Curiosity

Jonathan Paul Jackson

 

Bria Lauren

By Bria Lauren.

Bria Lauren

 

Jesse Lott, installation shot

Jesse Lott, installation shot

Jesse Lott

 

Rick Lowe at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston

A painting by Rick Lowe installed in the MFAH’s Kinder building’s third-floor corridor.

Rick Lowe

 

Installation image of The Little Girl in the Lion's Den by Tierney Malone. Photo by Nash Baker, courtesy of Lawndale

Installation image of The Little Girl in the Lion’s Den by Tierney Malone. Photo by Nash Baker, courtesy of Lawndale.

Tierney Malone

 

Delita Martin: The Dinner TableDelita Martin

 

Angelbert Metoyer, The Ursidae in the Field Next to the Other Road, 2016, mixed media on paper.

Angelbert Metoyer

 

David-McGee-at-art-museum-of-Southeast-Texas.jpgDavid McGee 

 

Floyd Newsum Nicole Longnercker Art Gallery exhibitionFloyd Newsum

 

"Know All Men By These Present," Marsha Dorsey Outlaw.

“Know All Men By These Present,” Marsha Dorsey Outlaw.

Marsha Dorsey Outlaw

 

Lovie Olivia, Open Carry, 2018. Plaster, pigment and acrylic on birch plywood, 48 x 72 x 2.” Courtesy of the artist.

Lovie Olivia

 

Wura-Natasha Ogungi

 

Phillip Pyle II, "Broken Obelsik Elbows "

Phillip Pyle II, “Broken Obelsik Elbows.”

Phillip Pyle II

 

Robert Pruitt, “Stone Cut,” 2011
conte and charcoal on hand-dyed paper, 50 x 38 in

Robert Pruitt

 

 

by Romeo Robinson

by Romeo Robinson.

Romeo Robinson

 

"8 Seconds, 2020," by Lanecia A. Rouse

“8 Seconds, 2020,” by Lanecia A. Rouse.

Lanecia A. Rouse

 

Bert Samples' "Malcom Marco Malcom Marco," via Houston Chronicle

Bert Samples’ “Malcom Marco Malcom Marco,” via Houston Chronicle.

Bert Samples

 

George Smith Ancestral Star, 2011

George Smith, “Ancestral Star, 2011.”

George Smith

 

Kaneem Smith for "Triple Treat" at Unit B

Kaneem Smith for “Triple Treat” at Unit B.

Kaneem Smith

 

MC510: Towards an Elective Clinical Peer Review, 2018

“MC510: Towards an Elective Clinical Peer Review,” 2018, Michael Stevenson.

Michael Steveson

 

Stephen Wilson- Boy Life in America at the Galveston Art Center in Galveston November 21 2020

Stephen Wilson

Lubbock

 

Sculpture of Tim Cole by Eddie Dixon

Eddie Dixon

 

Danielle-Demetria-East-Lubbock-Texas-2020

Danielle Demetria East, “Lubbock, Texas, 2020.”

Danielle Demetria East

 

San Antonio

 

 

Kaldric Dow: East Side Portraits & Works

Kaldric Deshon Dow

 

Barbara Felix- The Glorious Way She Moves – Black Venus at the Carver Community Cultural Center in San Antonio January 22 2021Barbara Felix

 

From "All We Be," series by Anthony Francis.

From “All We Be,” series by Anthony Francis.

Anthony Francis

 

Xavier Gilmore: ASTROBLACKXavier Gilmore

 

by Rafael Gutierrez

by Rafael Gutierrez.

Rafael Gutierrez Jr.

 

HEART OF THE HOUSE

“HEART OF THE HOUSE,” by Carmen Cartiness Johnson.

Carmen Cartiness Johnson

 

"Another Day at the Holes," Alethia Jones

“Another Day at the Holes,” Alethia Jones

Alethia Jones

 

Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga & Tunde Odunlade: African Ancestral LegaciesNaomi Wanjiku

 

Bernice Appelin-Williams

Bernice Appelin-Williams

Waco

 

Kermit Oliver Hooks-Epstein Galleries Houston TexasKermit Oliver

52 comments

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52 comments

Tiffany February 9, 2021 - 08:58

An omission:
Genevieve Marcel in Houston hand engraves lettering in glass and metal
http://www.genevievemarcel.com

Reply
Maria M. Williams February 10, 2021 - 13:18

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!!!!

Reply
Gabriel Martinez February 9, 2021 - 09:00

Israel McCloud
Ayanna Mc Cloud
Julie Devries
Colby Deal
Irene Reece

Reply
Christopher Blay February 9, 2021 - 09:48

Gabriel, Thank you!

Reply
Leah Barton February 10, 2021 - 11:13

Came here to say this 🙂 Ayanna’s website is https://www.ayannannaya.com/

Reply
Linda Haag Carter February 9, 2021 - 09:02

Reginald Adams, Houston is missing.

Reply
Christopher Blay February 9, 2021 - 09:48

Thank you, Linda!

Reply
Azar Rejaie February 9, 2021 - 09:28

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.

Reply
Christopher Blay February 9, 2021 - 09:47

Thanks so much Azar!

Reply
Christopher Blay February 9, 2021 - 09:47

Thank you Dennis! Exactly the input we hoped for.

Reply
Hannah February 9, 2021 - 10:17

Lubbock ommission: James Watkins

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_C._Watkins

Reply
John Paul Hossley February 9, 2021 - 11:32

Ike E. Morgan – Austin, Texas http://www.webbartgallery.com/ike-e-morgan

Reply
Christopher Blay February 9, 2021 - 11:45

Thank you!

Reply
KLS February 9, 2021 - 12:42 Reply
Jordan Roth February 9, 2021 - 14:32 Reply
Christopher Blay February 9, 2021 - 15:01

Thanks for the reminder, Jordan!

Reply
Nancy Moyer February 9, 2021 - 14:41

Rio Grande Valley/Houston
Add Lenard Brown to your list. He is a superb painter and printmaker.
https://lenardbrown.com

Reply
Sarah Hall February 9, 2021 - 15:29

love this! two of my favorites not listed are

Austin – Chris Rogers @chrisrogersart
Dallas – RaSun Kazadi @rasunart

Reply
Jesse Hernandez February 9, 2021 - 15:46

I love how this list keeps growing. Represent!

Reply
carolyn February 9, 2021 - 16:13

Darryl Ratcliff / DFW (I think he’s currently based in Dallas?) would be near the top of my own list.

Reply
Aissatou Sidime-Blanton February 9, 2021 - 18:06

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).

Reply
Christopher Blay February 9, 2021 - 18:21

Thank you!

Reply
Jeremy February 9, 2021 - 19:30

Madelyn Sneed-Grays!

Reply
Yang February 10, 2021 - 07:57

Thank you for beginning this list!

This artist is based in DFW
Inyang Essien
http://www.inyangessien.com

Reply
christian cruz February 10, 2021 - 08:54

Dallas: JA’TOVIA GARY

Reply
Vicki Meek February 10, 2021 - 13:01

Well all the artists I was going to add were cited by others in these comments expect Emmanuel Gillespie-Dallas http://www.emmanuelgillespie.com

Reply
Christopher Blay February 10, 2021 - 14:43

Vicki, thank you! This list obviously goes beyond 101. It is my hope that it continues to grow and be shared.

Reply
Ilna Colemere February 10, 2021 - 13:16

Angela Weddle San Antonio Very talented artist!
https://angela-weddle.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AWeddle83

Reply
Douglas D Martin February 10, 2021 - 14:19

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.

Reply
Christopher Blay February 10, 2021 - 14:40

Thanks Douglas! Agreed.

Reply
Vicki Meek February 10, 2021 - 15:19

Oh and I forgot:
Kijana Martin- https://www.artbykijana.com
Chris Herod- http://www.chrisherodart.com

Reply
maya crawford February 10, 2021 - 17:06

Also the Talented
Darryl Ratcliff
Tramaine Townsend
Mattie Michelle
Dom Jones
Andrew Scott!

Reply
Liz Trosper February 10, 2021 - 19:35

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.

Reply
Liz Trosper February 10, 2021 - 19:37

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.

Reply
Sontonya Necheal February 10, 2021 - 23:46

Please add:

Sontonya Necheal
http://www.sontonyanecheal.com
Visual artist

Reply
Akaimi Davis February 11, 2021 - 04:29

Akaimi Davis aka Akaimi the Artist http://www.akaimidavis.com

Reply
Almira Johnson February 11, 2021 - 09:34

Please add Mira Johnson, an emerging artist in Houston. @liveartbymira

Reply
Clarence Talley, Sr. February 11, 2021 - 11:28

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.

Reply
Jess Coleman February 11, 2021 - 15:14

Missing is Jess W. Coleman Houston artist, Prairie View A&M University.

Reply
Starchild February 11, 2021 - 16:38

Ronney Stevens great Artist from San Amtonio

Reply
greg metz February 12, 2021 - 07:54

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

Reply
Jacqueline Saragoza McGilvray February 12, 2021 - 10:56

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!

Reply
Romeo Robinson March 15, 2021 - 22:02

Eddie Filer should be on this list representing Texas City. His work is outstanding.

Reply
Romeo Robinson March 15, 2021 - 22:03

Eddiefilerart.com is his website.

Reply
Claudette Hopkins June 15, 2021 - 12:52

Great site, you have to add Paul Hurd and Wardell Picquet of San Antonio

Reply
Cicely Miller September 21, 2021 - 00:50

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!

Reply
Lauren Luna February 22, 2022 - 09:15 Reply
John February 22, 2022 - 09:30

Daryll Phillips in Tyler — @dphillgood, https://www.facebook.com/spangbang.filmz

Reply
gardencat December 14, 2022 - 12:58 Reply
douglassclubpresident February 16, 2023 - 15:46

kYmberly Keeton, Chief Library Curator
http://www.artlibrarydeco.space

Reply

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