Discovery Green, a 12-acre park in downtown Houston, has announced Karen Navarro and Gerardo Rosales as its inaugural Art Lab Fellows. Learn more about the artists below, via biographies provided by Discovery Green.
Discovery Green
The mentorship program was launched earlier this year when Discovery Green opened a call for applicants. Ms. Navarro and Mr. Rosales were selected from the more than 60 Houston-area creatives who applied. Art Lab will pair the two artists with a team of mentors, including the Weingarten Art Group, who are co-curators and co-administrators for the Discovery Green public art program; Metalab, a Houston-based architecture and design firm with a history of working on public art; and Jen Lewin, a renowned Brooklyn-based artist who specializes in large-scale public installations.
The artists will work with Ms. Lewin on a site-specific art installation debuting in mid-November. Afterward, Ms. Navarro and Mr. Rosales will be invited to submit proposals for a temporary pop-up art installation. If the proposal moves forward, it will be brought to fruition in 2025 with the support of a team of mentors.
In a press release, Lea Weingarten, principal for Weingarten Art Group, said, “Art Lab is a gateway for artists to take their practice to the next level — providing hands-on mentorship in planning, designing, and project managing an outdoor commission. Our goal is to give the artists a springboard to go on to significant new projects by pushing themselves in terms of concept, materials, and scale. Karen and Gerardo each embody the spirit of Art Lab and we’re excited to partner with Discovery Green and the incoming fellows as we embark on the inaugural year of the program.”
Karen Navarro. Image courtesy of the artist.
Karen Navarro is a Houston-based artist who uses photography, collage, and sculpture to investigate the intersections of identity, representation, race, and belonging in the context of her migrant experience, her Indigenous identity, and the history of colonization and its influence. Originally from Argentina, Ms. Navarro’s work has been shown around the world. In recent years, she’s transformed her two-dimensional photography work into three-dimensional sculptures. With Art Lab, she seeks to make the next jump with her work into public, 3-D work that can withstand the elements and interact with visitors.
Gerardo Rosales. Image courtesy of the artist.
Venezuelan-born Gerardo Rosales is a multidisciplinary Houston-based artist and educator of 23 years whose portfolio navigates the intersections of queerness, migration, and cultural heritage, inspired by his personal experiences. Originally from Venezuela, Mr. Rosales plans to learn from the Art Lab mentors new technologies and processes that will enhance his artistic vision with richer, more immersive experiences for viewers.
