Archway Gallery Exhibitions - 2025
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Joy in the Moment Featuring New Works by Maryam Lavaf October 4 - 30, 2025 |
According to Maryam Lavaf, in a world filled with sorrow and turbulence, we tend to forget to pause and explore the beauty of now. Joy in the Moment is a blend of abstract paintings and sculpture that invite the viewer to reflect on fleeting yet powerful experiences that spark a profound response. Using found and recycled materials, Maryam Lavaf’s sculptures explore the interplay between color, texture, and form, while her paintings whisp and swirl with movement.
With more than 10 solo shows to her credit and participation in several group exhibitions, Lavaf is a Houston-based artist who is originally from Iran. She received a high school diploma in graphic design, then changed her focus, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Painting from Azad University, Tehran, Iran, in 2002. After moving to Houston in 2004, she connected with the art community through the Visual Arts Alliance where she met Archway artist Becky Soria, who introduced her to a group of artists at Winter Street Studios. In 2015, Lavaf decided to develop her talent further by studying Ceramics and Pottery under Jeff Forster’s supervision at the Glassell School of Art, then studying Sculpture there in 2020.
With more than 10 solo shows to her credit and participation in several group exhibitions, Lavaf is a Houston-based artist who is originally from Iran. She received a high school diploma in graphic design, then changed her focus, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Painting from Azad University, Tehran, Iran, in 2002. After moving to Houston in 2004, she connected with the art community through the Visual Arts Alliance where she met Archway artist Becky Soria, who introduced her to a group of artists at Winter Street Studios. In 2015, Lavaf decided to develop her talent further by studying Ceramics and Pottery under Jeff Forster’s supervision at the Glassell School of Art, then studying Sculpture there in 2020.
Lavaf explains that the work in this exhibition is not about a single definition of joy but rather about embracing the idea that hope and inspiration can be found in the simplest, most unexpected moments. Whether through fluid paint strokes or the sharp edges of a sculptural form, each work is a testament to moments of connection, freedom, and lightness. “Through Joy in the Moment,” says Lavaf, “I hope to inspire others to slow down, find beauty in the present, and celebrate the fleeting magic of now.”
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Painted Stories Featuring New Paintings by Jim Hill September 6 - October 2, 2025 |
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This exhibit of twenty-eight recent paintings by Jim Hill is a reflection Hill’s long career of painting in the Houston area. His colorful, narrative creations have captivated audiences for almost a half-century. “Painted Stories” is a collection of work combining acrylic, watercolor, collage, and pencil, that invites the viewer to step into Hill’s world of rich textures and colors that evoke imagination and emotion.
Jim Hill exhibits a charming, fanciful perception of our surroundings, focusing on the joy in small things, everyday moments, and simple pleasures. His colorful palette and stylized lines create a relaxed gentleness in his work, with play on light, blended brush strokes and dappled color reminiscent of the French impressionists.
Jim N. Hill moved to Houston after completing his Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in 1978. Beginning with small acrylic paintings of ladies in floppy hats and men with hats and mustaches, he began selling his work through The Artists Touch Gallery. These shape and color driven images soon received regional and then national attention. After exhibiting his work for two years at New York Art Expo in the early 1980's, Hill had solo exhibitions at The El Presidente Hotel and the Niko Hotel in Mexico City. A publishing studio there published eight editions of his work as serigraphs in editions of 200 – 300 prints and artist proofs, some of which are exhibited in this show. Hill’s paintings have been exhibited throughout the United States in such diverse locations as Los Angeles, San Antonio, Minneapolis, Nashville, Shreveport, and Salado, Texas. Hill’s commissions include two murals for the River Oaks Shopping Center in Houston, as well as paintings for the executive offices of Marshal Fields Department Store, hotels in Atlantic City and Los Angeles, and a large residential space in Washington, D.C.
Jim Hill exhibits a charming, fanciful perception of our surroundings, focusing on the joy in small things, everyday moments, and simple pleasures. His colorful palette and stylized lines create a relaxed gentleness in his work, with play on light, blended brush strokes and dappled color reminiscent of the French impressionists.
Jim N. Hill moved to Houston after completing his Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in 1978. Beginning with small acrylic paintings of ladies in floppy hats and men with hats and mustaches, he began selling his work through The Artists Touch Gallery. These shape and color driven images soon received regional and then national attention. After exhibiting his work for two years at New York Art Expo in the early 1980's, Hill had solo exhibitions at The El Presidente Hotel and the Niko Hotel in Mexico City. A publishing studio there published eight editions of his work as serigraphs in editions of 200 – 300 prints and artist proofs, some of which are exhibited in this show. Hill’s paintings have been exhibited throughout the United States in such diverse locations as Los Angeles, San Antonio, Minneapolis, Nashville, Shreveport, and Salado, Texas. Hill’s commissions include two murals for the River Oaks Shopping Center in Houston, as well as paintings for the executive offices of Marshal Fields Department Store, hotels in Atlantic City and Los Angeles, and a large residential space in Washington, D.C.
Hill’s love for sharing art with others led to a second career in teaching. He was Adjunct Professor of Art at Houston Community College for over 20 years and also taught Pre-K4 through 8th grade students at Saint Anne Catholic School.
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Drawn From Life 2 An Invitational Group Exhibition August 2 - September 4, 2025 |
Archway Gallery is pleased to announce an invitational exhibition of works by artists who regularly participate in its weekly figure drawing sessions. These artists come together, as individual schedules permit, to work from the human figure in a practice stretching back many centuries. Working in the medium of choice, the artists present pieces created in or inspired by these weekly sessions. To further honor this age-old practice, a figure drawing marathon was held on August 17 from 10am to 10pm. Archway Gallery is proud to continue providing an opportunity for artists of all media and experience to practice figure drawing.
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Archway Gallery's 17th Annual Juried Exhibition Benefiting Community Partner Brave Little Company - Theater for Everyone July 5 - 31, 2025 |
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Archway Gallery is honored to present its 17th Annual Juried Exhibition, benefiting Brave Little Company. This annual event is an opportunity for area artists who are not members of the gallery to participate in an exhibition of works in Houston’s finest artist-owned space. Area artists are invited to apply. Each year an invited juror selects works by local artists for the month-long exhibition. Sales from the exhibition support a nonprofit organization chosen by the gallery members. Prizes are awarded at the discretion of the juror and include cash awards for first, second, and third place winners. The first-place winner also receives guest artist privileges for one month at Archway Gallery. Click Here for a list of participating artists and awards.
Guest Juror: Rick Lowe
This year’s juror is acclaimed artist and social activist Rick Lowe. Mr. Lowe was born in 1961 in rural Russell County, Alabama. Among Lowe’s numerous community art projects are Project Row Houses, Houston (1993–2018); Watts House Project, Los Angeles (1996–2012); Borough Project (with Suzanne Lacy and Mary Jane Jacob), Charleston, SC (2003); Small Business/Big Change, Anyang Public Art Program, Korea(2010); Trans.lation, Dallas (2013); Victoria Square Project, Athens (2017–18); Greenwood Art Project, Tulsa, OK (2018–21); and Black Wall Street Journey, Chicago (2021–). Collections include the Brooklyn Museum, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami; High Museum of Art, Atlanta; Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, KS; Menil Collection, Houston; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and the UBS Art Collection. Solo exhibitions include Art League Houston (2020–21). He also participated in Documenta 14, Athens (2017). In 2013 President Barack Obama appointed Lowe to the National Council on the Arts, and in 2014 he was named a MacArthur Fellow. Lowe was a Visiting Fellow at the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society from 2019-2021. He is currently a professor of interdisciplinary practice at the University of Houston.
Community Partner: Brave Little Company
Brave Little Company is Theatre for Everyone. Founded in 2013, BLC creates and produces theatre about, with and for all of Houston’s kids and their grown-ups. Reflecting Houston’s diversity in the stories told and the artists who tell them, BLC creates theatre the way kids play. A recipient of the 2023 TYA/USA National Award for Artistic Innovation, Brave Little Company has achieved national significance in creating new works for young people and is a member of the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster for 2020-2026. BLC’s professional productions focus on bilingual work to spark audience imagination such as THE BIG “US” PROJECT, a collaborative piece by artists of all ages and experience levels from Houston’s refugee communities; WISH YOU WERE HERE, collaborations with individuals with disabilities and learning differences; and opportunities for all young people to express themselves creatively, wherever they are. For more information, visit www.brave-little.com
Guest Juror: Rick Lowe
This year’s juror is acclaimed artist and social activist Rick Lowe. Mr. Lowe was born in 1961 in rural Russell County, Alabama. Among Lowe’s numerous community art projects are Project Row Houses, Houston (1993–2018); Watts House Project, Los Angeles (1996–2012); Borough Project (with Suzanne Lacy and Mary Jane Jacob), Charleston, SC (2003); Small Business/Big Change, Anyang Public Art Program, Korea(2010); Trans.lation, Dallas (2013); Victoria Square Project, Athens (2017–18); Greenwood Art Project, Tulsa, OK (2018–21); and Black Wall Street Journey, Chicago (2021–). Collections include the Brooklyn Museum, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami; High Museum of Art, Atlanta; Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, KS; Menil Collection, Houston; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and the UBS Art Collection. Solo exhibitions include Art League Houston (2020–21). He also participated in Documenta 14, Athens (2017). In 2013 President Barack Obama appointed Lowe to the National Council on the Arts, and in 2014 he was named a MacArthur Fellow. Lowe was a Visiting Fellow at the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society from 2019-2021. He is currently a professor of interdisciplinary practice at the University of Houston.
Community Partner: Brave Little Company
Brave Little Company is Theatre for Everyone. Founded in 2013, BLC creates and produces theatre about, with and for all of Houston’s kids and their grown-ups. Reflecting Houston’s diversity in the stories told and the artists who tell them, BLC creates theatre the way kids play. A recipient of the 2023 TYA/USA National Award for Artistic Innovation, Brave Little Company has achieved national significance in creating new works for young people and is a member of the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster for 2020-2026. BLC’s professional productions focus on bilingual work to spark audience imagination such as THE BIG “US” PROJECT, a collaborative piece by artists of all ages and experience levels from Houston’s refugee communities; WISH YOU WERE HERE, collaborations with individuals with disabilities and learning differences; and opportunities for all young people to express themselves creatively, wherever they are. For more information, visit www.brave-little.com
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Barbara Able and Rhonda Radford Adams Dualities: The Art of Two June 7 - July 2, 2025 |
Dualities: The Art of Two celebrates the harmonious connection between two artists whose work complements one another through a shared language of creativity. Barbara Able and Rhonda Radford Adams explore themes of strength, femininity, and balance, weaving together layers of texture, color, and meaning. Their collaboration reflects a sense of sisterhood, unity, and shared purpose, inviting viewers to experience the beauty of duality as an expression of harmony and kinship.
Barbara Able’s paintings and collages embrace this theme of duality, balancing light and dark and stillness and movement. She weaves together abstract patterns of light and shadow, visually expressing the complexity of human emotions. Through her paintings and collages, Able confronts the challenge of creating something that exists not only as a concrete form but also as a vessel for deeper meaning—something that transcends its physicality. In doing so, she transforms the seemingly intangible into something that can be perceived, grounding metaphysical ideas in the physical world.
This inherent dualism—the fusion of artistic intention with the physical elements of visual art—invites viewers to reflect on the nature of existence itself. The duality Able explores is embedded in her paintings and mirrored in the observer, creating an intimate exchange among artist, artwork, and viewer. Beyond mere representation, Able’s art functions as both a window into the world and a mirror reflecting the depths of human consciousness. Through this exploration of dualism, Able’s art becomes a vessel for unraveling the intricate interplay of perception, emotion, and cognition, ultimately shedding light on the complexities of human consciousness and the mysteries of the human condition.
Rhonda Radford Adams is a multidisciplinary artist and integrative arts practitioner whose work bridges creativity,
wellness, and holistic well-being. With over 34 years of experience as a dental hygienist, she merges her expertise in health with her passion for expressive arts, creating immersive experiences that promote mindfulness, relaxation, and self-discovery.
Adams’ mixed-media practice—rooted in collage, textiles, and mosaics—transforms tactile materials into vibrant visual narratives that engage both the senses and the spirit. Inspired by global influences and the healing power of art, her work is featured in public and private collections worldwide.
Beyond her visual art, Adams is an educator, author, and advocate for integrative wellness. She created The Hot S.P.I.T. Chronicles, a children’s program that fuses storytelling with creative activities to promote oral health in an engaging and accessible way. Her ARTRRA Mantra Collection further extends her philosophy by offering art-infused products designed to inspire mindfulness and well-being in everyday life.
Through exhibitions, workshops, and community outreach, Adams continues to explore the profound connection among art, healing, and personal transformation.
Barbara Able’s paintings and collages embrace this theme of duality, balancing light and dark and stillness and movement. She weaves together abstract patterns of light and shadow, visually expressing the complexity of human emotions. Through her paintings and collages, Able confronts the challenge of creating something that exists not only as a concrete form but also as a vessel for deeper meaning—something that transcends its physicality. In doing so, she transforms the seemingly intangible into something that can be perceived, grounding metaphysical ideas in the physical world.
This inherent dualism—the fusion of artistic intention with the physical elements of visual art—invites viewers to reflect on the nature of existence itself. The duality Able explores is embedded in her paintings and mirrored in the observer, creating an intimate exchange among artist, artwork, and viewer. Beyond mere representation, Able’s art functions as both a window into the world and a mirror reflecting the depths of human consciousness. Through this exploration of dualism, Able’s art becomes a vessel for unraveling the intricate interplay of perception, emotion, and cognition, ultimately shedding light on the complexities of human consciousness and the mysteries of the human condition.
Rhonda Radford Adams is a multidisciplinary artist and integrative arts practitioner whose work bridges creativity,
wellness, and holistic well-being. With over 34 years of experience as a dental hygienist, she merges her expertise in health with her passion for expressive arts, creating immersive experiences that promote mindfulness, relaxation, and self-discovery.
Adams’ mixed-media practice—rooted in collage, textiles, and mosaics—transforms tactile materials into vibrant visual narratives that engage both the senses and the spirit. Inspired by global influences and the healing power of art, her work is featured in public and private collections worldwide.
Beyond her visual art, Adams is an educator, author, and advocate for integrative wellness. She created The Hot S.P.I.T. Chronicles, a children’s program that fuses storytelling with creative activities to promote oral health in an engaging and accessible way. Her ARTRRA Mantra Collection further extends her philosophy by offering art-infused products designed to inspire mindfulness and well-being in everyday life.
Through exhibitions, workshops, and community outreach, Adams continues to explore the profound connection among art, healing, and personal transformation.
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donna e perkins Gone Awry May 3 - June 5, 2025 |
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donna e perkins has always sought to create art that sparks meaningful conversations and inspires a kinder world. Her work naturally reflects her observations of life’s complexities—its beauty, its unpredictability, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Over the past year, perkins embraced unexpected changes in both her personal journey and artistic process. While she initially envisioned a series of large-scale figurative oil paintings, physical challenges led her to explore a different path. Unable to stand at her easel for long periods, she turned to watercolor and pen drawings, allowing spontaneity to guide her hand. What emerged was a striking collection of non-objective works—an evolution she hadn’t planned, but one that speaks to the power of adaptation and artistic transformation.
Gone Awry is a testament to creativity’s ability to thrive in the face of change, revealing beauty in the unexpected. The oil paintings in this exhibition are based on studies made in Archway Gallery’s figure drawing sessions. Using water-soluble graphite on canvas, perkins quickly captures lines that later, in her studio, she smears and fixes with matte medium. These lines serve as the bones of her abstract oil paintings.
Over the past year, perkins embraced unexpected changes in both her personal journey and artistic process. While she initially envisioned a series of large-scale figurative oil paintings, physical challenges led her to explore a different path. Unable to stand at her easel for long periods, she turned to watercolor and pen drawings, allowing spontaneity to guide her hand. What emerged was a striking collection of non-objective works—an evolution she hadn’t planned, but one that speaks to the power of adaptation and artistic transformation.
Gone Awry is a testament to creativity’s ability to thrive in the face of change, revealing beauty in the unexpected. The oil paintings in this exhibition are based on studies made in Archway Gallery’s figure drawing sessions. Using water-soluble graphite on canvas, perkins quickly captures lines that later, in her studio, she smears and fixes with matte medium. These lines serve as the bones of her abstract oil paintings.
The watercolor drawings are portable and allow perkins to work in stolen minutes. She lays down watercolor paint and allows it to run and bleed. Then she traces the fractal lines created by the drying watercolor and compulsively adds many more lines.
After having lived in West Texas, South Texas, and the Gulf Coast, perkins considers Houston home. She has been a member of Archway Gallery for over 15 years, and this is her 9th Featured Artist exhibition.
After having lived in West Texas, South Texas, and the Gulf Coast, perkins considers Houston home. She has been a member of Archway Gallery for over 15 years, and this is her 9th Featured Artist exhibition.
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Rhonda Radford Adams Michael Angell Gözde Kaya Hepişler Kay Sarver Eric Stiles New Visions, New Voices; Inspiring Connections Through Art April 5 - May 1, 2025 |
Archway Gallery proudly announces New Visions, New Voices, a group exhibition putting the spotlight on the work of five talented artists who are the newest members of the Archway family: Rhonda Radford Adams’s vibrant mixed-media collages, Michael Angell’s fantastical metal castings, Gözde Kaya Hepişler’s whimsical ceramic sculptures, Kay Sarver’s expressive oil paintings and portraits, and Eric Stiles’s striking abstract paintings. Each artist brings a unique style and perspective to Texas’s longest-running artist owned and operated gallery, which has fostered the growth of so many phenomenal Houston artists over the years. Timed to coincide with World Art Day in April, and the beginning of Archway’s 50th year, the exhibition celebrates the transformative power of art and reaffirms Archway Gallery’s mission to champion artistic exploration.
Throughout its history, Archway Gallery has served as a platform for artistic innovation and creative expression, fostering connections between artists, audiences, and the community. New Visions, New Voices continues this tradition by posing a question that resonates with artists and the global community at large: How can art inspire and connect us in our shared journey? This question anchors the exhibition, inviting each participating artist to reflect on his or her creative journey, and offering visitors an opportunity to engage with the art on a deeper level. Through their diverse works, the artists of New Visions, New Voices demonstrate how fresh perspectives enrich the collective narrative of Houston’s creative community.
Throughout its history, Archway Gallery has served as a platform for artistic innovation and creative expression, fostering connections between artists, audiences, and the community. New Visions, New Voices continues this tradition by posing a question that resonates with artists and the global community at large: How can art inspire and connect us in our shared journey? This question anchors the exhibition, inviting each participating artist to reflect on his or her creative journey, and offering visitors an opportunity to engage with the art on a deeper level. Through their diverse works, the artists of New Visions, New Voices demonstrate how fresh perspectives enrich the collective narrative of Houston’s creative community.
Introducing the Artists:
Rhonda Radford Adams creates mixed media collages that celebrate the healing power of color, blending paint with papers, fabrics, and ceramics to craft vibrant, textured works. Through integrative and expressive arts workshops, she inspires creativity, connection, and personal growth, highlighting art as a transformative tool for well-being.
Rhonda Radford Adams creates mixed media collages that celebrate the healing power of color, blending paint with papers, fabrics, and ceramics to craft vibrant, textured works. Through integrative and expressive arts workshops, she inspires creativity, connection, and personal growth, highlighting art as a transformative tool for well-being.
Michael Angell’s art explores The Imagination through a stream-of-consciousness approach, focusing on mythology/totemic, life in Mystery, and dream-time-existence. His bespoke and heirloom sculptures, largely cast in pewter, capture one-to-one the scale and detail of the original wax works, surpassing traditional bronze in many aspects. Designed for intimate spaces, the sage at heart, his art invites viewers into a world of fantasy, self-reflection, storytelling, and timeless wonder.
Gözde Kaya Hepişler, originally from Istanbul, Türkiye, is a ceramic artist whose work celebrates human diversity and cultural connection. Her creations, including colorful figurative sculptures and contemporary interpretations of the protective evil eye, invite viewers to explore the beauty of diversity, the joy of life’s interconnected stories, and the small moments of happiness that brighten everyday life.
Kay Sarver, Archway’s newest artist, is also a returning member. Archway is pleased to welcome her back. As a young child, Sarver was always drawing, usually creating some sort of grand scene with animals and trees. Her parents fed this passion by taking her to classes at the Museum of Fine Arts in Cincinnati. Sarver later attended the University of Cincinnati, where she majored in Fine Arts and embraced painting with oils. After a few years in college, and three year stay in Florida, she migrated to Houston where she continues to live and work as a visual artist.
Eric Stiles’s transition from technical airbrushing to to abstract painting represents a bold exploration of the intangible. His intuitive process allows his work to evolve organically, with layers of underpaintings adding depth and soul to each piece. Reflecting his artistic journey, Eric’s creations are both honest and uniquely original, inviting viewers to engage with the striking aesthetics and emotional resonance of his work.
Together, these artists reflect the spirit of New Visions, New Voices, adding their perspectives to Archway Gallery’s collaborative community of 34 members. This exhibition celebrates the creativity and innovation that have sustained the gallery for nearly 50 years, honoring its collective legacy while embracing its continued growth as a treasured space for art and connection to the community.
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Becky Soria Intimate Geographies March 1 - April 3, 2025 |
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Traversing the territory of the body, Becky Soria’s paintings exhibited in Intimate Geographies, a show at Archway Gallery, come into focus not as objective and impersonal but rather as intensely personal and intimate. While preparing for this exhibit, Becky Soria was aware of her involvement in an evolution that had become real throughout all her years of creating art. Concerned with sensitive issues about women and the world we all live in, she strove to represent the vast territory that is human experience through images that map those experiences to the topography of the physical and energetic human body. Her bodies are the surface below the surface of both the physical body and the body visualized by the Ego.
This collection of abstracted but viscerally real figures grapples with her and our collective experience that is a culmination of all her years that connect art, our travails, and concerns for life itself. Soria dedicated herself to representing her journey of 40 years as an artist in these works of intimate geography.
Her artistic journey also interweaves explorations of humanity’s cultural history, nature and the evolution of feminine archetypes. Soria fuses prehistoric art, mythological themes, with the influence on her as a young girl of her father’s collection of pre-Colombian art. She also draws on historical goddess figures as archetypal representations of an increasingly empowered postmodern woman. In the works of this show, Soria has used mostly acrylic paints, some charcoal, and in certain works, incorporated cardboard, rope, and paper.
This collection of abstracted but viscerally real figures grapples with her and our collective experience that is a culmination of all her years that connect art, our travails, and concerns for life itself. Soria dedicated herself to representing her journey of 40 years as an artist in these works of intimate geography.
Her artistic journey also interweaves explorations of humanity’s cultural history, nature and the evolution of feminine archetypes. Soria fuses prehistoric art, mythological themes, with the influence on her as a young girl of her father’s collection of pre-Colombian art. She also draws on historical goddess figures as archetypal representations of an increasingly empowered postmodern woman. In the works of this show, Soria has used mostly acrylic paints, some charcoal, and in certain works, incorporated cardboard, rope, and paper.
Becky Soria, an American born in Bolivia, began her artistic career in the 1980s. She studied painting in the studios of South American artists, and with the artist and philosopher Dr. Fernando Casas. She also attended The Glassell School of Art in Houston, Texas. Her works are included in corporate and private collections in the US, Europe, Canada, and South America.
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Chris Alexander and Guest Artist Deborah Ellington Reliquaries February 1- 27, 2025 |
This exhibition by glass artists Chris Alexander and Deborah Ellington delves into the paradox of glass as a medium. Glass can appear transparent and opaque, solid and fractured, protective and delicate. It is a substance that holds within it the memory of its creation, reflecting the process and the hands that formed it. This complexity forms the heart of “Reliquaries,” an exhibition having to do with the nature of art, memory, and human experience.
A reliquary, traditionally a vessel for sacred relics, is a container that holds something revered and significant. In this exhibition, Alexander and Ellington reinterpret the concept of the reliquary through the lens of glass. Their works are not only physical containers but also metaphors for the sacred human impulse to create. The art embodies emotion and the passage of time, reminding us of the changing nature of the world and our attempts to find our place within it.
The creation of this body of work involved a unique investigation of media, process and intent. Attention was focused on determining how the glass could best express the artists’ narratives. The pieces invite the viewer to contemplate the shifting nature of reality, our collective history, and the intimate experiences that shape us. Chris Alexander and Deborah Ellington’s works offer an opportunity to connect with the sacred, the precious, and the ephemeral in our own lives.
Chris Alexander has been working in glass over thirty years. She learned traditional stained glass through a three-year apprenticeship with master glass artist Patricia Vloeberghs in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds degrees in architecture from University of Virginia and Georgia Institute of Technology. After working in commercial architecture for a number of years, she now focuses her studio art practice on work in stained glass, fused glass, and mixed media. She is the resident artist at Harmony Stained Glass in Pasadena, Texas, and has been a member artist of Archway Gallery for four years.
Deborah Ellington graduated from Albion College with a degree in Art Education, later obtaining an M.A. in Painting from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Ceramics from Sam Houston State University. After college, she taught K-12 in Michigan. She later took on significant roles in higher education, serving as an art professor and department chair at Lone Star College North Harris. She eventually transitioned to an instructional dean position, at Lone Star College Montgomery. Deborah has never stopped teaching. Even after retirement, she teaches fused glass workshops at Harmony Stained Glass in design, color, painting, and mold making. As a working artist, Deborah shows her art at Silver Street Studios, a part of the Sawyer Yards studio complex, in Houston, Texas.
A reliquary, traditionally a vessel for sacred relics, is a container that holds something revered and significant. In this exhibition, Alexander and Ellington reinterpret the concept of the reliquary through the lens of glass. Their works are not only physical containers but also metaphors for the sacred human impulse to create. The art embodies emotion and the passage of time, reminding us of the changing nature of the world and our attempts to find our place within it.
The creation of this body of work involved a unique investigation of media, process and intent. Attention was focused on determining how the glass could best express the artists’ narratives. The pieces invite the viewer to contemplate the shifting nature of reality, our collective history, and the intimate experiences that shape us. Chris Alexander and Deborah Ellington’s works offer an opportunity to connect with the sacred, the precious, and the ephemeral in our own lives.
Chris Alexander has been working in glass over thirty years. She learned traditional stained glass through a three-year apprenticeship with master glass artist Patricia Vloeberghs in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds degrees in architecture from University of Virginia and Georgia Institute of Technology. After working in commercial architecture for a number of years, she now focuses her studio art practice on work in stained glass, fused glass, and mixed media. She is the resident artist at Harmony Stained Glass in Pasadena, Texas, and has been a member artist of Archway Gallery for four years.
Deborah Ellington graduated from Albion College with a degree in Art Education, later obtaining an M.A. in Painting from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Ceramics from Sam Houston State University. After college, she taught K-12 in Michigan. She later took on significant roles in higher education, serving as an art professor and department chair at Lone Star College North Harris. She eventually transitioned to an instructional dean position, at Lone Star College Montgomery. Deborah has never stopped teaching. Even after retirement, she teaches fused glass workshops at Harmony Stained Glass in design, color, painting, and mold making. As a working artist, Deborah shows her art at Silver Street Studios, a part of the Sawyer Yards studio complex, in Houston, Texas.
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Maksim Koloskov Brushstrokes: Streetscapes, Style, and Skyline January 4 - 30, 2025 |
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For years, Houstonians may have spotted award-winning artist, Maksim Koloskov—a tall, slender man—capturing life on the move. Whether sketching fellow passengers on a bus, painting on a street corner, or drawing in a park, he reflects life unfolding around him in vibrant, impressionistic watercolors. From skylines and city streets to the sleek runways of Houston’s Fashion Week, Koloskov transports the viewer to the heart of H-Town, revealing a dynamic city alive with color and movement.
With his spontaneous approach, Koloskov sketches and paints his subjects on the spot, preserving everyday moments and fleeting encounters that we often overlook. Each piece carries the freshness and immediacy of Koloskov’s first impression, transforming familiar and seemingly ordinary urban scenes of Houston into evocative works of art.
Koloskov’s work isn’t confined to Houston. His watercolors of Spain, captured during his creative vacations there, were featured in a solo exhibition in Spain, which led to an interview on Radio Nacional de España. He is set to return to Spain for another solo show in summer 2025.
A graduate of Moscow’s prestigious Architectural Institute (MARCHI), Koloskov’s Russian heritage and classical Beaux-Arts training deeply influence his artistic vision. After moving to Houston in 1995, he blended his architectural expertise with his artistic pursuits, working for renowned design firms like Gensler and Rottet Studio. His architectural illustrations have earned him accolades, including awards from the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI) and “Cocktail Napkin Sketch” contests from Architectural Record. His work has been featured in major publications such as Architectural Record, Texas Architect, San Diego Magazine and hyperlapse inspiration videos for ELLE Decor.
In addition to architectural and urban themes, Koloskov’s fashion illustrations have appeared in London-based fashion magazines FABUK and LAZIN, and he was a featured artist in the London fashion magazine Goldfoil. His watercolor paintings are housed in the permanent collections of several hotels across Texas and Virginia, including Cavalry Court (College Station, TX), Texican Court (Irving, TX), Maple Terrace Residences (Dallas, TX), and the historic Hotel Weyanoke (Farmville, Va). Koloskov is a member of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators and the Watercolor Art Society Houston.
With his spontaneous approach, Koloskov sketches and paints his subjects on the spot, preserving everyday moments and fleeting encounters that we often overlook. Each piece carries the freshness and immediacy of Koloskov’s first impression, transforming familiar and seemingly ordinary urban scenes of Houston into evocative works of art.
Koloskov’s work isn’t confined to Houston. His watercolors of Spain, captured during his creative vacations there, were featured in a solo exhibition in Spain, which led to an interview on Radio Nacional de España. He is set to return to Spain for another solo show in summer 2025.
A graduate of Moscow’s prestigious Architectural Institute (MARCHI), Koloskov’s Russian heritage and classical Beaux-Arts training deeply influence his artistic vision. After moving to Houston in 1995, he blended his architectural expertise with his artistic pursuits, working for renowned design firms like Gensler and Rottet Studio. His architectural illustrations have earned him accolades, including awards from the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI) and “Cocktail Napkin Sketch” contests from Architectural Record. His work has been featured in major publications such as Architectural Record, Texas Architect, San Diego Magazine and hyperlapse inspiration videos for ELLE Decor.
In addition to architectural and urban themes, Koloskov’s fashion illustrations have appeared in London-based fashion magazines FABUK and LAZIN, and he was a featured artist in the London fashion magazine Goldfoil. His watercolor paintings are housed in the permanent collections of several hotels across Texas and Virginia, including Cavalry Court (College Station, TX), Texican Court (Irving, TX), Maple Terrace Residences (Dallas, TX), and the historic Hotel Weyanoke (Farmville, Va). Koloskov is a member of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators and the Watercolor Art Society Houston.