• John Bernhard is a Swiss American artist and photographer who traveled North America extensively before settling in Houston, Texas in 1980. For more than three decades he has chosen the medium of photography to explore the everyday world from new perspectives, breaking away into different pathways of artistic expression. 
• Starting in 1985 with a solo exhibition at the Houston Center for Photography, Bernhard has had more than 30 solo shows, three museum exhibitions, and many collective exhibitions throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe. 
• He is the author of 10 books, his work is included in 20 museum collections, such as the Denver Museum of Art, Minneapolis Institute of the Arts, Musée de la Photographie, Belgium, Musée de L’Elysée, Switzerland, Museet for Fotokunst, Denmark, New Mexico Museum of Arts, Pushkin Museum of Art, Russia, Southeast Museum of Photography, Florida, and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. 

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• Luisa Duarte is an accomplished Venezuelan American multidisciplinary artist currently based in Houston, Texas. 
• With a background in architecture, Duarte’s artistic creations reflect a unique sensibility that is evident in all her works. Having relocated to the United States in 2003, she embarked on a journey of art exploration, engaging in independent studies at renowned institutions such as The Southwest School of Arts in San Antonio, The Glassell School of Art, Art League Houston, among others. 
• Duarte has garnered widespread recognition for her distinctive and original artistic style, characterized by sharp-edged shapes that range from composed monotypes to vibrant paintings. Her art draws attention to compelling themes of boundaries, fragility, personal and public spaces, inviting viewers to reflect upon these captivating subjects. 
• Duarte has recently served as an artist in residence at the Asia Society of Texas and the new P.A.C Art Residency, further deepening her artistic practice and expanding her creative horizons. 
• In recognition of her talent and contributions to the art world, Duarte was selected to showcase her work in the exhibition “Texas Artists: Women of Abstraction” held at the Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi. Her artistic endeavors have been honored with the prestigious 2019 “Cities Initiative Grant” awarded by the Houston Arts Alliance, underscoring her commitment to artistic excellence and community engagement. 

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• Farima Fooladi was born in Tehran, Iran, in a transition period from Monarchy to the Islamic Republic and theocracy. She lives in Houston, TX. She teaches at the University of Houston. 
• Fooladi completed her MFA and taught at Penn State University before moving to Houston, TX. Recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant for June 2023 to June 2024, Fooladi is looking forward to expanding her studio practice into another side of an urban life and city experience for marginalized citizens by asking the following questions: How does diversity play a role in hospitality concerning urban life? What part of your identity survives, and what part hibernates for the latest reinvention? 
• Her painting titled “Mirage” was purchased with the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA)’s support for Houston Airports in 2020 to add to the Civic Art Collection at Houston Airports. She is fascinated by the lasting impact of collective trauma caused by Invasion, Migration, and Displacement. The transformation of civic spaces caused by social and political changes particularly interests her. Fooladi’s 8th solo show opened on January 15, 2022, at Smack Mellon in Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY. After her solo show in Dumbo Brooklyn, she was interviewed by the BBC. Her recent painting has been published in the New American Paintings, No 162. Fooladi got nominated and became an artist residence in the fourth iteration of Artists on Site at the Asia Society Texas in Houston, in the Summer of 2023. 

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• NELXART is a visual artist who currently works and lives in Houston. She paints her pieces from pure imagination. Combining emotion and a variety of expressions on the characters in which she creates. Her work is vibrant, gravitational, and fearless; reflecting NELXART’s own character. 
• NELXART was born in Houston, Texas in 1990. She began painting at a young age and has been creating art ever since. She is self-taught and has no formal training in art. NELXART draws inspiration from her own life experiences, as well as from the world around her. She is interested in exploring themes of identity, culture, and gender in her work. 
• NELXART’s work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions at galleries and museums across the United States. She has also received numerous awards and fellowships, including the Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters and Sculptors Grant and the Rema Hort Mann Foundation Emerging Artist Grant. 
• NELXART is a rising star in the contemporary art world. Her work is both visually stunning and thought-provoking. She is a powerful voice for women and minorities and her work is an important contribution to the larger conversation about identity, culture, and gender. 
• Here are some additional details about NELXART’s work: 
• She is interested in the ways in which art can be used to explore complex social and political issues. 
• She is also interested in the intersection of art and technology. 
• She is committed to using her art to create a more just and equitable world. 
• NELXART is a talented artist who is making a significant impact on the world. Her work is sure to continue to inspire and challenge viewers for years to come. 
• NELXART’s work is available for purchase on her website. She also offers workshops and classes for aspiring artists. 
   

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