howlin' good

Meow Wolf reveals Houston artists for highly anticipated opening exhibit

It looks like some Houston artists are going to get an amazing moment in the spotlight, and it’s all thanks to a group named (checks notes) Meow Wolf?

Yes, Meow Wolf Houston, to be exact. The visionary art collective turned pioneers in the experiential art world, are proud to unveil some of the creative minds behind the collective’s fifth permanent installation in Houston's historic Fifth Ward. A diverse ensemble of more than 40 contributing artists from Texas will collaborate with Meow Wolf’s in-house artist team for what promises to be an vibrant addition the city's art and cultural landscape..

"The brilliance and vision of these artists echo the heartbeat of Houston,” noted GONZO247, who serves as Meow Wolf’s Houston artist liaison, in a press materials (locals know him as our city's most famous graffiti artist). “Collectively, this exhibition will be a reflection of Houston culture as much as the fantastical realms of Meow Wolf that fans expect.”

Houstonians will recognize the roster of talent. Participants will include Kill Joy, the prominent international art activist; El Franco Lee, a Fifth Ward mainstay; Afsaneh Aayani, one of Houston's few female theater puppeteers; and Trenton Doyle Hancock, who weaves comic book elements, classical mythology, and multimedia installations into his work.

Han Santana-Sayles, Meow Wolf's senior director of artist collaboration, invited local curators and nonprofits to build artist lists for the exhibition. "I want each Meow Wolf exhibition to be a reflection of relevant contemporary artists in that region,” Santana-Sayles noted in a statement. “In order to find the best creatives to work with, we love consulting with local curators or nonprofits who support emerging artists to build artist lists with us."

Several curators contributed to the exhibition. They include Harrison Guy, director of arts and culture at the DeLUXE Theater; Christine West, an art administrator and curator with 20 years of experience focusing on public art access in Houston; Y.E.Torres, an interdisciplinary artist and the Public Programs and CAMHLAB manager at Contemporary Art Museum Houston; and Fresh Arts, a Houston-focused nonprofit that empowers local artists and public arts initiatives.

Meow Wolf has not yet revealed the name, theme, or opening date of the exhibition, but art fans can expect updates as they are announced.

Image courtesy of the artist

Afsaneh Aayani's dazzling works will be included.

Get inspired

Noted Houston street artist paints vibrant new mural at downtown venue

Photo courtesy of Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

GONZO247 poses in front of his new mural, "Houston is Inspired" inside Hobby Center

Visitors to the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts can now see an incredible new mural by one of Houston's most iconic street artists.Mario Enrique Figueroa, Jr., known as Gonzo247, debuted his piece, "Houston is Inspired" on Friday, December 12.

“This piece is all about capturing the energy that makes Houston, Houston," said the artist in a statement. "It’s that raw, vibrant hustle — the music, the culture, the stories we’ve been telling for generations. I wanted to create something that pulls people in, gets them hyped for what they’re about to experience. Every color, every shape, every detail is telling a story, a vibe. This ain’t just a mural or a piece of art — it’s a journey. It's about the grind, the growth, and the inspiration we pass on to each other, on and off the stage.”

The piece is called "Houston is Inspired," after the program at Hobby meant to showcase local performers by offering them week-long residencies on a prestigious stage. This season includes CJ Emmons's one-man comedy musical show I'm Freaking Talented; a rhythmic interactive storytelling experience called Our Road Home by Jakari Sherman; and Lavanya Rajagopalan's combination of music, dance and verse, Kāvya: Poetry in Motion. Information about all three shows, including ticket prices and availability, can be found at TheHobbyCenter.org.

The last show (debuting May 1) was a particular inspiration to Gonzo247. Viewers may notice a pair of hands in a traditional Indian dance pose, a direct reference to Rajagopalan's show.

The Houston is Inspired program was launched launched in the 2023-2024 season. In addition to the residency in Zilkha Hall, artists are given a $20,000 stipend for production and marketing costs. It is now a permanent fixture of the Hobby season. Applicants for future seasons can submit here.

Known for his original "Houston is Inspired" mural in downtown's Market Square, Gonzo247 has been an active force in Houston art for 30 years, including producing the video series Aerosol Warfare about the street art scene in the 1990s and 2000s as well as founding the Graffiti and Street Art Museum. He also served as the artist liaison for Meow Wolf's Houston installation. If anyone's visual vision is perfect to welcome audience members to shows highlighting homegrown talent, it's him.

“Art’s all about telling stories, but it ain’t just what you see — it’s what you feel," he said. "This piece speaks to the heart of everything we’re about: culture, rhythm, struggle, and triumph. When you walk into the space, you gotta feel the anticipation, the energy building up. That’s what I wanted to capture — the vibe of the whole city, the passion in the work, and that next-level hunger to rise up and create something fresh. It’s like the beat drops, and everything just connects.”

visual-art downtown mural gonzo247