isn't that special?

Prestigious contemporary art fair unveils special projects for Houston show

Untitled Art is coming to Houston in September.

Courtesy of World Red Eye

Details about the first Houston edition of the the Untitled Art fair continue to emerge. Set to take place at the George R. Brown Convention Center September 18-21, event organizers announced some of the special projects that will be presented throughout the fair.

First up are four large-scale exhibits created for the festival. Prologue, presented by Rick Lowe Studio, will feature five emerging Houston-based artists — Crystal Coulter, Ian Williams, Kaima Marie Akarue, Roslyn Dupre, and Sajeela Siddiq — whose works explore topics such as personal vision, material risk, and cultural memory. Created by Isabelle Brourman, Drawing Power (2022–2025) turns public records from high-profile trials into an examination of justice and celebrity.

El Franco Lee II pays tribute to his late father, Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee, with Street Campaign, an installation that includes paintings alongside artifacts from the politician’s career. Finally, Mel Chin disassembled 100 office chairs to create Pool of Light (2024), a chandelier in honor of women who worked in administrative roles in 20th century offices.

In addition to the exhibits, Untitled Art will host the Houston Artist Market to allow local artists to present and sell their work to the public. Participants include St. Agnes Academy (Houston), FLATS (Houston), PICNIC (Galveston / Dallas), Reeves Art + Design (Houston), Rising Tide (Galveston), Basket Books & Art (Houston), The Reading Room (Houston), and Jardin (Houston).

One of the event’s most special presentations will take place at the Cistern, the subterranean space at Buffalo Bayou Park. Artist Lita Albuquerque and her daughter and collaborator, dancer and choreographer Jasmine Albuquerque, will perform a new piece. Details on tickets and timing will be announced soon.

The Untitled Art Podcast will record throughout the event. Planned guests include Bun B, Chris Shepherd, and several people in Houston’s art scene, such as Ryan Dennis, co-director and chief curator at CAMH; Mari Carmen Ramírez, Wortham curator of Latin American Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and Anita Bateman, founder of AnB Art Consulting, creator of Black Art Houston, and vice president of creative direction at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture.

Emerging artists will be eligible to receive one of four prizes at the fair:

CAMH Commission Prize: will offer financial and institutional support to artists exhibiting at the fair with a commission debuting at Untitled Art, Houston 2026 or a satellite venue during the fair week. Presented by by Untitled Art and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH), the prize will be supported by proceeds from a limited edition print ($2,500) of “It Was A Very Good Year” by Texas artist Vincent Valdez.
Casa Santa Ana Residency Prize: Presented to an international artist to live and work in Panama City from March 29 to May 10, 2026. Includes airfare, accommodations, a $5,000 materials budget, and a $1,200 stipend.
PAC Art Residency Prize: Will supports a Houston-based residency from August 15 to September 22, 2026. Includes studio space, accommodations, round-trip travel, a $2,000 stipend, and a personalized career development program.
Hotel Lucine Artist Retreat Prize: Will grant one artist a weeklong retreat in Galveston, Texas, from September 8 to 14, 2026. Includes lodging, a $500 travel allowance, a $300 food and beverage credit, workspace access, and a community event in partnership with Untitled Art.

Founded in Miami 12 years ago by collector and entrepreneur Jeffrey Lawson, Untitled Art aims to showcase the work of emerging and established artists from all over the world, as well as offer avenues for art appreciation and collection for everyone from newcomers to experienced collectors. Untitled Art has partnered with Houston institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH); the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH); the Menil Collection, Asia Society Texas; and the Rothko Chapel. A portion of proceeds will benefit restoration efforts at the Rothko Chapel, which was damaged during Hurricane Beryl.

Tickets are on sale now. Prices start at $35 for single day tickets, with discounts available for students, seniors, and veterans/active-duty military. Multi-day and VIP tickets are also available.

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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.”

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