![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/fb5afa7fb58b066b3e2a64c65bc465d3.jpeg)
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/dff1dbb261bd5b1db0a4f772f197c20b.jpeg)
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/8724a516922c7356f495a10b99ddf048.jpeg)
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/a240674a8bccc283af97bec888a9d5b0.jpeg)
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/5288a85f1c9317a4fc113fb0fd9d0a16.jpeg)
Ihad a dream to create ArtHouston , a magazine which would bring Houston art and artists to the world. I firmly believe that Houston deserves to be in the conversation as one of the top art cities globally, and I have been determined to get it there. Since our initial launch in September 2014, I’ve worked tirelessly to make ArtHouston the voice of our art community.
ArtHouston fills a void in our city by illuminating our flourishing arts scene, which includes professional resident companies, five renowned Art Districts, the nation’s fourth-largest Museum District, and the best airport in the world for its outstanding art programs (page 18).
Now, ten years later, ArtHouston remains the sole magazine devoted to art in Houston. You can find it for free in galleries, art venues, retail outlets, luxury residential buildings, and major events throughout the city.
In this issue, to mark our ten-year milestone, we’re showcasing Emilie Duval, our Artist of the Year, (page 76), alongside the five talented finalists.
As Houston continues to evolve nationally and internationally as a culturally rich city, I strongly believe that ArtHouston has become an indispensable asset. It provides residents and visitors with a diverse source of information covering Houston’s arts, culture, design, and events. So hold onto your past copies, as they are becoming coveted collector’s items.
I’m excited for the next ten years of ArtHouston and all the outstanding art we’ll continue to share.
Yours faithfully,
John Bernhard![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/359609915b6b1bfa9d85712355b1feff.jpeg)
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/799cfe5f7a634222dbf673fb9735f752.jpeg)
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/ac64414e4718d25346509dd7d3989308.jpeg)
World’s Best Art
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/cbce9ec0a0a5131780068a657e077a19.jpeg)
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/5644e31280325e9a4f0b9ed110179aba.jpeg)
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/c0d4cfd8a4ca4c49a3e5a178d9a7420b.jpeg)
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/fcc38ee4a109615a1714936b70852755.jpeg)
Emilie
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/dfa3b8450a980346deccbd9eab064154.jpeg)
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/5b57b891b1cdd1ac530cead55596bff8.jpeg)
$13 MILLION IN GRANTS
City of Houston
SHAHZIA SIKANDER
Public Art of the University of Houston System
Breathe Allegory
Public Art UHS presents “Havah…to breathe, air, life,” a temporary multimedia exhibition by globally recognized artist Shahzia Sikander. The exhibition challenges traditional symbols of power, justice, and female representation, featuring a monumental outdoor work co-commissioned by Madison Square Park Conservancy and Public Art UHS. Originally exhibited in New York, it officially opened at the University of Houston in February and will be on view at Cullen Family Plaza until October 2024.
Rachel Mohl, executive director of Public Art UHS, expresses honor in presenting Sikander’s innovative exhibition to the University of Houston community. Sikander, known for blending Central and South Asian artistic traditions with contemporary practice, explores justice and female representation throughout history. The exhibition aims to foster dialogue, inspire cultural exchange, and leave a lasting impact.
The Houston presentation comprises two distinct works. “Witness” (2023), an 18-foot golden sculpture of a prodigious female figure, challenges the history of public monuments dedicated to Western men. The figure, floating and resisting permanence, symbolizes a diaspora that carries its roots wherever it goes. Adorned with Arabic writing, the figure epitomizes female potency and disrupts traditional forms of public sculpture. The corresponding work, “Reckoning” (2020), is a video animation illustrating a graceful dance between entangled warriors, emphasizing respectful dialogue and the timelessness of nature.
Sikander’s return to Houston, where she served as a fellow in the mid-1990s, marks a significant moment. Her international renown for examining contested histories is reflected in the UH presentation, building on her 2022 exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. “Havah…to breathe, air, life” encourages reflection on identity, gender bias, and the complexities of history through innovative artistic expressions.
Houston’s Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) is awarding over $13 million in grants to 72 individuals and 156 arts and culture nonprofit organizations and fiscally sponsored projects offering public exhibitions, presentations and performances in 2024. The funds are awarded via the Support for Organizations, Festival and Support for Artists and Creative Individuals grant programs, which support individuals, nonprofit organizations and fiscally sponsored projects with annual arts and cultural programming that is available to Houston residents and visitors. These grant programs are managed and administered annually by the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA).
LATINO LEADER ALMAAHH
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/356a869e556e60f3ac8f24ade2dc04d6.jpeg)
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/d07f2be00695d2653f09ba78b36a83d4.jpeg)
Carlos Duarte, former Texas director of Mi Familia Vota, is appointed inaugural president of ALMAAHH, activating a Houston Latino movement for arts equity. He will lead efforts to establish an arts complex and museum, championing Latino arts amidst a push for representation. ALMAAHH board chair Geraldina Interiano Wise praised Duarte’s leadership, citing his understanding of Latino culture and community engagement. She emphasized his vision of using arts to inspire and empower communities.
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/240312223022-70904649aa465c26949fd97be8c5c403/v1/607284bf06b99b2edc45640b4d723e8c.jpeg)