I foster connections between artists and communities by organizing curated art events that inspire collaboration and celebrate creativity. These events are designed to create dynamic, engaging experiences that bring people together and amplify diverse voices. You can explore some of my favorite projects and their impact on community below.
UPCOMING:
Art Under $100 V. 5
Here’s your chance to explore hundreds of original, affordable art pieces (all under $100!) from 70+ local artists in our community gallery show and go home an art collector. The best part? 100% of proceeds go directly to the artists! Affordable, accessible, and an unforgettable experience. Locally curated right here in Austin. No outrageous fees, just dope art at dope prices.
Surrealist Samhain: A Hallows Eve Experience
A one-night group show and Halloween party celebrating the strange, the mystical, and the dreamlike. Step into a realm where shadows dance, symbols speak, and reality twists at the edges. Lose yourself in surreal works from bold artists, immersive visuals, and an atmosphere thick with magic and mystery.
PAST:
Art Under $100 V. 3, made possible by a Nexus Grant from the City of Austin Economic Development Department, was a vibrant celebration of local creativity and community collaboration in July 2024. Co-produced by TVHeadATX and myself, this event brought together over 60 diverse artists with the support of community cultural organizations and local small businesses. Hosted at Culture Complex by Big Medium, attendees explored hundreds of original, affordable art pieces while connecting with the artists. Every dollar of art sales went directly to the artists.
From the HeART was a love-themed art gallery curated by Leah Bury and myself as part of the Red Light Lit Austin Takeover in the Native Hostel Romper Room for February 2023. The event featured the work of over 60 local Austin artists exploring various stages of love, including New Love, Sensual Love, Lost Love, and Self Love. Throughout the evening, attendees immersed themselves in a poetry wall, visual art, and performative explorations of by poets, drag artists, musicians, vendors, and a tarot reader. The event raised funds for the SAFE Alliance, Austin Children’s Shelter, and SafePlace, agencies in Austin dedicated to serving survivors of child abuse, sexual assault and exploitation, and domestic violence.
For this gallery activation, I designed and built, “Heartline,” an immersive art installation designed to raise awareness about resources for survivors of domestic violence, including the SAFE Alliance. At the heart of the installation was an interactive phone booth, inviting participants to engage with the self-recording phone and share their personal experiences with love. Through this interactive experience, visitors were encouraged to reflect on their own narratives while gaining insight into the journey of survivors. “Heartline” served as a reminder of the power of storytelling and the importance of support for those affected by domestic violence.
BODIES OF WORK II was a body-themed gallery experience with visual and performance art (live music, body painting, burlesque, poetry) at Something Cool Studios I curated with Leah Bury in July 2022. The intention was to create a gallery that compelled the viewer to consider the body in ways that transcend their ordinary perceptions while underscoring its evocative nature, diversity, and resilience. This month-long gallery during July 2022 featured the work of 30+ local Austin artists and culminated in a zine featuring 60+ artists and their creative considerations of the human form.
WITH LOVE, was a creative gallery exploring different stages of love- new love, sensual love, lost love, and self-love in February 2022. Our opening-night activation brought together 60+ artists, performers, and vendors all exploring some aspect of the theme. This month-long gallery at Native Hostel was part of the Red Light Lit takeover, and was curated with Leah Bury.
Loria Mendoza 