In its continuing commitment to support emerging and up-and-coming artists across the South Texas region and beyond, Daphne Art Foundation has announced seven artists selected for its 2026 Artist-in-Residence (AiR26) cohort.
They are Luis Coss, Paulina Aceves, Konan Martinez, and Oscar D. Gomez who will share studio space at the Frontera Beer and Wine Garden. Out-of-town residents Carla Santillana (San Antonio), Jacob Cardenas (Austin), and Clarissa Martinez (Brownsville) will work from their home studios.
The artists will receive stipends that support the development of their work throughout the program. The cohort represents a dynamic range of perspectives and creative approaches shaping contemporary art across Texas. Their practices include painting, textiles, storytelling, animation, and interdisciplinary media.
The residency began June 1 and continues through July 31. It culminates with a group exhibition at Casa Daphne on Friday, September 18.
According to Daphne Art Foundation founder Alyssa Cigarroa, since its founding in 2021, the AiR program is “designed to contribute to the professional and artistic growth of selected artists, encourage self-identified up-and-coming and emerging artists to explore new ways to approach their concepts, and to create in a space conducive to focused work in the Laredo and South Texas region.”
This year also marks the launch of Daphne Art Foundation’s Distinguished Mentor Series. The foundation welcomes artist and educator Jesse Shaw, who teaches printmaking at Texas A&M International University. According to Shaw, he values “experimentation and creative research, encouraging artists to allow ideas to shift, grow, and become clear over time.”
The local residency artists will open their Frontera studio doors to the public during Caminarte on the first Fridays of June, July, August, and September, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with works in progress and gain insight into each artist’s creative process. The public may follow the entire cohort’s development through the Daphne Art Foundation’s social media platforms at daphneart.org | Instagram: @daphneartfdn.
(Daphne Art Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2019 with a mission to enrich the cultural life of Laredo and the South Texas border region. Driven by a deep passion for the arts, the Foundation works to make creative experiences accessible, meaningful, and engaging for the community. Through exhibitions, workshops, artist residencies, and professional development opportunities, Daphne Art Foundation has cultivated a dynamic space for artistic expression and cultural exchange. By supporting artists and expanding access to the arts, the foundation actively contributes to a more vibrant and artistically connected region.)
