Daphne Art Foundation invites the community to celebrate the 2026 Artist-in-Residence (AiR26) cohort at its culminating exhibition on Friday, September 18, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Casa Daphne, 1420 Washington St.
Free and open to the community, the exhibition highlights an exciting range of artistic voices and approaches.
The seven artists are Laredoans Paulina Aceves, Luis Coss, Oscar D. Gomez, and Konan Martinez and Jacob Cardenas of Austin, Clarissa Martinez of Brownsville, and Carla Santillana of San Antonio. Their work spans painting, textiles, storytelling, animation, and interdisciplinary media, offering insight into the ideas and creative explorations that shaped their residency.
Throughout the program, the artists developed their work under the guidance of Jesse Shaw, artist, educator, and inaugural mentor of Daphne Art Foundation’s Distinguished Mentor Series. Shaw, who teaches printmaking at Texas A&M International University, encouraged the members of the cohort to experiment, engage in creative research, and allow their ideas to evolve throughout the program.
“These bodies of work tell the stories of this region through the experiences of artists who know it, live it, and have something to say about it. I’m proud to have a part of it and excited for our community to see what they’ve created,” said Shaw.
Established in 2021, the organization’s Artist-in-Residence program supports the professional and artistic growth of emerging artists, encouraging them to explore new approaches to their concepts and creative practices while fostering a space for focused work in the Laredo and South Texas region.
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. The foundation works to make creative experiences accessible, meaningful, and engaging for the community.
Through exhibitions, workshops, artist residencies, and professional development opportunities, Daphne 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 connected region.
