Your Artists in San Antonio

​David Anthony Garcia has been a working artist for over 25 years and an art educator for more than 20 years. He was one of six artists featured at the McNay Museum of Art for their 60th anniversary. He also has  three pieces in the Arizona State Collection, and his work was published in two books: "Chicano Art for Our Millennium" and "Triumph of Our Communities". Additionally, his work is included in the UTSA Collection.

Henry Cardenas, an award-winning artist, is a native and resident of San Antonio; he also earned his MBA in Business Administration from St. Mary’s University. He has created vivid landscapes, colorful abstracts, and unusual sculptures most of his life. He typically sculpts out of metal, wood, glass, or stone combinations. His art inspirations began as a young child drawing, painting, and making toys. Cardenas maintains a continuing exhibition of his exciting paintings and unique sculptures. With numerous juried competitions, Cardenas has exhibited his work with winning entries in many venues.

Kwanzaa Edwards's work depicts the female figure in otherworldly realms. Her beautiful characters are placed unapologetically in their respective universes. Universes in which the constraints of logic do not exist; therefore, anything is possible. These women are painted on wood panels, using washes of ink to allow the woodgrain to be seen through the paint, which adds a visual emphasis of strength. Born in Port Arthur, Texas, she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas in 2014. She moved to San Antonio in 2016.

 Monic Reyes was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. From a young age, she displayed a deep interest in the arts, actively engaging in projects that sparked her imagination. This passion for creativity was nurtured by her mother and through her mother’s fashion brand, Malen Reyes Couture. As the creative director, Monic initially co-designed with her mother, whose unwavering support and innovative spirit profoundly influenced her artistic journey, allowing Monic to explore her creativity and build the confidence to pursue her own vision. Over time, Monic embraced various creative disciplines, including photography, modeling, set design, and make-up artistry, developing her unique eye for aesthetics. In 2015, she picked up a paintbrush and began her journey of bringing life to the canvas. The appreciation she receives for her art fuels her ambition. Having showcased her works in national galleries and international publications, Monic aspires to exhibit her pieces worldwide and eventually design furniture that introduces innovative concepts to the interior design industry. The dream of having her artwork displayed in global art hubs inspires her to reach new heights. Monic is a visionary artist determined to leave her mark on the art world. Her imaginative spirit and freedom of expression come alive through bold, dynamic abstract forms and rich textures, featuring vibrant and monochromatic color palettes. 

  Timothy Teruo Watters is an artist, author and graphic designer and grandson to artist Teruo Iyama, drawing inspiration from nature, Eastern aesthetic and philosophy, Mysticism, Impressionism and Ukiyo-e. Whether writing adventurous tales, watercoloring or painting in oils, Timothy is always reimagining by creating and blending the old with the new. He has exhibited his work in art shows and galleries from Los Angeles, CA to Kona, HI, to the canyons of St. George, UT. 

Born in Mexico, Garrido moved to San Antonio in 2006. A professional painter for 20 years, he studied Graphic Design in college on an art scholarship then later taught Art History, Drawing, and Design at an art college in Mexico. Garrido has also participated in 40 collective exhibitions, 25 solo exhibitions, 4 biennials, and he has also created 3 murals as well as events in various cities throughout Mexico and the US. Ten years ago, he moved toward contemporary art, and today, concentrates on figural, abstract paintings.

Leyhbert is a Colombian-American postmodern, experimental artist who has worked extensively as a graphic and audiovisual designer as well as a film actor/director in Colombia and Texas. He holds two university degrees in Industrial Relations and Film & Television Production. Several of his works have been exhibited internationally and by private organizations, and his original painting, “Freedom,” garnered Leyhbert a prestigious award in Colombia. One of his film projects was also featured at a national film festival in Havana, Cuba.  

   Doug Roper’s love for art and history began with his childhood in Europe, Central America, and multiple states in the US. He has visited 26 countries in his lifetime. The noted sculptor Waldine Tauch encouraged him, and his formal training began at the Warren Hunter School of Art in the 1970s. He spent the first fifteen years doing watercolors, commercial art & architectural renderings. Then, after taking a sculpting course with Louis Guzman, Doug had his first bronze cast in 1988 at Stevens Art Foundry in Bulverde, TX. Since then, he has been creating miniature, life-size, and large commissioned bronze sculptures for individuals, professional organizations, and several universities in Texas. As part of a cultural exchange exhibit in the early 1990s, Doug was selected as one of the ten artists whose work was sent to San Antonio’s sister city in Kyoto, Japan. He is a life member of the Coppini Academy of Fine Arts. Doug believes that he has a responsibility to develop and refine his God-given talent and signs all of his works with an Ichthus as a personal statement of faith.

Though born in Guam to a military family, Jones has been a San Antonio artist for over 20 years. She holds both her Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts degrees in painting and drawing from The University of Texas at San Antonio, and has exhibited in galleries across Texas. Jones' work features collages and drawings that create realms of surrealism that allow for the impossible, the curious, and the extraordinary. Often drawing on childhood references, objects, and characters, she places them in different, sometimes adult contexts that create situations blurring the lines between youthful memory and mature concerns. As of late, she is drawing a variety of images and portraits over dynamic collages, as it creates texture on the physical, the visual, and conceptual levels. 

Evan Estrada is an artist and musician native to San Antonio. His artwork primarily focuses on surrealist found images and mixed media creating pieces exploring a range of themes surrounding human consciousness, experience, and spirituality. Estrada is a self-taught artist and musician; he is also employed as a custom picture framer and found early inspiration in the works of Ernst, Mucha, Van Gogh, Munch, and Basquiat .

Originally from Newburgh, NY, Torres moved to San Antonio in 1997. After working for 12 years as an ER Nurse, art became a way of escaping reality and releasing the frustration that came with working in such a stressful environment. Primarily self-taught, her paintings are largely acrylics and oils. Her Puerto Rican heritage is evident in her art, and her favorite paintings to do are pet portraits.

Born and raised in San Antonio, knowartist came to be after a tattoo apprenticeship. He began experimenting with acrylic paint back in 2010. Mostly painting what he calls "lowbrow folk art," his style evolved into a tighter, richer, more colorful form of illustrative painting. He prefers to create imagery in which the ideas are fresh to the audience and visually stimulating. While his concepts are usually off-kilter, he leaves his work open to various interpretations by the viewer, allowing them to metaphorically paint their own pictures.

Dr. James W. Brown began painting during his last year of dental school and painted while serving as a dental officer in the U.S. Navy. His works have been displayed in various art exhibitions: The Pastel Society of America and San Antonio Art League as well as in art galleries and print mediums such as The Artist Magazine and The San Antonio Express-News. A variety of his paintings are held in private collections throughout the US.   

Stan Tims graduated from Stephen F. Austin University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He has written, illustrated and self-published seven graphic novels as well as two children’s books on Amazon Kindle. His other passion is for nature, especially now. "With the threatening reality of global climate change and the ever encroachment of civilization, many animal and plant species are disappearing. I hope to portray the beauty and wonder of those innocents that have no voice, to inspire others to help save them and our world. Art is all that I have ever wanted to do."

 Dr. Safa Rubaye is a self-taught artist. He has had a passion for art since he was very young. He has always been dedicated to polishing his style and philosophy in this area of his life. He is also an avid proponent of Classicism and Postmodernism in art. He studied medicine at the University of Baghdad, which provided him with extensive knowledge in human anatomy, a theme reflected in his artwork. His major theme revolves around the human experience and exploration of the human psyche, which is enriched by his training in psychiatry. His work is diverse and spans various styles such as Surrealism, Abstract, and Impressionism. He diverse use of media includes oil, acrylic, pastel, graphite, and colored pencils. In his spare time, Dr. Rubaye enjoys learning as much as he can about philosophy, psychology, mythology, and chess. 

  I was born in Iran, where my love for art began at a young age. As a child, I thought pencils were for drawing, before discovered that they were for writing. Creating art brought me tremendous joy and was my ultimate passion and pastime - drawing, painting and experimenting with different media to capture my artistic visions.
Though I studied animal science in school and pursued a PhD, art was never encouraged as a practical career path by society or family. Yet my dedication never wavered. I actively sought out non-academic private art classes to hone my skills.
In 2019, I immigrated to the United States. After some time spent working high-ranking research jobs, I settled in San Antonio. I now work as a biological scientist at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute by days. But every day when my work is done, I start drawing - scientist by day, artist by night!
I am thrilled to proudly identify as an artist as well and share my visions and connect with appreciative eyes. 

Aaron Bialaszewski grew up on a small farm in Newark, New York and attended Potsdam University where he studied Art History, Painting, Photography, Drawing, Sculpture, and Graphic Arts. He graduated in 2000 with a degree in Studio Art, and shortly after graduation, Bialaszewski moved to San Antonio. The look of his art is distinct; he brings an intense focus to each design, subject, and composition, using flowing lines of polished steel to create movement and mimic the precision of a painter’s brushes. He also utilizes beautifully controlled, heat-treated, layered, and dyed surfaces that seem to explode in iridescent color.

Joao Quiroz was born in Zacatecas, Mexico in 1980, and through his art, he explores the interior language of landscape, expressionism, and impressionism. He trained as a graphic designer and adopted painting as a means of expression over 20 years ago. He has toured the most historically important squares in Mexico, traveled to Italy, and now, resides in Texas. He leaves his stamp on images that belong to the culture and the way of life in his present, the portrait of society as a time capsule turned into painting. In 2021, Quiroz created a San Antonio public art sculpture, Frida de San Antonio, which is currently displayed in Hemisfair Park.

 Mary Carmen was born and raised in the heart of Mexico, specifically in Puebla. She obtained a degree in Graphic Design through international education at Universidad Iberoamericana in Puebla and in the search for new horizons spent a year at the University of Texas at Austin. She then crossed the Atlantic and “laissez les bon temps rouler” as an international student at l’Ecole Superieure de Commerce in Saint Etienne, France. Post education, choosing the Alamo City as her hometown, she developed and implemented Public Communications and Fundraising Department strategies at the Mexican Cultural Institute in San Antonio. She also worked at one of the most recognized advertising agencies in the Hispanic market in San Antonio as an Art Director. In 2008 she founded Le Reve Design providing both creative, and in recent years translation services for large scale projects offering solutions from a multicultural/bilingual perspective. She is married and has two beautiful daughters. She is a passionate artist with a deep-rooted love for the creative process. As an art alchemist, Mary Carmen constantly pushes the boundaries of traditional art by experimenting with various techniques and materials. Her Mexican background serves as a wellspring of inspiration, infusing her work with cultural richness and profound personal meaning. She believes that art holds the potential to transform lives and bring about positive change.

As a San Antonio native, Kim Anguiano has been inspired by the performing arts community working as a stylist for Ballet San Antonio at the Tobin Center and Broadway San Antonio at the Majestic Theatre. Combining thoughts with emotion through colors and textures on canvas brings her art to life. "I’m a creative risk taker and an eclectic artist who processes ideas on unlimited platforms, which is an important part of my vision. Painting and the arts have been a part of my life since an early age." She is also an event promoter and curator for Subculture Clash, a multi-genre collaboration. Selling works both publicly and privately has encouraged a unique rapport with the viewer, including her continuous fascination and desire to channel herself through art.  

Nichole Sharp is a self-taught San Antonio artist who comes from a long line of creative individuals. "I found a home in creativity and art as a child, doing all kinds of creative projects with my mom and aunts. I am continuing this legacy with my children as well."

Sharp has been pursuing her creative passions for the past six years. She has a love for the outdoors, which translates through her mixed media art using texture and resin. "I tie the two elements of rough texture and smooth, glossy resin into my pieces to display the strength and fluidity of the world around us." Her hope is that her abstract art allows the viewer's imagination to guide their view and find elegance in imperfections.

Sidra Hassan-Brown is a fine artist with a flair for Islamic and Ethnic art. She is the daughter of an immigrant mother from Pakistan who arrived in the United States in late 2002 with her brother and a desire to create beautiful things. Sidra takes inspiration from her cultural roots and spends mornings, afternoons, and evenings crafting visual depictions of nature, people of color, veterans of the United States Armed Services, movie art, and Muslim thematic content. Sidra holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Illustration and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from St. Peter’s University. She is an Army wife, a full-time accountant, and mother to a ragdoll cat named Neo. Sidra resides with her husband, Christopher, in San Antonio, Texas. 

San Antonio based artist, Mateo Hernandez, has been honing his skills in visual arts for the past several years. He established an early interest in art making while growing up which led him to a short stint at Northwest Vista.

Color has been the base of Mateo’s pieces throughout the years. His most popular series to date and the largest body of work is that which started as an homage to the everyday painter. Mateo has expanded this into works that speak try to speak to everyone.

His preferred medium in painting is acrylic on canvas.