Your Artists in San Antonio

​David 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 is a self-taught contemporary artist born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. From a young age, Monic would spend her time sewing clothing and all things related to art. She loved projects where she could express herself and explore her imagination. For several years Monic had co-designed for Malen Reyes Couture, a fashion brand created by her mother. As time went on Monic ventured into other areas to explore her interests in photography, interior design, and make-up artistry. In 2015, Monic picked up a paintbrush and created a centerpiece for her mother’s living room. Little did Monic know, this would be the catalyst for her to enter professionally into the industry. Her passion for abstract art has since been featured in several showings, exhibitions, and magazines. Much of her inspiration is derived from her mother's background, her unique style, and her culture. Monic hopes to capture her vision of life, love, and self-expression in all of her works. 

  The painter Aceldama, retired mediaevalist and former iconographer, uses the media and techniques common in writing icons for his panels devoted to the exploration of color relationships and mathematical proportions. Sometimes the subject is also mathematical; sometimes the subject is a development of more traditional genres, such as landscapes and stilllifes. One wonders, what would art look like if painters had been limited to the media and techniques of iconographers, but had studied in the studios of Cezanne,Braque, Feninger and the Futurists? Aceldama experiments with this idea.  

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.

On the surface, Mary Jean Ruhnke creates brilliantly detailed paintings of birds. If you look a little closer, you will see that these works are infused with deep spirituality and emotion brought forth from the artist with her brushes, palette knife, acrylic pigments, and ink. Ruhnke has painted subjects such as the female form, pet portraits, and farm animals, but she has found that she is most drawn to birds, as they are a depiction of her spirit. The birds that she paints show her vulnerability, strength, splendor for life, and immense desire to be free from society’s expectations. Her birds emerge from the backgrounds rooted in the earthly world and shine forth as unique and singular. Like her birds, the artist sees humans as colorful, extraordinary creatures with aspects that beautifully set us apart, and the world is our backdrop where we can all shine.  

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.  

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.   

Maha Mhareb is a Palestinian artist based in San Antonio. Her expertise blossomed from her passion as a self-taught artist who has been creating art for over 40 years. She taught art classes for 15 years while she lived overseas to share her love for art with others while helping them discover their own gifts. Her artwork is fueled by the loved ones surrounding her; she says they give her work a heartbeat as she cultivates it. Mhareb expresses her feelings and emotions through abstract artwork.

David Swint has lived in Texas all his life... from the coast to the Hill Country, and now, his current residence in San Antonio. While he began tinkering in the visual arts from an early age and trained to be an architectural draftsman in college, he took up oil painting in earnest in 204 during a workshop with renowned skyscape artist, Phil Bob Bormann. Today, he enjoys membership at the Coppini Academy of Fine Arts. "I typically paint what I find interesting and beautiful, and if my art can evoke an emotion for someone else, then I feel even more blessed."

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. 

 Natyeli Martinez-Neria was born in Mexico and now lives in San Antonio where she is continuously inspired by the culture and energy of the city. "Painting is a language we use to express who we are, what we love, and where we came from. Mexico, my birth country, gave me a love for vibrant colors and a passion for culture expression. When I studied industrial design, I discovered the joy of working with materials and my hands. My dad always encouraged us to visit museums and 'live' the places that we visited; my mom is the one that took me to painting classes when I was a child. For me, art brings joy and beauty to our lives. Art interacts with us, our space, and even our mood." 

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.

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.