The Hidden Agenda: Between the Lines
Antonio Lizárraga, “Número trinta e cinco,” 2024 (detail)
This week certainly doesn’t disappoint with an exciting array of unique events, including opening receptions at 4411 Montrose, the premiere of Emily Peacock’s film August at DiverseWorks, and the Best in Show art and fundraising event benefiting Barrio Dogs and BOX 13 ArtSpace.
Wednesday, July 13
Free Gallery Talk + Lunch: Claudia Schmuckli on Matthew Ronay at Blaffer Art Museum
Join Blaffer Art Museum (4173 Elgin) at noon for a free gallery talk about Matthew Ronay’s solo exhibition by outgoing museum director, chief curator and exhibition organizer Claudia Schmuckli. The talk concludes over lunch provided by the museum and be sure to RSVP online to guarantee your spot.
Thursday, July 14
Opening Reception — Antonio Lizárraga: Balance of Duality at Sicardi Gallery
From 6 to 8 pm, Sicardi Gallery (1506 West Alabama) presents Balance of Duality, a retrospective spanning 30 years of Argentinian-born artist Antonio Lizárraga’s production in painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. Although he passed in 2024, this will be the artist’s first solo exhibition in the United States and gives a comprehensive look at his impressive capacity for creativity through design, geometric painting, and poetry. Lizárraga’s exhibition will be on view through September 3.
Screening — Emily Peacock: August at DiverseWorks
“Carrying the weight of looming family tragedy and past heartbreaks, young artist August finds herself in limbo as she quietly goes through the motions at family gatherings, her job at a photo processing business, her own artist presentations, gallery openings, and awkward relationships,” reads the description for Houston artist Emily Peacock’s screenwriting and directorial debut, August. The world premiere of her half-hour film will take place at 7 pm in Matchbox 4 (3400 Main) and the screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Peacock. Admission is free, but tickets are required (available here).
Friday, July 15
Opening Receptions at 4411 Montrose
The galleries at 4411 Montrose make it easy for you to catch all of the exhibitions at once with four of the galleries hosting openings from 6 to 8 pm. David Shelton Gallery is hosting SummerzCool: A Group Exhibition featuring works by 16 artists; Ron Ulicny: Xylotheque at Cindy Lisica Gallery; and Owen Drysdale: Hot Summer Deadly Day at Barbara Davis Gallery. Additionally, Puffy, Prickly, Poured at Anya Tish Gallery features new and recent work by U.S. based, internationally-born artists Claire Ashley, Xuan Chen, and Dan Lam.
Opening Reception — Rahileh Rokhsari: The Edge at Samara Gallery
From 6 to 8 pm, Samara Gallery (3911 Main) is hosting the opening reception for The Edge, a solo exhibition of new works by Iranian-born artist Rahileh Rokhsari. The body of work presented, which will be on view through August 26, is “inspired by her personal journey as a woman and the never ending dance between tradition and modernity.”
Saturday, July 16
Best in Show at BOX 13 ArtSpace
From 3 to 8 pm, BOX 13 ArtSpace (6700 Harrisburg) is hosting a series of events as part of Best in Show, an open-call exhibition of dog and cat themed work, as well as a fundraiser and community awareness event. There will be an exhibition preview and adoption event with the non-profit Barrio Dogs from 3 to 5 pm where visitors will have the chance to meet animals in need of their forever home. At 6 pm, special guest representatives from Team Cat and Team Dog will judge the work on view and award artist-made ribbons, then from 6 to 8 pm, the works will be on sale with all proceeds benefiting Barrio Dogs and BOX 13.
LEAN, BLEAK at Alabama Song
As the second of three events, LEAN, BLEAK is a summer concert series featuring Texas songwriters, experimental improvisers and poets. This installment takes place at Alabama Song (2521 Oakdale) and includes performances by May (Regina Agu, Gabe Martinez and Ronnie Yates), Virginity (Spencer Dobbs and Parham Daghigi), Gun Kontrol (Joe Wozny and Sandy Ewen) and David Fiel. The show starts at 7:30 pm and there is a suggested donation of $5 to $10.
