Art of Collaboration
From Feb. 28th to May 24th
The Art of Collaboration returns in 2026 with an expanded vision and an elevated purpose. After the success of the inaugural 2024 exhibition—this second edition steps into an even more powerful chapter for Austin’s creative ecosystem.
The 2026 exhibit will debut during Black History Month, The exhibit will be Richesart Gallery 5th American History Exhibit celebrating Black creativity, innovation, and cross-disciplinary storytelling. This year’s cohort expands beyond visual arts to include:
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Six Artists | Multiple Disciplines | One Vision
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Poet Jay Writes
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Videographer/Photographer Kameal Mock
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Designer (Graphic/Experimental/Painter) Chris Tobar
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Painter/athlete/Curator (Watercolor/Ink/spraycans/acrylic/fashion) Richard Samuel
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Painter/Ballerina (Acrylic/oil/Mixed Media) Sarah Forge
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Textile Artist/Painter (textiles/sculptures/engraving/calligraphy) Steph Ivelisse
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Together, these six Black creators will engage in an intensive, collaborative process—each artist partnering with every other artist in the group—to produce 15 new collaborative works that merge genres, disciplines, and cultural perspectives.
Inspired by the 2024 “speed-dating-meets-studio practice” model, this edition continues to push the boundaries of what creative partnership can look like. Each piece will tell a story of shared vision, cultural lineage, and the transformative process of relinquishing control to co-create something larger than oneself.
MEET THE ARTIST
Chris Tobar
Chris Tobar Rodriguez is an Austin-based multidisciplinary artist and Creative Director whose work blends bold visual storytelling, Afro-Latino identity, and reimagined Western iconography. Working across painting, immersive installation, film, and narrative world-building, Tobar creates layered environments that explore visibility, cultural memory, and self-authorship. He is the creator of The Neon Rodeo, an ongoing immersive art series that reclaims cowboy mythology through Black, Brown, and non-binary perspectives, and the founder of Creators Who Wonder, a platform dedicated to creative experimentation and community-driven cultural spaces. Tobar has exhibited work across the United States and is known for integrating mirrors, projection, sound, and storytelling to transform galleries into experiential portals. In addition to his studio practice, Tobar serves as Creative Director for OFCOLOR and ContraCommon, where he develops programs and exhibitions that center artists of color. His work consistently bridges art, design, and community—building worlds that invite reflection, connection, and resilience.
Jay Writes
Jonathan Ezemba, also known as Jay Writes, is an author, multidisciplinary performing artist, and event curator. Jonathan is an advocate for liberation through self and collective expression. He verbally illustrates the beauty within community, struggles with identity, and reflections on his own experiences and the world at large. Jay Writes curates and hosts open mics, writing workshops, jam sessions, and poetry slams at Rhythms And Poetry, located at the only black-owned art gallery in Austin, Richesart Gallery. He also collaborates with artists across mediums as an MC, performer, and teacher at venues across the state.
Sarah Forge
Sarah Elizabeth Forgé is a surrealist oil painter whose work explores psychological states, vulnerability, and interior narratives through the female figure. Her paintings are atmospheric and emotionally charged, moving between darkness, quiet absurdity, and moments of disarming beauty. Rather than overt symbolism, her work relies on suggestion—gesture, posture, color tension, and mood—to communicate what is felt but rarely articulated. Forgé’s visual language is deeply informed by her background in dance, particularly classical ballet and contemporary movement. Years of embodied training shape her sensitivity to form, balance, and tension within the figure. Bodies in her work often appear poised, restrained, or suspended, echoing the discipline and control of ballet while quietly resisting it. Movement is implied rather than depicted, allowing stillness to carry psychological weight. Her palette frequently centers on bold contrasts—especially orange and blue—alongside restrained, academic influences such as the Zorn palette. This balance between intensity and limitation mirrors the emotional range of the work itself: somber without heaviness, playful without irony, and intimate without exhibition. Forgé’s paintings do not prescribe meaning. Instead, they invite prolonged looking and personal interpretation, creating space for viewers to encounter their own emotional reflections within the work.
Richard Samuel
As the founder of RichesArt Gallery and a self-taught watercolor artist hailing from Texas, Richard’s life has been anything but ordinary. His journey from a professional football player to an artist has been fueled by diverse global experiences. These profound interactions have deeply influenced my artistic approach, allowing me to infuse my work with a rich tapestry of influences and perspectives. My art is a vibrant celebration of Motivation and self-identity, aimed at evoking positive inspiration, nostalgia, and deep emotional responses.
Kameal Mock
Elaine Alonzo, an Austin native, blends her Korean and Hispanic heritage in her vibrant artwork. Her distinctive style, ranging from surrealism to portraiture, mixed media to wearable art, has led her to travel across the country having been featured as a live painter and speaker at various events, further cementing her reputation as a sought-after artist in diverse circles.
Elaine draws inspiration from vivid dreams, the diverse cultures she’s experienced, and the music that moves her. She is dedicated to fostering creative communities and connections, striving to co-create a more harmonious reality.
Steph Ivelisse
Steph Ivelisse is a multidisciplinary artist, calligrapher, and creative entrepreneur based in Austin, TX. A former educator turned full-time artist, she launched Ivelisse Designs in 2019 as a tribute to her late mother and a vessel for living more intentionally and creatively. Her work spans live event calligraphy and engraving, immersive workshops, and fine art inspired by the women who shaped her. Steph’s art practice draws heavily from her heritage—particularly the tradition of fabric, sewing, and craftsmanship passed down through generations. Her recent Fabric Series pays homage to that lineage, using floral forms, textile textures, and layered symbolism to honor both softness and strength. Steph’s business has grown to include brand activations, calligraphy classes, and custom commissions, with clients ranging from brides and boutique hotels to brands like Anthropologie, Uber, and Bumble. Whether engraving perfume bottles at a luxury pop-up or painting florals in her studio, Steph approaches each project with care, intention, and a deep belief in the power of beauty to connect us. Through Ivelisse Designs, she creates art and experiences that help people feel celebrated, inspired, and deeply seen.
