David Mercado is an artist who resides in Austin, Texas. In the beginning, his imagery focused on the beauty, strength, and movement of hummingbirds—a series that gained him national recognition by their popularity. As his career progressed, however, an exciting new abstract collection emerged which illustrated not only his range as an artist, but showcased the evolution of depth and complexity within his work.
It is the striking imagery of Mercado’s latest venture, however, which reveals a much more personal side of the artist. His “Virgen de Guadalupe” series gives a profoundly intimate glimpse into the faith and heritage which have inspired him. The series unveils an incredible transformation of traditional, iconic imagery into complex, abstract renderings of the Virgin’s image onto board, paper, and furniture pieces. Mercado’s style flawlessly blends the old and new to produce this new intriguing mix of vivid, soul-jarring, and contemporary pieces. @davidmercadoatxEmail David
Lauren Luna was born in Columbus, Ohio. After graduating from Kent State University’s School of Fine Arts with a focus in painting, she moved to New York City. She began teaching Special Education for New York City schools and entered a Masters program at Manhattan College. Upon graduation, she moved back to her hometown of Columbus along with her son and continued teaching. Later enrolling in the Academy of Art University for her second Master’s degree, in Fine Arts.
In 2011, Luna relocated to Houston, Texas, pursuing her new life as a full time artist and footwear designer.
Lauren Luna was named a Top 50 Entrepreneur by Scion Car Company, participated in Austin and Houston Fashion Week, was featured in British Vogue and Glamour Magazines, and had a shoe design in an exhibit in the Grassi Museum in Germany.She was honored to receive the Margot Siegel Award for Design by the Goldstein Museum of which two pairs of her hand painted shoes are a part of the museum’s permanent collection.
In 2015, after winning Best In Show at a juried art competition, she was commended by the Alvin Independent School District School Board, and was put into Congressional Record by the District’s State Representative.
She is a frequent participant to local art festivals, and also has a mural at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Luna currently is an art professor at Lone Star and San Jacinto Colleges, and is Co-President of the D.R.E.A.M Affect Foundation, a non-profit organization that awards scholarships to minority art students pursuing Fine Arts, and grants for emerging artists to show their work.
My medium is a varied mix of tiny shells, scraps of paper, slivers of glass, thick gel mediums, crusted gouache additives, creamy acrylic and globs of oil paints, traces of watercolor and melted wax crayons combined with hardened enamels and carefully chosen 14kt gold flake.
Every piece is original and every creation is an unpredictable surprise! I create with a clear heart, no expectations. The materials combined together create a resist-like reaction and the results are different every time…..each piece is genuinely unique and original!
I’m passionate about living the artful life. I have a great appreciation for nature and animals,20% of all sales goes to S.N.A.P. (Spay and Neuter Assistance Program) for animals. I am also an active advocate for the “Adopt Don’t Shop!” movement which means finding forever homes for our homeless furry friends.
My art reflects my interest in science and nature. Also, light and darkness. I’m a digital artist, creating abstracts and realism- expressionist works. Many abstracts start life as fractals, which is my way to balance my logical side with my creative nature. At times, I feel very split between art and tech geek.
“My goal is to bring the beauty of plants, trees and other natural places to my artwork so that I can share that with others. My hope is that my art might help another person connect with the natural world so that he or she can appreciate the beauty that surrounds us every day. I use a variety of techniques and media to bring my work to life!” ~Angie Spears
