Today we’d like to introduce you to Vena Ashley.
Vena, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a native Houstonian and graduated from Sam Houston State in 2006, with a BFA, double major, in Advertising Graphic Design and Photography. After college, I worked as a graphic designer until October of 2013. Then decided to finally take the first step at being an artist and showed at my first Art Crawl at the Atelier Jacquinet November of 2013, and I have been showing and producing art ever since.
After my showing in 2013, I showed in several shows, one in particular, with the theme “007”. I really enjoyed that show, and had a new dream, to produce more shows like that in Houston. My first show to produce was, “No Place Like that Yellow Brick Road.” It was epic, and so, State of the Art Shows was started! The second big show was at MATCH Houston, “Every Summer Has a Story.”
After the Every Summer Has a Story show, I was given the opportunity to make RockStar Gallery State of the Art Shows home gallery. My motto has been “Go big, or go home,” and that is exactly what I feel that I am doing at RockStar, my “state-of-the-ART-Shows” home gallery.
The gallery is beautiful, and a must see!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road! Starting a business is never easy, especially in the art world! I have learned that you have to stick through it when you feel like giving up, because when you do that, the next big thing and event is just around the corner! I have learned never to give up!
One of the biggest challenges with the gallery is the location. It is not in Houston’s main art district that everyone is used to going… not to mention the construction on 290, however you can always get their various different ways from everywhere in Houston without even getting on 290. It is right outside the loop, but only 7 min from Karbach Brewery! It is only 15 min from downtown and the heights, and is actually very centrally located for Houston! For the folks who do come see the gallery for the first time, they are hooked, and come back show after show!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
RockStar Gallery is basically run by artists. The gallery was getting so big that I could not keep running the gallery alone, so I thought very hard about it, and I chose 7 different people to be on RockStar Gallery’s Board.
As of right now, the board is anonymous, but in a few months, we will be ready to announce the board members!
We like to go above and beyond at RockStar Gallery with red carpet and all! During our Last Sundays at RockStar Show, our Indoor Arts Festival, we even have leather couches for the artists and patrons, very different from the outdoor art festivals! We like to live up to our name, State of the ART Shows, and RockStar! Nothing is impossible at RockStar Gallery!
What were you like growing up?
I was always quiet growing up, and even as an adult, am generally quiet, which is why even I am shocked at myself and all I do for the gallery! I am getting more and more comfortable behind the microphone at the shows, and even when interviewed on TV!
I have always liked art and being creative! I also have always had the entrepreneurial spirit, so producing art shows, and now running a gallery, and still working on my own art, just makes since! I get to help local artists with an awesome venue to show and sell their work, and we all have fun doing it!
Contact Info:
- Address: 5700 NW Central Dr. #160
Houston, Texas 77092 - Website: www.stateoftheartshows.com
- Phone: 832-868-0242
- Email: rockstarartgallery@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockstar_art_gallery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockStarArtGallery/
Image Credit:
Maranda Smikal
RockStar Gallery
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