ART is BOND.

Join us for an engaging artist talk at StudioEight08 THIS Thursday October 10th from 6 - 8 PM!

🗣️Leslie Cruz, exhibiting artist from The Contamination of Meanings, and Houston Grand Opera’s Composer-in-Residence, Joel Thompson, will be in an intimate and engaging dialogue. Moderated by Studio Eight08 co-founder Tay Powers, their conversation will explore the intersection of visual art and music, offering insights into each artist’s creative process and the powerful role of creative expression in shaping our experiences.

🔗Space is limited so make sure to sign up via the link in our bio!

Pictured here:
Pattern Legs
2023
Mixed media
48 x 60 in

Have you and your friends planned y’all’s visit to For the record by Kaima Marie yet??

🏙️ Featuring nostalgic nods to cultural markers of Houston, such as the former headquarters of KCOH radio station seen here, Marie’s series functions similarly to a palimpsest. Works such as Ain’t nothing changed but my change, pictured here, contain layers of archival and contemporary imagery, revealing the phases of development that underly any given street corner.

👉🏾 Keep swiping for some detail shots of this large-scale collage!

For the record is on view until November 2, 2024. DM us or email [email protected] to book your appointment!


Pictured here
Ain’t nothing changed but my change
2024
Paper Collage
71.5 x 39.5 in

“After my mom passed, I longed to deepen my relationship with and connection to my father.” - Kaima Marie on the source of inspiration for her series For the Record, currently on view at ART IS BOND.

The collage pictured here is perhaps the most intimate of the works from Marie’s exhibition, and fittingly the smallest. The namesake of the entire exhibition, in this work a colorful, vinyl-covered ceiling draws you into a busy interior, where Kaima Marie’s father sits with headphones on. He is surrounded by his beloved record collection and speakers, most of which have been printed in black and white. Featuring the most contemporary photo of its subject, the work can be read as a loving homage to the present, even as Marie continues her thematic exploration of how data and memories transform and survive across time.

Keep swiping for a beautiful photo of the artist with her father and muse!

For the record is on view until November 2nd. You can DM us or send an email to [email protected] to set up an appointment to visit the show!

We’re partnering with to bring y’all a pattern filled and color rich exhibition, The Contamination of Meanings by Leslie Cruz!

Opening Saturday, October 5th at from 6-8 PM, The Contamination of Meanings is a solo exhibition featuring the mixed media paintings of 🌺

Inspired by her affinity for cinema, photography, and interior design, Cruz’s series seamlessly incorporates surprising materials into her large-scale figurative paintings. Glitter, yarn, paper, and trim all obscure or adorn at different turns, granting the portraits endless variety. After years of private commissions, Cruz is ready to share her work with the public for the first time in all its dizzying, electrifying totality!

Studioeight08 is located on 808 Travis St, Suite 120. We hope to see you there!

Pictured here:
Tea Pots
2023
60 x 72 in

📰Houston CityBook urges you to visit For the record by Kaima Marie, here at ART IS BOND.!

Chris Becker writes: “This isn’t art you look at for 15-30 seconds before moving on to the next piece; there’s a real pleasure in being pulled into these large-scale photo collages, which Marie describes as ‘puzzles without a reference image.’”

Congratulations on this fantastic and well-deserved review 🌟

🔗 Follow the link in our bio to read the full article!

➡️ Keep swiping for some detail shots of the collages on display!

We’re taking a moment to look back at all the blessings and memories that our second year as a gallery has brought us 🥂✨

From artist talks to special one-day exhibitions, craft activations to community portrait days, ART IS BOND. has maintained our commitment to making high caliber art accessible. Intentional partnerships with arts organizations and businesses have strengthened the impact of our mission and we could not be more proud of all that we’ve shared with our community in the past year 🖤.

Two years ago today, a ribbon was cut and an intention was set loose. How beautiful to see how it’s bloomed!

We’re still reeling from the beautiful opening reception of For the record by Kaima Marie!
Deep gratitude to all who joined us in awe, curiosity, and celebration of Marie’s collages ❤️.

Guests had the opportunity to engage with the artist herself about the various historical references and personal anecdotes found within each collage, as well as to actively participate in her collection of records!

📝 Slips of paper asking visitors, “When you look at my work, collectively or a specific piece, what song comes to mind?” were available for music lovers to directly respond to Marie’s work.

For the record will be on view until November 2, 2024. Regular gallery hours are Wednesdays - Saturdays, 11 - 6 PM or by appointment.

🗓️Mark your calendars for THIS FRIDAY, September 6th, from 6 - 9 PM for the much anticipated opening reception of For the record by Kaima Marie!

For the record intertwines the historical essence of Houston, the artist’s hometown, with Marie’s signature meditation on urban public spaces. Unique cultural markers of Houston, such as the iconic Astrodome and Astroworld, coexist with local landmarks like St. James United Methodist Church and the former headquarters of KCOH radio station.

Marie also incorporates childhood photos from her personal archives, blending these elements to create large-scale collages that explore the creation of self informed by both personal and collective memories. Each collage fuses personal history with broader cultural narratives, challenging traditional notions of biography and representation.

“Images of myself and my loved ones serve as avatars of a person navigating their identity,” Marie notes, underscoring her works’ broader exploration of the construction of selfhood beyond a strictly autobiographical narrative. Travel serves as a major source of inspiration, as Marie melds hyperlocal and universal sources to create fantastical, expansive interiors and exteriors that immerse their viewer.

Pictured here:
Beyoncé had one of the best albums of all time
2023
49 x 38.5 in
Paper collage

We’re reminiscing on our recently closed summer exhibition, yakisugi by MR. TOMONOSHi! 🍃

Thank you to all who joined us last week for the pensive and inspiring closing receptions we hosted celebrating the run of this fantastic show!

📸:

TODAY IN HOUSTON | Today marks the final day to immerse yourself in MR. TOMONOSHI!'s solo exhibition, "yakisugi," at ART IS BOND. This exhibition has been a journey through inspiring and beautifully crafted works that speak volumes about storytelling and design through the poetics of space and nature. Don't miss your last chance to experience it—whether it's your first visit or a return to savor it once more. Bring a friend and share this intriguing experience. We’re open 11:00am-6pm, see you soon! !

🌟We’re thrilled to announce the opening of our newest solo exhibition, For the record by Kaima Marie!

🗓️ Set to debut on Friday, September 6th with a public reception from 6-9 PM, For the record offers a journey into the complexities of memory and place, as audiences are immersed into Marie’s intricate and layered compositions.

Each collage serves as a fragmented record of time, visually representing the simultaneous cacophony and harmony of memory. The collection of works draws from Marie’s nostalgic love for physical media, exploring images as repositories of knowledge and identity. She weaves textures and spaces with a tactile richness that compels one’s curiosity and complete immersion.

🌟 We can’t wait for y’all to join us!

Pictured here:
Is that how you treat your houseguest?
2022
Paper collage
41.5 x 25 in

Ming Smith: Feeling the Future, the first major career survey for Harlem-based artist Ming Smith, continues its tour and will open at Spelman College Museum of Fine Art TONIGHT, August 23rd! 🎷

Organized by the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and Spelman College, curated by James Bartlett, and conceived by our very own Janice Bond, this exhibition will be Smith’s first solo show in Atlanta and at a
Historically Black College or University.

Make sure to experience this remarkable exhibition if you are in Atlanta! The opening reception is from 6-8 PM.

Pictured here:
Ming Smith
Red Hot Jazz
1979
Archival Pigment Print

Dive into summer reading with these unique selections by MR. TOMONOSHi!

“I study a lot Japanese philosophies but my hand is very Black. Black hands built America. Black American craftsmanship.”
- .tomonoshi

The selection of literature showcased alongside yakisugi by MR. TOMONOSHi! exemplifies the beautiful melding of cultures that characterizes our current exhibition.

You have until August 31st to experience the zen and wonder of yakisugi by MR. TOMONOSHi!

It is with profound sorrow that we at ART IS BOND. gallery mourn the passing of Floyd Newsum, a visionary artist whose global limpact on the world of contemporary art is immeasurable. Floyd’s career spanned over four decades, during which his work continually evolved, embodying an expressive power and dynamic use of color that captivated audiences globally.

Floyd Newsum, a beloved member of the Houston art community, was not only renowned for his vibrant canvases that interwove historical narratives with personal symbolism but also for his commitment to social change through art. His contributions to the African American art scene have been particularly impactful, bringing forward stories and histories that are often overlooked.

His artworks, characterized by a unique blend of abstraction and figuration, have been exhibited in prestigious institutions around the world. Floyd’s distinctive style—marked by layered textures, intricate patterns, and an explosive palette—echoed his deep reflections on heritage, resilience, and hope.

Beyond his artistic achievements, Floyd was a mentor and educator, deeply invested in nurturing the next generation of artists. His dedication to teaching was paralleled by his continuous advocacy for the arts as a tool for community engagement and cultural dialogue.

As we remember Floyd Newsum, we reflect on his profound legacy that will undoubtedly continue to inspire and influence the art world for generations to come. His spirit, passion, and transformative power of his art remain with us, reminding us of the potential within all to create and change.

Floyd’s departure is a tremendous loss to the art community, but his work will forever remain a significant part of the cultural fabric that shapes our understanding of the world. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who were touched by his remarkable life and career.

Rest in peace, Floyd Newsum. Your legacy will continue to inspire, educate, and provoke thought across the world through the beauty and depth of your art.
🕊️

“WE LIVE WITH NATURE; NATURE DOES NOT LIVE WITH US.” - MR. TOMONOSHi!

🌳Tea House Hills 001 through 003, all pictured here, feature charming ink drawings of personified grassy hills. These smiling, benign entities are crowned with stacked houses and flowering trees, creating miniature contained universes in which nature and humans coexist peacefully. The works’ innocence and imaginative use of space is reminiscent of MR. TOMONOSHi’s work as a children’s show animator and speaks to the artist’s creative ethos of prioritizing play.

Comment your favorite Tea House Hills drawing below!👇🏾

Y’all have until August 31st to see yakisugi by MR. TOMONOSHi! at ART IS BOND.!

| “DON’T DREAM IN SILENCE. Thoughts are the foundation of art,” MR. TOMONOSHi shared with the Boys & Girls Club of Houston during PremiumGoods’ Juneteenth community activation last month💭🎨

ART IS BOND. partnered with and to provide the youth with a memorable day discovering the pinnacle of Black art experiences in Houston. We can’t wait to continue sharing outtakes from this memorable day of art and inspiration! Stops at and the Kinsey Collection at formed a part of this special field trip as well; we’re proud to be a part of celebrating the diverse and vibrant landscape of Black artistic expression in our city 🫶🏾💥

“I LEARN MORE ABOUT PEOPLE THROUGH NATURE THAN I DO FROM PEOPLE.” -MR. TOMONOSHi!

It’s been a minute since we shared our ongoing photographic series, Pics of the People, so we thought we’d highlight all those who have visited the serenity of yakisugi and come out with a refreshed sense of connection to nature and the power of imagination.

ART IS BOND. is resuming regular gallery hours tomorrow after the disruption of Hurricane Beryl. We hope everyone has been finding and providing refuge where they can! You have until August 31st to plan a visit with friends and family to our current exhibition. Hope to see y’all soon!

🍃Did you know that all the functional sculptures featured here come from the same tree??

Our current exhibition’s tour de force centers an imaginative, sensitive narrative crafted by MR. TOMONOSHi! in which a family of Black samurais follow a unique rite of passage: each family member is cut a seat from the same family tree once they have reached a certain age, joining the others in a circle of communion and reflection. Much like the individuals they represent, the seats’ forms are all unique reflections of imagined characters that come alive when witnessed.

All constructed from the same found, previously felled tree, MR. TOMONOSHi! breathes new life into a fallen living being, imagining a world in which the sanctity and generous provisions of nature are repurposed and preserved.

Keep swiping for close ups of some of these beautiful works. We hope you’ll visit soon and momentarily join the yakisugi family circle for yourself!

Final two images are courtesy of the artist.

Please join us in wishing Ming Smith another year of plenitude and inspiration around the sun! 💫 the photography icon Ming Smith was born, forever altering the landscape of American photography. The first Black woman photographer to be acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, this is but one of the indelible marks she has made during her decades long career.

This time last year at ART IS BOND., “Ming Smith: Catching the Light” was on view, contributing to the constellation of solo exhibitions dedicated to Smith’s impressive ouvre that illuminated Houston last summer.

We’re looking back with pride at such an impactful season, and are wishing Ming blessings as she enters her next at The Columbus Museum of Art with the upcoming opening of “Ming Smith: Transcendence” in September 2024 💐

Pictured here:
Ming Smith
Self Portrait (from the Self Portrait series)
1972

| The opening reception for yakisugi by MR. TOMONOSHi! was not one to miss!! Master storyteller and craftsman MR. TOMONOSHi! captivated a full house with key insights into the creation of and inspiration behind the wide range of works on display. We can’t wait to spend this summer sharing the rich narratives laced throughout his work!

yakisugi by MR. TOMONOSHi! is on view at ART IS BOND. until August 31st.

📸:

We’re ablaze with anticipation for the opening reception of yakisugi by MR. TOMONOSHi! this Friday, May 24 from 6-9 PM! 🔥

The works showcased in this exhibition embody the spiritual essence of Nature - each work harmoniously fits back into the natural landscapes of the ecosystems in
which the material was found, thereby reconnecting the observer’s inner-nature with Mother Nature.

“The only two things we can offer Mother Nature is our imagination and our craftsmanship,” notes MR. TOMONOSHi!
“Nature’s beauty is simple. It does not seek
understanding. We live with Nature, Nature does not live with us; however, there must always be a place for Nature in our homes.”

We hope to see y’all soon!

ART IS BOND. and the TOMONOSHi! Company is pleased to present “yakisugi” an
exhibition by MR. TOMONOSHi! in which the maker reshapes raw, found material into poetic expressions of Nature’s resilience 🌿

Immerse yourself in the fertile soils of connection and imagination from the TOMONOSHi! universe this upcoming Friday, May 24th, from 6-9 PM!

The exhibition features two motifs rooted in
MR.TOMONOSHi!’s practice: the first yakisugi explores the gentle reshaping of nature into simple forms that can exist in our living rooms or in our gardens. The second
yakisugi is explored as the maker utilizes the flame as a catalyst for the spiritual purification of Nature and its transition into a new purpose.

See y’all soon!

Happy Mother’s Day y’all! Make sure to plan a family visit to witness our Fotofest 2024 participating exhibition, PRESENCE, this week before it closes on May 18th! Regular gallery hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 am - 6 pm 🖤.

📸:

Congratulations to ART IS BOND. represented artist Wayne J Bell Jr for being the newest resident artist at IAH as a part of the Houston Airports Artist in Residence (AIR) program!

Bell will be creating new works of breathtaking abstract art in real time at the Terminal A Connector Gallery, granting travelers the unique experience of witnessing the creative process unfold between destinations.

Bell’s characteristic engagement with ‘atmospherism’, a process in which he sources space, time, and setting to inform the celestial tapestries he elaborates, is especially fitting for the liminality and infinite potential of an airport setting. Join us in wishing Bell the very best in this new, exciting chapter! 👏🏾

Pictured here:
Nigrum Fluctus Oblivione
Oil on Canvas
72 x 72 inches
2023
Featured in GOLDEN RATIO

Head over to the link in our bio to read “From Collaboration to Active Empowerment: Fueling Houston’s Flourishing Civic Art Landscape,” an article written for the Gulf Coast Journal of Literature and Fine Arts by our very own Janice Bond!

In it, Bond celebrates the positive momentum towards greater diversity and inclusivity in Houston’s public art scene while shedding light on the common challenges that BIPOC artists still face in civic art initiatives.

Keep swiping for a peek at some of the perspectives from important players in the Houston art scene that Bond brings in to the discussion! Issuing a call to action for better informed efforts towards achieving tangible progress in supporting a vibrant, multicultural civic art scene, Bond explores eleven specific areas that need improvement if Houston is to truly lift up voices from historically marginalized communities.

Happy reading!