Duncan Hall, 1070

A summary of Zen goes: “Everything changes, everything is connected, pay attention.”

The same could be said for leadership.

Chris Hyams went from teaching high school special ed to leading Indeed through 100x growth, to teaching AI ethics at an HBCU. This talk explores the intersection of technology, humanity, and change—and how AI is reshaping all three.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Chris Hyams Headshot

Chris Hyams
Former CEO of Indeed

Chris Hyams is the former CEO of Indeed, where he spent 15 years before leaving to focus full-time on the challenges and opportunities of responsible AI. He is a Visiting Lecturer at Huston-Tillotson University, an Historically Black University in Austin, TX, where he teaches on the intersection of technology, power, and justice. Chris is a Board Trustee at Huston-Tillotson and at DivInc, a technology accelerator whose mission is to generate social and economic equity through entrepreneurship.
Chris started his career working in adolescent addiction recovery, and then as a high school Special Education teacher in the Vermont public school system. After working as a musician in Los Angeles, he went back to school to study Computer Science. Chris worked as a software engineer, and later became VP of Engineering at Trilogy Software. Prior to Indeed, he was Founder & CEO of B-Side, a technology platform for independent film discovery and distribution. Chris earned an A.B. in Architecture from Princeton University and a Masters in Computer Science from Rice University. He lives in Austin, TX.
https://events.rice.edu/event/414808-head-and-heart-leading-technology-with-humanity-while

Presented by the Department of Art, with series support from the Department of Art History and the MFAH Glassell School of Art Core Program, with lecture support from the Rice School of Architecture, the Department of English and Creative Writing, and the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality.

Will Rawls
Thursday, January 22
6:00 PM Reception
6:30 PM Lecture
Pitman Cinema Theatre, Sarofim Hall

The artist’s visit is in collaboration with the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. 

Will Rawls is an artist and choreographer whose multidisciplinary practice explores the ambiguities of Blackness—its visibility and erasure, its performance and abstraction—to reframe the relationship between language and the body. In 2016, he co-curated Lost and Found, a six-week program of performances and artist projects at Danspace Project focused on the intergenerational impact of HIV/AIDS on dancers, women, and people of color. Based in New York and Los Angeles, he is Associate Professor of Choreography in the Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance at the University of California, Los Angeles and lectures widely in academic and community contexts. In addition, his work has been exhibited across the U.S., including at The Kitchen, New York; Institute for Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; 35th Bienal de São Paulo, Brazil; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; MoMA PS1, New York; Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland, OR; The Chocolate Factory Theater, New York; Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; Institute of Contemporary Art Boston; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; and Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven.

To view all guest artists participating in the Visiting Artist Lecture Series, visit: art.rice.edu

Free and open to the public.
Discounted parking available at West Lot 4.
Flat rate $6, credit card required. 

https://events.rice.edu/event/414805-will-rawls-2025-26-visiting-artist-lecture-series

Join the Menil for a special evening with Joan Jonas, a pioneering figure in video, performance, and contemporary art, whose work has redefined the possibilities of drawing, time, and narrative. In conversation with the Lines of Resolution: Drawing at the Advent of Television and Video exhibition curators Dr. Anna Lovatt and Kelly Montana, Jonas discusses the evolution of her interdisciplinary practice.

Attend

This program takes place in the main building, located at 1533 Sul Ross Street.

As always, Menil programs are free and open to all.

https://www.menil.org/events/artist-talk-joan-jonas

Co-presented by Aurora Picture Show and the Jim Henson Legacy
Admission: $10 / Free for Aurora members 

Jim Henson is widely known for his creative innovations in puppetry and beloved for his playful sensibility. But less is known about his bold experimentation before his popular Muppets and movies sparked the world’s curiosity and imagination. This selection of rarely seen, early works includes his abstract animation Drums West (1961), the Oscar-nominated short film Time Piece (1965), excerpts of experimental television project The Cube (1969), and much more. Many of these 1960s works feature music and sound by electronic music pioneer Raymond Scott. Join us for this special screening illuminating the experimental roots of Jim Henson’s ideas and techniques.

MORE INFO HERE

Celebrate the opening of this timely exhibition, which responds to the transformative influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on the medium of photography. This presentation coincides with the fortieth anniversary of FotoFest, the international photography biennial hosted in Houston, Texas, and includes works by Nouf Aljowaysir, Refik Anadol, Grégory Chatonsky, Sofia Crespo, Joan Fontcuberta, Lisa Oppenheim, and Trevor Paglen.

Join us to be the first to see this innovative exhibition. Registration is appreciated but not required.

REGISTER & MORE INFO HERE

On Friday, January 23, 2026, a new exhibition will open in the Community Gallery at Project Row Houses. Artists Deveney Thomas and Mikayla Malik, two students who are currently enrolled at the Texas Southern Univeristy, will host an Artist Talk with Q and A beginning at 6:30 pm CT. The opening reception is open and free to the public.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tsu-studios-showcase-with-artist-talks-and-q-and-a-tickets-1970635875953?aff=oddtdtcreator&mc_eid=c21891104e&mc_cid=2557eaf559

Previews: January 17, 18, 21 & 22

Opening Night: January 23, 2026

Runs: January 23 - February 22, 2026

Pecola Bredlove, a young Black girl in 1941 Lorain, Ohio, wants nothing more than to be loved and prays for Shirley Temple's blue eyes. Enthralling, gorgeously written, and incredibly heartrending, this stunning adaptation of Nobel and Pulitzer-winner Toni Morrison's debut novel centers tree young Black girls as they strive to make sense of love, sisterhood, abuse, and hate. 

Tickets Here

Rated PG-15 Play

Sensitive language, descriptions of etc.

Mitochondria Gallery is pleased to announce, Place of Repose III, the inaugural exhibition of 2026, opening January 24th. This third iteration of the series brings together new paintings and
sculptures by nine contemporary artists whose practices collectively examine the conditions, aesthetics, and cultural significance of rest. The exhibition extends the project's ongoing investigation into the spatial, psychological, and social dimensions of repose, foregrounding how individuals seek refuge within both interior and exterior environments. The works
on view draw from the intimacies of domestic space, the restorative qualities of natural landscapes, interpersonal bonds, reflective self-engagement, and inherited cultural rituals that
shape understandings of rest and restoration.

The exhibition presents small to large scale figurative paintings on canvas by Opeyemi Matthew Olukotun, Okoye Chukwuemeka
John, Kelani Fatai, Nedia Were, and Chika du. These artists employ representational strategies to explore embodiment, affect, and the everyday gestures through which rest is enacted
and imagined. Also featured are landscape paintings by Izere Antoine, whose works evoke contemplative environments that frame nature as a site of stillness, refuge, and renewal. Complementing the paintings, Place of Repose Ill features medium to large scale sculptural works by Agemo Francis, Nouka Ikechukwu, and Djakou Nathalie Kassi. Utilizing materials such as wood, aluminum, and textiles, these sculptors engage
materiality as a site of cultural memory, structural tension, and tactile resonance, expanding the exhibition's inquiry into how rest is materially constructed and symbolically articulated.

Viewing: January 24th - February 14th, 2026

MORE INFO HERE

No Name is a Black-owned worker cooperative connecting community members both inside and outside carceral facilities with radical books. Each month, No Name uplifts two books written by Black, indigenous, and other people of color. No Name believes building community through political education is crucial for our liberation and should be accessible to everyone—which is why all programming is free. 

MEETING DEETS

When: Sunday, JANUARY 25 @ 1 PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP to let us know you're coming! 

ABOUT NERVOUS CONDITIONS 

A modern classic from the Booker-shortlisted author of This Mournable Body

The groundbreaking first novel in Tsitsi Dangarembga’s award-winning trilogy, Nervous Conditions, won the Commonwealth Writers Prize and has been “hailed as one of the 20th century’s most significant works of African literature” (The New York Times). Two decades before Zimbabwe would win independence and ended white minority rule, thirteen-year-old Tambudzai Sigauke embarks on her education. On her shoulders rest the economic hopes of her parents, siblings, and extended family, and within her burns the desire for independence. She yearns to be free of the constraints of her rural village and thinks she’s found her way out when her wealthy uncle offers to sponsor her schooling. But she soon learns that the edu

https://kindredstorieshtx.com/collections/book-clubs/products/january-2026-no-name-book-club

You are cordially invited to celebrate Antioch’s 160th anniversary of service to the Lord with us in January!

Founded in 1866 and with Jack Yates as our first pastor, we will celebrate our rich history as well as our purposed and destined future! 
https://www.facebook.com/events/2322880871563256/

From NFL spotlight to inner stillness—Kenny Stills shares a powerful story of healing through service, self-reflection, and mental health “This book is a masterclass in truth-telling, transformation, and courageous faith.

Each chapter connects personal insight to a broader call for justice, reminding us that transformation, though not always easy, is part of answering a higher calling.

Through vivid storytelling and raw self-disclosure, Kenny Stills also reveals how inner work translates to meaningful change in the world. This isn’t just a book; it’s a blueprint for rising up with purpose, grounded in service, and an unwavering commitment to our collective humanity.”
—Dr. Rheeda Walker, author of The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health

https://www.classbookstore.com/events-1/class-bookstore-presents-a-conversation-with-kenny-stills

Back by popular demand! What’s on the Ballot, Now returns to help arts advocates make sense of the 2026 elections. Learn what’s on the ballot, hear how candidates responded to the HouArts questionnaire, and understand how artists and arts organizations can engage in voter education safely and effectively. Walk away ready to confidently participate in the civic process.

https://d5jtcr04.na2.hubspotlinksstarter.com/Ctc/5I+113/d5Jtcr04/VWx-Zf4cwDkjW6WdHc55RLFnCW1n-N735JfQGqN1YBnvb3m2nnW6N1vHY6lZ3n1W7TZwGG7qjl9sN3cv6ftmWpg3W4HHVny8CyWfmW6RtZ6798Wg8nW2jM_Z749tgFHW5S0V995zjjLRW5QcjhY3sMCz5M2kpFFkGkZ2W2Cc9_w16TMHmW9hgKlk6pJ4PkW7rWlgJ2xlzH6W6DT8j62pDsSrW7n9nZM99L7pvW5dmKlH3gHLbXW1Wh4TT1WDNlKN19L_9_C7KGxW8cRlWX5GYjt4N1hxPl9_d7LBVZb2yH3rs8jcW470BYG62C9JQW51bTs-8PMM65W5vPRMl9cyk7Sf8zNCNF04

Literary fans, students, parents, and the community are invited to celebrate the release of Houston’s hometown national bestselling author ReShonda Tate’s second historical fiction novel, With Love From Harlem, on January 27, 2026. The novel offers a powerful and intimate portrait of Hazel Scott, the groundbreaking jazz pianist and singer who rose to prominence in the 1930s and ’40s.

The evening will be a vibrant, multilayered arts experience featuring ReShonda Tate in conversation with radio personality Sky Houston, along with an inspiring student showcase of spoken-word poetry, interpretive dance, and live piano performance. 

This is an event the entire family can enjoy! We'll also be announcing the winners of the Echoes of Harlem Poetry Contest for middle and high school youth.

Pre-event activities will include an exclusive tour of the newly constructed Edison Cultural Arts Center, Missouri City’s newest cultural destination, along with a curated vendors market. A limited number of guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a VIP experience.

Direct your questions about the event or poetry contest to Tammy Smithers at drtammy.plbc@gmail.com. The contest is open to any Houston area student in grades 6-12.

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/personal-librarians/with-love-from-harlem-book-launch-event-in-missouri-city-tx-950179610

Celebrate the release of Dear Cycle Breaker with Dusah Wiseman! Join us to learn about Dusah’s new book and participate in a workshop featuring practices highlighted in the text.

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, January 29 @ 7PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St. Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat and participate in the workshop or RSVP WITH BOOK to support the author and our store programming.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Transformational rituals and channeled messages for unlocking your true potential, healing through the divine feminine, and making the everyday sacred.

The practices and channeled messages within this book support you in going deep within your shadows to unlock the potent medicine of combining your light and dark, reclaiming your inner magic, and unmasking the true potential of your wild, wise, and whole self. When you reconnect with the divine feminine and tap into the ancient wisdom of the powerful women who came before you, you become a walking embodiment of love, magic, compassion, and power.

Writes Dusah, "My divine mission is to be a guiding light for those who are ready to unmask their true power and potential. This is the book that would have saved me from repetitive unwanted cycles. It is a beacon that will resurrect the Goddess who has been playing small for reasons that span previous lifetimes. It will empower the Queen who is finally ready to claim her legacy."

Peel back the layers covering up your true greatness: the lies, the past experiences, the trauma, the masks that your family or society has forced you to don. This is your initiation into a divine co-creation with Spirit—a pathway back to your highest self and a deep connection with Source.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dusah Wiseman, also known as Serpent Goddess, fell in love with shamanic practices as a child, and they have laid the foundation for her well-being. She has trained with indigenous elders and notable industry leaders, and her medicine bag includes yoga, pranayama, meditation, qigong, herbalism, music, and somatic healing through a trauma-informed lens. She believes in the art of inner alchemy and facilitates these tools to assist others who are looking to go deep within their shadows to unlock the potent medicine of combining both their light and dark to unmask their true power and potential. Sitting in ceremony is her favorite way to connect with the Divine.

https://kindredstorieshtx.com/products/irl-author-talk-and-workshop-dear-cycle-breaker-with-dusah-wiseman-january-29-7pm

Grammy-winning vocalist Julia Bullock performs Olivier Messiaen’s Harawi with longtime collaborator Conor Hanick. The 20th-century song cycle is inspired by the Andes’ Quechua culture, blending jazz, folk, and nature’s sounds in this timeless story of love.
Julia Bullock, soprano; Conor Hanick, piano | Harawi | DACAMERA of Houston

Celebrate Main Street: A Community Story About Redlining with Britt Hawthorne!

EVENT DEETS

When: Saturday, January 31 @ 12 PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St #2, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to let us know you're coming or RSVP WITH BOOK to secure your copy of Main Street: A Community Story About Redlining

Outside copies of Main Street will not be allowed into the bookstore.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A girl learns how the history of redlining has affected her neighborhood in this intergenerational picture book about racism, community action, and resilience by two New York Times bestselling authors.

Olivia can’t wait to invite her friends to the 62nd annual Main Street Block Party. But when she does, Alison says that Main Street isn’t safe. Olivia’s eyes fill with tears, and she begins to wish that she didn’t live on Main Street at all.

Then, Olivia learns what happened when her neighbor Ms. Effie was about her age: Ms. Effie's family was also told that Main Street wasn’t good enough. The bank wouldn’t give them a loan to buy their house based on where it fell on a color-coded map: Mostly Black people lived near Main Street, so the neighborhood was colored red on the map. To fight back against this practice called redlining, Ms. Effie’s family became friends with their neighbors and got organized.

With vibrant illustrations by David Wilkerson and engaging text by Britt Hawthorne and Tiffany Jewell, Main Street celebrates what might happen when neighbors come together for a common goal and everybody pitches in.

Features backmatter with an author's note about the full history of redlining and ideas for further engagement with your community!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Britt Hawthorne is an award-winning author and teacher. She grew up in Rockford, IL, where she gobbled up thin-crust pizza and Swedish pancakes. She now lives with her family in Houston, Texas, delighting in coffee, sweet treats, and naps.
Website: BrittHawthorne.com Instagram: @BrittHawthorne.

https://kindredstorieshtx.com/products/irl-storytime-main-street-a-community-story-about-redlining-january-31-12-pm

Black Art in America™ (BAIA) Fair is a dynamic, three-day event showcasing limited-edition fine art prints and original works on paper from hundreds of artists spanning from the Harlem Renaissance to some of today’s most compelling African American artists and master printmakers. Explore the various forms of printmaking; screenprints, woodcuts, linocuts, lithographs, etchings, monoprints, and more as the fair brings together museum-level works at collector-friendly price points.

This year’s Houston fair spotlights four standout artists whose practices deepen the visual tradition of Black printmaking: Traci Mims, known for bold, politically incisive relief prints exploring resistance and identity, with works held in major collections including The Coca-Cola Company and The Legacy Museum; Jamaal Barber, the Virginia-born, Alabama-raised, Atlanta-shaped printmaker celebrated for expressive, layered compositions, with commissions for The New York Times and illustrations for Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize–winning The Underground Railroad; Katrina Andry, the New Orleans–based artist whose large-scale, hand-carved woodcuts confront race, power, and colorism; and Michael Ellison (1952–2001), a master innovator whose experimental techniques and rhythm-infused abstractions continue to influence contemporary printmaking.

Past BAIA Print Fairs have drawn audiences nationwide, ranging from seasoned collectors to families encountering fine art prints for the first time. Programming will include artist talks, live printmaking demonstrations, guided tours, and more! Join us for a unique opportunity to make meaningful connections and collect investable art!

https://www.blackartinamerica.com/blogs/news/black-art-in-america-brings-its-acclaimed-fine-art-print-fair-back-to-houston-february-6-8-2026

Explore beautiful fine art prints, enjoy artist talks and live demos-three days of art, learning, and accessible collecting at Print Fair!

Black Art in America™ (BAIA) is proud to announce the next stop of its celebrated BAIA Fine Art Print Fair, arriving in Houston, Texas, and hosted by the Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC) from February 6–8. Building on the success of previous fairs in Atlanta, Houston and Washington, D.C —where hundreds of collectors, first-time buyers, and art lovers gathered to engage with the rich legacy of Black printmaking—this Houston edition expands BAIA’s mission to make fine art accessible.

The BAIA Fine Art Print Fair is a dynamic, three-day event showcasing limited-edition fine art prints and original works on paper from hundreds of artists spanning from the Harlem Renaissance to some of today’s most compelling African American artists and master printmakers. Explore the various forms of printmaking; screenprints, woodcuts, linocuts, lithographs, etchings, monoprints, and more as the fair brings together museum-level works at collector-friendly price points.

Event is free | MORE & RESERVATIONS HERE

Art Lovers of Houston is an unforgettable evening of creativity, community, and celebration—all in support of Art League Houston.

Date: Friday, February 6, 2026 | 6-9 PM
Location: Art League Houston | 1953 Montrose Blvd.
Co-chairs: Brittany Cox & Liz Klingensmith

Art League Houston is excited to announce the third annual Art Lovers of Houston, a creative fundraising event supporting Houston’s visual arts community. Co-chaired by Brittany Cox and Liz Klingensmith, Art Lovers of Houston is an unforgettable evening of creativity, connection, and celebration—bringing together artists, patrons, and arts supporters to champion Houston’s dynamic visual arts community.
Guests will enjoy a lively night filled with:
• Creative cocktails
• Delicious lite bites
• Live music
• DIY art activity – design and create your own custom tote bag
• Casino Games featuring a custom deck of cards designed by artist Phillip Pyle
• Exciting raffle prizes including original artwork, hotel stays, gift cards, and more!

Proceeds from Art Lovers of Houston raise crucial funds that directly support Art League Houston’s year-round exhibitions, education programs, community initiatives, and essential artist resources—ensuring contemporary art remains accessible to all Houstonians.

https://www.artleaguehouston.org/2026-art-lovers

Celebrate the release of This Ain't Our First Rodeo with Liara Tamani!

EVENT DEETS

When: Friday, February 6 @ 7 PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX, 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to support the author and our store programming. Please note that only copies of This Ain't Our First Rodeo purchased at Kindred Stories will be permitted at the event.

*Western wear highly encouraged.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When life lassoes Josie and Shawn back together three years after their dreamy first date, their second chance at love is anything but easy. A big-hearted rodeo romance set in Houston, Texas, by the critically acclaimed Liara Tamani, author of What She Missed, All The Things We Never Knew, and Calling My Name. This bold first-love story is for fans of Nothing Like the Movies and Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute.

This ain’t Josie’s first rodeo. Her parents own several fancy restaurants in Houston, and they just opened a new one right outside the stadium. Josie is expected to stay inside the restaurant and help, and maybe take over their growing empire one day, but that isn’t what Josie wants. She’d rather be at the rodeo itself than in a high-end restaurant next to it. Or eating funnel cakes and Texas-sized corn dogs at the carnival on the grounds. Or better yet, riding her horse at her grandparents’ ranch, the very place her mom wants to sell.

It ain’t Shawn’s first rodeo either. He’s been riding bulls since his mom died, doing everything he can to live up to his rodeo-champion stepfather’s sky-high expectations. But as Shawn’s stardom rises, so do tensions in their relationship. His stepfather’s drinking and gambling problems sure don’t help.

After one unforgettable night leaves Josie and Shawn wanting nothing but each other, their lives become entwined in increasingly complex ways. Can they save Josie’s family land? Or will Shawn’s stepfather and his shady plan be the ranch’s ruin? Will one wrong move cost them everything? Rodeo after rodeo, year after year, can Josie and Shawn keep their hearts open through the secrets, twists, and turns?

This Ain’t Our First Rodeo is a contemporary western love story full of bulls, brawls, and horses. It’s a tender second chance cowboy romance about family, friendship, mistakes, and the blessings of choosing to love anyway. Black cowboys and cowgirls like Josie and Shawn have long helped shape the American West—a legacy that shines in Liara Tamani’s storytelling. Her writing is quick-witted, swoony, and authentic, with characters who are easy to love and hard to forget.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LIARA TAMANI grew up in Houston, Texas, where every spring meant one thing: rodeo season. She loved getting decked out in her best cowgirl gear and soaking up the music, food, and electric energy of the rodeo, a joy she now shares with her daughter and husband. Her deep Texas roots shine through her storytelling, capturing the spirit and rhythms of the state in all her acclaimed novels: Calling My Name, All the Things We Never Knew, and What She Missed. Before becoming a writer, she attended Harvard Law School and worked as a marketing coordinator for the Houston Rockets and Comets, television production assistant, home accessories designer, floral designer, and yoga and dance teacher. She holds an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a BA from Duke University.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Black Art in America™ (BAIA) Fair is a dynamic, three-day event showcasing limited-edition fine art prints and original works on paper from hundreds of artists spanning from the Harlem Renaissance to some of today’s most compelling African American artists and master printmakers. Explore the various forms of printmaking; screenprints, woodcuts, linocuts, lithographs, etchings, monoprints, and more as the fair brings together museum-level works at collector-friendly price points.

This year’s Houston fair spotlights four standout artists whose practices deepen the visual tradition of Black printmaking: Traci Mims, known for bold, politically incisive relief prints exploring resistance and identity, with works held in major collections including The Coca-Cola Company and The Legacy Museum; Jamaal Barber, the Virginia-born, Alabama-raised, Atlanta-shaped printmaker celebrated for expressive, layered compositions, with commissions for The New York Times and illustrations for Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize–winning The Underground Railroad; Katrina Andry, the New Orleans–based artist whose large-scale, hand-carved woodcuts confront race, power, and colorism; and Michael Ellison (1952–2001), a master innovator whose experimental techniques and rhythm-infused abstractions continue to influence contemporary printmaking.

Past BAIA Print Fairs have drawn audiences nationwide, ranging from seasoned collectors to families encountering fine art prints for the first time. Programming will include artist talks, live printmaking demonstrations, guided tours, and more! Join us for a unique opportunity to make meaningful connections and collect investable art!

https://www.blackartinamerica.com/blogs/news/black-art-in-america-brings-its-acclaimed-fine-art-print-fair-back-to-houston-february-6-8-2026

Consider supporting the Moody Center for the Arts by purchasing a ticket to our annual fundraising dinner. Chaired by Laura and Galen Hines-Pierce and Janie and Daniel Zilkha, the evening will honor artist Trevor Paglen, whose work is featured in the upcoming spring exhibition, Imaging after Photography. Your support ensures we can continue to spark bold conversations and create transformative experiences that are free, accessible, and open to the public.

For tickets, contact Whitney Baskin at wbaskin@rice.edu

Black Art in America™ (BAIA) Fair is a dynamic, three-day event showcasing limited-edition fine art prints and original works on paper from hundreds of artists spanning from the Harlem Renaissance to some of today’s most compelling African American artists and master printmakers. Explore the various forms of printmaking; screenprints, woodcuts, linocuts, lithographs, etchings, monoprints, and more as the fair brings together museum-level works at collector-friendly price points.

This year’s Houston fair spotlights four standout artists whose practices deepen the visual tradition of Black printmaking: Traci Mims, known for bold, politically incisive relief prints exploring resistance and identity, with works held in major collections including The Coca-Cola Company and The Legacy Museum; Jamaal Barber, the Virginia-born, Alabama-raised, Atlanta-shaped printmaker celebrated for expressive, layered compositions, with commissions for The New York Times and illustrations for Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize–winning The Underground Railroad; Katrina Andry, the New Orleans–based artist whose large-scale, hand-carved woodcuts confront race, power, and colorism; and Michael Ellison (1952–2001), a master innovator whose experimental techniques and rhythm-infused abstractions continue to influence contemporary printmaking.

Past BAIA Print Fairs have drawn audiences nationwide, ranging from seasoned collectors to families encountering fine art prints for the first time. Programming will include artist talks, live printmaking demonstrations, guided tours, and more! Join us for a unique opportunity to make meaningful connections and collect investable art!

https://www.blackartinamerica.com/blogs/news/black-art-in-america-brings-its-acclaimed-fine-art-print-fair-back-to-houston-february-6-8-2026

Celebrate the release of Slavery, Segregation, and the Second Founding of Rice University with Alexander X. Byrd  and  W. Caleb McDaniel!

EVENT DEETS

When: Wednesday, February 11 @ 7PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004).

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to support the author and our store programming.

Please note outside copies of the book will not be allowed in the bookstore and you will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. You must buy a book from Kindred Stories or purchase the RSVP (BUT I HAVE THE BOOK) ticket. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

During the first quarter of the twenty-first century, more than one hundred institutions of higher education in the United States launched projects to study and share their histories concerning slavery, segregation, and racial injustice. Slavery, Segregation, and the Second Founding of Rice University joins these wider efforts. Authored by award-winning historians Alexander X. Byrd and W. Caleb McDaniel, the book engages questions specific to Rice’s history as the last major private research university in the country to begin desegregation. Although Rice did not open its doors for classes until 1912, it was connected to the history of slavery through the life of its first founder and namesake, William Marsh Rice, whose fortune was deeply intertwined with the enslavement of Black people.

Byrd and McDaniel place the history of one of the nation’s most renowned universities within a longer and larger context, showing that desegregation required changes to Rice so fundamental that they amounted to a “second founding” of the school. Following the story from slavery through segregation to the second founding, they highlight pivotal points of intersection between the history of Black Houston and the history of Rice University, revealing the seldom acknowledged roles of Black students, Black communities, and HBCUs in creating change at and around Rice. Their study challenges readers to consider anew who counts as a university’s founder—a question relevant to ongoing discussions about statues, naming, and the history of higher education. They also reveal what higher education institutions do at their best: create new knowledge and forge solutions to trenchant social problems, thus providing guidance for those committed to doing the valuable work of the “second founding” at colleges and universities today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexander X. Byrd is associate professor of history and Vice Provost at Rice University. He is the author of Captives and Voyagers: Black Migrants across the Eighteenth-Century British Atlantic World, which won the Wesley-Logan Prize.

W. Caleb McDaniel is the Mary Gibbs Jones Professor of the Humanities and professor of history at Rice University. He is the author of Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America, which won the Pulitzer Prize in history.

https://kindredstorieshtx.com/products/irl-author-talk-slavery-segregation-and-the-second-founding-of-rice-university-with-alexander-x-byrd-and-w-caleb-mcdaniel-february-11-7pm

Join us to celebrate Clay Cane's new book Burn Down Master's House!

Presented by Kindred Stories - a Black-owned, women-owned bookstore in Third Ward, Houston, TX.

Doors open at 6:15 PM CST. Each paid ticket includes one copy of Clay Cane's new book, Burn Down Master's House. The book will be available for pickup at the event.

Inspired by true, long-buried stories of enslaved people who dared to fight back, a searing portrayal of resistance for readers of Colson Whitehead, Jesmyn Ward, and Percival Everett, from Clay Cane, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of The Grift.

As turmoil simmers within a divided nation, smoke from another blaze begins to rise. Sparked by individual acts of resistance among those enslaved across the American South, their seemingly disparate rebellions fuel a singular inferno of justice, connecting them in ways quiet at times, explosive at others. As these flames rise, so will they.

Luke, quick-witted and literate, and Henri, a man with a strong and defiant spirit, forge an unbreakable bond at a Virginia plantation called Magnolia Row. Both seek escape from unimaginable cruelty. And sure as the fires of hell, Luke and Henri will leave their mark, sparking resistance among the lives they touch…

One is Josephine, a young, sharp, and observant girl who wields silence as her greatest weapon. A witness to Luke and Henri’s resilience, she listens, watches, waits for the moment to make her move.

Then there is Charity Butler, her husband a formerly enslaved man who proved his ferocity as a young boy standing alongside Josephine. At his encouragement, Charity fights for her freedom in court and wins – only to battle a deeply unjust system designed to destroy the life they’ve built.

And finally, there is Nathaniel, who ruthlessly exploits other Black people and mirrors the cruelty of the white men who, like him, are enslavers. A perversion of the system of slavery, his fragile and contradictory rule will become a catalyst of its own.

Inspired by the true stories of the profoundly courageous men and women who dared to fight back, Burn Down Master’s House is a singular tour de force of a novel—breathtaking in scope, compassion, and a timeliness that speaks powerfully to our present era.

Each paid ticket includes one copy of Clay Cane's new book, Burn Down Master's House. The book will be available for pickup at the event.

About The Author:

Clay Cane is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist, radio host, and political analyst. More than 3 million listeners tune into The Clay Cane Show on SiriusXM each week, his commentary is heard on television networks such as ABC, MSNBC, FOX and CNN, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, CNN.com, and BET. He is the author of the instant New York Times bestseller The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult, Live Through This, and Burn Down Master’s House. A graduate of Rutgers University, Phi Beta Kappa, with a B.A. in English and African American Studies, he lives outside of New York City.

About The Moderator

Keith Boykin is a New York Times bestselling author of Why Does Everything Have to Be About Race?, a former White House aide, and a co-founder of the National Black Justice Coalition.

About Kindred Stories:

Kindred Stories is here to give kids and adults alike a space to explore the wide-open world of literary content and creative works fashioned by black and brown hands. We are a bookstore committed to amplifying Black voices and bringing diverse stories from throughout the African diaspora to our local community in Houston, TX. We are currently located at 2304 Stuart Street, Houston, TX, 77004 in the Third Ward neighborhood in partnership with Project Row Houses. We provide a well curated selection of books and artisan wares to edify the swelling appetites for authentic stories as told by those who have lived them. Learn more about Kindred Stories and shop our online book collection at www.kindredstorieshtx.com.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/burn-down-masters-house-with-clay-cane-tickets-1968312756440

2026 is the Year of the Horse — a symbol of energy, freedom, and forward momentum. The horse also represents strength, grace, and determination. Join Asia Society Texas in welcoming the Year of the Horse with vibrant performances, hands-on arts and craft activities, and delicious food — all inspired by Lunar New Year traditions across Asia!

Celebrate the new year as traditional lion dancers kick off the festivities outside on our festival lawn. Enjoy dynamic Chinese music and dance performances, get creative with Lunar New Year-themed crafts, and visit our The House of Pikachu: Art, Anime, and Pop Culture exhibition!

This event is FREE and open to the public; registration is required and will be enforced for timed building entry from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1–4 p.m. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Music and dance performances by Huaxing Arts Group Houston are ticketed ($12; 35% discount for AST members) and include building entry.

https://asiasociety.org/texas/events/lunar-new-year-2026-celebrating-year-horse

Film screening at Student Center
https://www.uh.edu/calendar/#event-details/a88190f1-73d5-45a9-8bd5-ae2074f4cc35

Join us to celebrate Nedra Glover Tawwab's latest release The Balancing Act .

Presented by Kindred Stories - a Black-owned, women-owned bookstore in Third Ward, Houston, TX.

Doors open at 6:15 PM CST. Each paid ticket includes one copy of Nedra Glover Tawwab's latest release, The Balancing Act. The book will be available for pickup at the event.

From the bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace, a guide to understanding healthy dependency—to bring our relationships back into balance

I need some space.

Why are you so distant?

You want more than I can give.

Every relationship in our lives – from love and close friendship to extended family and our wider social circle – is a balancing act. If we give too much, we begin to lose ourselves. If we protect ourselves too much, we lose the closeness we all need. Getting the balance right is how we find more connection, authenticity, and joy.

The Balancing Act is a roadmap for finding that balance. With her signature blend of clarity and compassion, therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab sheds light on healthy dependency, and how to achieve it. Along the way, she unpacks buzzwords and trending topics including codependency, attachment styles, inner family systems, and more – offering practical advice for recognizing our needs, navigating conflict, and finding more harmony with the important people in our lives.

Whether you’re yearning for more trust with a spouse or partner, more clarity with a best friend or sibling, or more agency in how you show up in the world, these insights will help you reevaluate, reset, and relate better.

Each paid ticket includes one copy of Nedra Glover Tawwab's latest release The Balancing Act. The book will be available for pickup at the event.

About the Author:

Nedra Glover Tawwab is the author of the New York Timesbestseller Set Boundaries, Find Peace and Drama Free. A licensed therapist and sought-after relationship expert, she has practiced relationship therapy for more than fifteen years. Tawwab has appeared as an expert on The Red Table Talk, The Breakfast Club, Good Morning America, and CBS This Morning, to name a few. Her work has been highlighted in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Vice, and has appeared on numerous podcasts, including Good Life Project, Sofia with an F, and Therapy for Black Girls. Tawwab runs a popular Instagram account where she shares practices, tools, and reflections for mental health. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her family.

About the Moderator:

Dr. Anita Phillips, LCSW-C, is the Executive Pastor of Congregational Wellness at ONE | A Potter’s House Church in Los Angeles. A trauma therapist, life coach, spiritual teacher, and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Garden Within, she is widely recognized as a thought leader at the intersection of mental health, faith, and culture. Her mental health advocacy work has reached hundreds of thousands, and her podcast, In the Light with Dr. Anita, has transformed lives around the globe. Dr. Anita holds degrees from the University of Maryland and the Regent University School of Psychology & Counseling and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In her downtime, this New Jersey native adores a good pint of ice cream, sitting by the ocean, and the company of her family and friends.

About Kindred Stories:

Kindred Stories is here to give kids and adults alike a space to explore the wide-open world of literary content and creative works fashioned by black and brown hands. We are a bookstore committed to amplifying Black voices and bringing diverse stories from throughout the African diaspora to our local community in Houston, TX. We are currently located at 2310 Elgin Street, Houston, TX, 77004 in the Third Ward neighborhood in partnership with Project Row Houses. We provide a well curated selection of books and artisan wares to edify the swelling appetites for authentic stories as told by those who have lived them. Learn more about Kindred Stories and shop our online book collection at www.kindredstorieshtx.com.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-balancing-act-with-nedra-glover-tawwab-tickets-1978158160308

 Celebrate Black History Month with the 5th annual Woodson Black Fest at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH)! This year’s Woodson Black Fest will feature spoken word performances, poetry, and music inspired by Tomashi Jackson: Across The Universe. 

In honor of the distinguished author and thinker Carter G. Woodson, Woodson Black Fest brings enlightenment, creativity, and innovation to celebrate Black artists and artisans’ contributions to our community.

A tour of Tomashi Jackson: Across The Universe, led by attorney and community activator Erin McClarty, will be offered from 1–2PM.

This event is free and open to all ages. RSVP is recommended.

       https://camh.org/event/woodson-black-fest-2026/
 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/woodson-black-fest-2026-tickets-1978428058581