Lisa Baer Frederick is a local Rockport Artist who owned & directed Estelle Stair Gallery from 1996-2020. She & her husband, John Paul restored the Galleryspace & received a Registered Historical Landmark designation in 2008. She sold the building in 2020, and it now houses The Coastal Mercantile.

Her appreciation for art started when she was very young, fostered by her Aunt Estelle Stair and other local artists. Lisa studied at Sam Houston State University and graduated in 1980. She has been a supporter of the local arts in several capacities; artist, patron, donor and has served on the board of the Rockport Center for the Arts and on several supporting committees over the years.
 
Previously named Master Artist, Lisa was awarded a one woman show during the July 4th Annual Art Festival in 2009 . Her paintings are bright and colorful but also have depth and sense of abstraction which comes from her thoughtful, intuitive process where one image is layered on top of another with a mixed media method. 
 
Lisa Baer Frederick is based in Rockport where she maintains a thriving studio practice.

The exhibit is being presented by Karen Mella - Realtor.

Todd Sanders is a Texas-based neon artist known for his handmade works that blend vintage Americana with contemporary pop culture. Inspired by mid-20th-century sign craftsmanship, Todd’s modern-vintage style incorporates neon, modern phrases, Texas imagery, and Americana icons.

Born in Montgomery, Texas, Todd studied at Sam Houston State University and discovered his passion for neon during a college road trip through Austin. Following this newfound inspiration, he left behind his graphic design degree to pursue an apprenticeship in commercial sign making, eventually founding his studio, Roadhouse Relics, in 1995.

Todd’s work has appeared in films, magazines, and galleries, including the Museum of Neon Art. Collectors include Willie Nelson and Kasey Musgraves.

Todd Sanders lives and works in Austin, Texas where he maintains his vibrant studio practice at RoadHouse Relics.

Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and scuba diver originally from Mumbai, India, whose work bridges her diverse global experiences and deep connection to the natural world.

Drawing inspiration from her deep-sea dives, her intricate artworks capture the beauty of marine ecosystems through a vibrant fusion of oil painting, photography, textiles, ceramics, and more. Using both abstract and representational forms, she tells stories of the oceans to immerse the viewer in marine ecosystems.

Her public artworks are visible on Google Earth, and her latest installation at George W. Bush Intercontinental Airport celebrates the coasts of Galveston and U.S. intercoastal marine systems. Through collaborations with organizations like the Galveston Bay Foundation and Correa Lab, She aims to advocate for marine conservation through art and education, inspiring awareness of the present beauties of our natural world.

Janavi is currently based in Houston, Texas

About the Rockport Art Festival Master Artist Tradition
The first Rockport Art Festival was hosted in 1969 and has grown to become one of the most respected, and longest-running juried art festivals in the United States. Every year since 1993, a diverse committee of artists and art patrons gathers to select one master artist for the annual event, the first of whom was master artist Harold Phenix. This select group of chosen artists are known for their achievements in the Arts, for their engagement and contributions to the Rockport Center for the Arts, and for their ability to capture the coastal aesthetic that is uniquely Rockport and that is recognized across the State of Texas.
 
About Rockport Art Festival Master Artists, 1993–present
1993 Harold Phenix †; 1994 Steve Russell (Founding member of the Rockport Art Association, Inc.); 1995 Al Barnes †; 1996 Herb Booth †; 1997 Jesus Moroles †; 1998 Evelyn Atkinson; 1999 Ricardo Rivera †; 2000 Kay Barnebey †; 2001 Jim Offeman; 2002 Flint Reed; 2003 Anita Diebel; 2004 Thom Evans †; 2005 Carol Koutnik; 2006 Hal McCaskill †; 2007 Nanci Barnes; 2008 Teresa Justice; 2009 Lisa Baer Frederick; 2010 Shirley Hughes Blackman; 2011 Betty Shamel; 2012 Bruce Bitter; 2013 Bonnie Lou Prouty †; 2014 Pamela Fulcher; 2015 Chance Yarbrough; 2016 Joey Blazek; 2017 Barb Robinson; 2018 Debbie Stevens; 2019 Angalee DeForest; 2020 V… Vaughan; 2021 Robin Hazard; 2022 Jeffrey Neel McDaniel; 2023 Kent Ullberg; 2024 Patsy Lindamood; and 2025 Susie Black
Legend: † Deceased

The exhibit is being presented by Legacy Wealth Partners, LLC.

Doerte Weber is a Texas-based fiber artist whose work explores themes of memory, place, and connection through weaving. Originally from Blender, Germany, she earned a degree in social pedagogy before living in Asia and England. She settled in Texas in 1986 and began weaving in the early 1990s at the Southwest School of Art.

Inspired by the experimental spirit of the Bauhaus women weavers, Doerte is largely self-taught, blending traditional techniques with non-traditional and repurposed materials. Her work transforms everyday objects into powerful visual narratives that bridge the past and present.

Influenced by her travels, current events, and the world around her, Doerte seeks to evoke a sense of shared human experience. Through her artwork, she aims to highlights the beauty in the overlooked and inspire a sense of unity in an increasingly fragmented world.
 
Doerte Weber is based in San Antonio, Texas.

Steve Russell, born in Rockport, Texas, in 1946, grew up near the waterfront, where he spent his time sailing and fishing with his family. His painting method evolves through an abstract beginning, where he searches for the exciting elements that will shape the final piece.

His painting process begins with abstraction, searching for the key elements to develop the composition. “I take a leap of faith and let the composition be what it wants to be.” A lifelong painter, and a founder of the original Rockport Art Guild, Steve Russell has been named Texas State Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year twice and has been a guest artist at the Easton Waterfowl Festival and the Northwest Rendezvous.

Skilled in many media, including jewelry design, sculpture, and fiber—when he is not painting, he is exploring his creativity and sharing life with his wife, Sherol, his inspiration and constant companion since 1975.

Steve Russell maintains an active studio practice in Rockport.

The exhibit is being presented by an anonymous donor.

The Big Wave Annual All Members Exhibition features the work of 200 member artists. The exhibit spans multiple galleries, showcasing original art, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography, and more. Every year, a distinguished juror selects three artists of merit, for a group show featured in the McKelvey Charitable Fund Gallery the following year.

The exhibit is being presented by The O’Connor and Hewitt Foundation.