Rockport, TX — Rockport Center for the Arts (RCA) is delighted to kick off the New Year with a trio of dynamic exhibitions featuring a rich diversity of artistic voices and media. From introspective mixed-media works to bold sculptural explorations and expressive paintings, the new cycle of exhibitions invites audiences to engage with compelling contemporary art from local, regional, and nationally recognized artists.
Catey Arnold, Barrow Foundation Curator of Exhibitions says, “Choosing B. Shawn Cox, Jack Gron, and Lisa Baer Frederick to run during the same exhibition cycle came intuitively but choosing them to open the year was very deliberate. All three are Texas artists who have made — and continue to make — a real impact on the state’s creative landscape, each in their own way. They also represent three different regions of Texas, which I love; it feels like gathering voices from across the state into one conversation here in Rockport.”
“What connects them is heart,” she said. “Beneath the differences in style — from bold Western pop iconography to abstracted steel and wood sculpture to layered, intuitive painting — they’re all asking poetic questions about presence, uncertainty, time, identity, and how we hold ourselves upright in a changing world. They each bring a generosity of spirit, and it felt like the right energy to begin the year with.”
B. Shawn Cox | Hanging by a Moment
Presented by: FieldGuide Financial
January 9 – February 22, 2026
McKelvey Charitable Fund Gallery
Reception: Saturday, January 10 • 5–7PM
Austin-based multimedia artist B. Shawn Cox continues his ongoing exploration of perception, cultural subtext, and the elusive nature of “the moment” in Hanging by a Moment. Using painting, drawing, installation, and lenticular techniques, Cox’s work challenges viewers to reconsider how they see and experience imagery — inviting deeper engagement with time, memory, and presence.
Catey says, “With B. Shawn Cox, it was the tenderness beneath the cowboy myth — the vulnerability inside the archetype. His ballpoint drawings on mylar are mesmerizing. He captures such softness using a tool most of us use every day.”
Lisa Baer Frederick | Echoes of Grace
Presented by: Karen Mella, Realtor
January 24 – March 3, 2026
H-E-B Gallery
Reception: Saturday, February 14 • 5–7PM
Presented by Karen Mella, Realtor, Echoes of Grace showcases new paintings by Rockport artist Lisa Baer Frederick. Known for her vibrant color palette and layered mixed-media approach, Frederick brings an intuitive and soulful expression to her work. A longtime supporter of the local arts community and former director of Estelle Stair Gallery, Frederick’s pieces reflect both personal history and creative spontaneity.
Catey says, “With Lisa, it was light. Her paintings seem to glow from within. You can feel how much she notices — not just what something looks like, but what it feels like to be there. Her use of color, and the generosity in the surfaces of her work, excite me the most.”
Jack Gron | Attempting Balance
January 27 – March 22, 2026
Jeanie and Bill Wyatt Gallery
Reception: Saturday, February 14 • 5–7PM
Houston-based sculptor Jack Gron presents Attempting Balance, a compelling exhibition of sculpture that blurs the line between abstraction and figuration. Working in steel, aluminum, bronze, and cast iron, Gron draws on decades of practice and national recognition to create works that explore form, movement, tension, and harmony. His work reflects both emotional depth and technical precision, offering visitors an immersive sculptural experience.
Finally, Catey says, “With Jack, it was his relationship to material — and to the Coastal Bend — that first drew me in. He treats steel, wood, and color with equal care. The sculptures feel playful and engineered at the same time. When I first approached him about the show, I didn’t even realize he created the sculpture at the entrance of the Corpus Christi Police Department!”
About Rockport Center for the Arts
The 1.2-acre Rockport Center for the Arts campus is located in the Rockport Cultural Arts District and features multiple galleries, classrooms, a sculpture garden, and The ROCC conference center. RCA is dedicated to supporting the arts through exhibitions, education, outreach, and community engagement. Admission to the galleries is always free. For more information, visit rockportartcenter.com or call (361) 729-5519.