Empathy Unveiled by Victor Ancheta, Anne-Bénédicte Houang, Kill Joy - FREE Art Opening!

Join us for this FREE Artists' Reception!

On view: October 4 - November 14, 2024

Empathy Unveiled features a collection of artworks by three Houston-based visual artists whose work exemplifies, at a high level, an artistic expression of compassion. Anne Houang, Kill Joy and Victor Ancheta explore compassion in its many forms – through the lens of empathy, healing and action. Utilizing the various mediums of painting, mixed media and photography, each artist highlights the manifestation of compassion in different cultures, contexts, and communities. The works showcased in Empathy Unveiled challenge us to see beyond our individual perspectives and engage with the world around us in a more empathetic and caring way.

Victor Ancheta , a gay artist, curator, and writer from the Philippines, specializes in exploring identity, religion, colonial history, and tradition dismantling. He served as the community liaison for the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, curating exhibitions and overseeing the Houston Poet Laureate program. He is now a senior communications specialist in the Mayor’s Office of Communications.

Anne-Bénédicte Houang (she/her/hers) is a photographer, storyteller, and educator based in Houston, Texas. She uses photography as a universal language and a collaborative tool for empowerment, reflection, and research, driven by a sincere commitment to using her craft as a conduit for social change. In recognition of her compassionate approach to the arts, Anne was nominated as the 2022 Visual Arts Artist of the Year by Compassionate Houston. She has also received support from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. Currently, Anne is engaged in a personal project titled “The Road Home”, which explores the concepts of zeitgeist, memory, and personal agency.

Kill Joy is a Filipino-American artist based in Houston, Texas. Her work explores ancient symbols and world mythology, and incorporates themes from the natural world and storytelling. Her practice, Joyland, includes printmaking, mural painting, bookmaking, and puppetry. Her work often seeks to honor the earth and promote environmental and social justice, and calls for global, mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual awareness.

Empathy Unveiled is curated by Compassionate Houston’s Compassion Through the Arts initiative which identifies, highlights, and financially supports several local artists whose work promotes compassion within the greater Houston area. Compassion Through the Arts recognizes the Creative Arts as unique and necessary tools for building compassionate communities and strives to inspire and encourage artistic engagement and creative partnerships that cultivate compassion. Compassionate Houston (https://www.compassionatehouston.org/) is a 501c3 non-profit founded in 2011 and dedicated to growing the compassionate culture of Greater Houston through awareness, education, community and service. Compassionate Houston is a network of 30+ diverse organizations with a shared commitment to fostering an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings, treating others with respect and encouraging an appreciation of cultural and religious diversity.