Life, Color, and Spirit: the Art of Rona Lesser

Rona Lesser's works emphasize the color, light,and the beauty of nature, as well as a deep connection to Jewish spirituality. Rona has been an active Houston area artist since the mid 1980's, and she continues to show and teach citywide.

Slide 1

Résumé

Education

B.S. Elementary Education, Texas Woman’s University (1972)
M.A. Educational Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio (1978)

Art Training

Drawing and painting classes at Glassell school of Art, Houston Tx
Workshop with Jo Milgrom, Biblical Art Midrash, Institute of Midrash (July 1998)
Drawing and painting classes at the Art League of Houston (1989-Present)
Painting class with Steve Parker, Houston Civic Arts Association
Additional workshops at Watercolor Art Society – Houston
Figure drawing and painting classes at Suburban Fine Arts, Highland Park, IL (1980-1983)
Drawing classes at St. Philips College, San Antonio, TX

 

Gallery Show and Representation

2020 Online gallery The Art Nexus www.theartnexus.com
Jan.- March 2019 ERJCC solo exhibit “How Great are your works Oh God!” Houston, Tx
March 2019 R”Renewal” solo exhibit Houston Community College S.W campus gallery
June 2015 One person show at Cloister Gallery, Christ Church Cathedral Houston, Tx

June 2013-Sept.2019  Affaire D’Art. Galveston, Tx

2015- July 2016 Spectra Gallery, Memorial City Mall, Houston, Tx

March through June 2010: one person show, Circle S Vineyards gallery space
Fall 2009: Yol Art, Houston, TX

Invitational Exhibits
2020 Aug. Visual Arts Alliance Juried Invitational Exhibit, online at www.exhibbit.com
2019 Women in the Visual and Literary Arts, S.P.A.C.E collaboration exhibit, Houston Publick Library Main Branch gallery
2018 Aug. Cloister Gallery City ArtWorks Faculty exhibit Houston, Tx
2017, Aug. Women in the Visual and Literary Arts Houston “Renewal” exhibit  ERJCC Houston gallery
Fall 2010 JCC showcase Houston Show
Fall 2006 JCC Showcase Houston show
March to April 2005: Ten Plagues Invitational, JCC; Houston, TX
2004: Cats at the Keyes, Keyes Gallery; Springfield, MO

Juried Shows and Awards

Recent Shows

2019 Oct, Watercolor Society Houston Fall Juried Membership exhibit
VAA membership exhibit Fall 2017  Spring St. studios
2017 VAA juried invitational exhibit  Silos studios
2017 Watercolor Society Houston International exhibit
2016 WaterColor Society Houston Fall Juried Membership exhibit,  Houston, Tx
2016  VAA Fall Juried Membership exhibit,  Spring Street Studios
2016 VAA invitational Juried exhibit Spring Street Studios
2015 32nd Juried Open Show, Visual Arts Alliance, Williams Tower Gallery Houston, Tx
2014 Women In Visual and Literary Arts juried VCR show
2014, Visual Arts Alliance Juried Invitational Show, Avis Frank Gallery, Houston, Tx
2012, VAA Juried Membership Show,Houston,Tx.
2012 January through May : Song Of The Land;
WCA-JWAN Hebrew Union College, Skirball coampus, Los Angeles
2011: WIVLA print show; Printing Museum, Houston, TX
Women Illustrating Nature: Galeris Tonzantin, San Juan Bautista, CA
Archway Gallery third annual juried Show
Artist Alive and Well Continental Building Show
‘Drawing the Line:’ JWAN annual show; Beverly Arts Center, Chicago, IL

Fall 2009 VAA juried Membership exhibit

Other Shows

Winter 2009: ‘Artists Alive and Well’
July 2009: Watercolor Art Society – Houston (Third Place)
Spring 2009: Visual Arts Alliance International Show
February 2009: Watercolor Art Society – Houston Honorable Mention
February to June 2007: Jewish Women’s Art Network Juried Show (“Words Within”),
Kraft Center for Jewish Life; Manhattan, NY/Rubin-Frankel Gallery; Boston, MA
January 2007: Go Figure Juried Show, M2 Gallery; Houston, TX
October to November 2006: Plein Air Juried Show, Keyes Gallery; Springfield, MO
November 2005: Watercolor Arts Society – Houston Juried Membership Show Juror’s Mention
October 2005: Eastman Gallery Juried Show (“Deep in the Art of Texas”)

Juried Shows/Awards Continued…

October 2005: Visual Arts Alliance Fall Juried Membership Show
April to May 2005: Tikkun Olam Show, Makor Gallery
Makor Steinhardt Center; Manhattan, NY
2004: Watercolor Arts Society – Houston Fall Membership Show/
Visual Arts Alliance Fall Membership Show
2004: First Place, HCAA Membership Show (also two Honorable Mentions)
2003: Visual Arts Alliance Fall Membership Show
2002: Honorable Mentiom, Watercolor Arts Society – Houston Fall Membership Show
2002: Texas City Juried National Show
2001: Visual Arts Alliance Fall Juried Show
2001: Honorable Mention, Houston Civic Arts Association Membership Show
and Membership Show at the Omni Hotel
August 2001: Art League of Houston Open Show
April 2000: Texas Watercolor Society Show (Water Media 2000)

Non-Juried Shows

Recent Shows

2016 Women In the Visual and Literary Arts “Windows” collaboration exhibit, Brazosport Art Center

2016 Women in the Visual and Literary Arts ” Inspired by her words” Houston Public Library Downtown

December 2011: Heights Art Studio and Gallery, Houston, TX
Earlier 2011: E Street Gallery, Galveston Tx.
Sculpture By Design group gallery show
JoMar studios Open studio dates
City Hall Houston Artists Alive and Well
Student shows Art League of Houston and Watercolor Society Houston

Other Shows

2009: WIVLA Collaboration, “Altered Books”
2008 to 2009: Annual Print Show, WIVLA, Printing Museum; Houston, TX
2000 to 2009: Shows for “Artists Alive and Well”, various locations; Houston, TX
2006,February: WIVLA Collaboration: The Suitcase Show
2005 April to May Spanish Flower Restaurant Show
2005: Flash 2, Houston Women’s Caucus for Art
2004.April: Houston Women’s Caucus for Art at Bradford St. Gallery; Kemah, TX
2004: at Europa Cafe; Houston, TX (solo exhibit)
January 2004: Just War Show, Bradford St. Gallery; Kemah, TX
2003: National Women’s Caucus for Art Board Member Show
Galleria Tonantzin; San Juan Batista, CA
2003, Oct.: Michaeline’s Restaurant; Houston, TX
October 2001: WIVLA miniature show at Butera’s Restaurant
2000-2002: Barnaby’s Restaurant (Houston, TX), E Street Gallery and Coffee House (Galveston, TX) — Art Walk artist

Art-Related Jobs

Sumer 2017  Art Teacher Summer workshop for children/ Blaffer Art Museum  University of Houston1998-2017: Art teacher, City Art Works (formerly Creative Alternatives)
2000-2003: Visiting Artist in the Schools, Texas Institute for Arts in Education and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
2000-2015: Art teacher, Congregation Emanuel Helfman Religious School
2002-2004: Art educator and docent, Mobile Art Quest at the Blaffer Gallery; University of Houston2004-2017 Docent, Blaffer Art Museum, University of Houston

Professional Affiliations

National Women’s Caucus for Art, National Board Member, 2003-2019
College Art Association, 2016-19
Watercolor Society – Houston
Women In the Visual and Literary Arts (WIVLA)
Visual Arts Alliance, Houston