Discovery Green
Art Lab
A public art incubator in Houston
UPDATE: The Request for Proposals for the 2025 Fall Art Installation at Discovery Green is open now. More information below.
Art Lab is a pilot program that aims to reshape the landscape of public art in Houston by supporting local artists, fostering diversity and spurring innovation within our community.
Through mentorship and hands-on experience, Art Lab will empower creatives in the Greater Houston area who aspire to expand their professional practice into large scale, three-dimensional, interactive public art projects. Artists will gain the practical skills and resources necessary to realize capital-intensive projects that express our region’s diverse culture and values.
Art Lab Goals
- Create a more just and equitable landscape for Houston artists in the public art realm
- Establish Houston’s reputation as a groundbreaking community for highly interactive temporary public art
- Elevate the voices, ideas, and visions of artists from Houston onto the national public art landscape
The team of mentors for Art Lab includes: Art Lab’s annual “Lead Artist”, Jen Lewin, who is commissioned by Discovery Green to create its annual winter art installation, Weingarten Art Group, co-curators and co-administrators for Discovery Green’s public art program since 2014 and for Art Lab, and Metalab, a prominent Houston-based architecture and design firm with an extensive public art track record.
“Art Lab is a groundbreaking program for Discovery Green and Houston. Our goal is to keep connecting Houstonians and visitors with thought-provoking artworks, while creating opportunities for talented artists in our own backyard.”
Request For Proposals: 2025 Fall Art Installation at Discovery Green
Discovery Green Conservancy is seeking proposals for a temporary outdoor art installation that will captivate and resonate with the park’s diverse audiences. Weingarten Art Group, on behalf of Discovery Green Conservancy, invites artists to propose projects that inspire exploration, magic, and joy in this vibrant urban park – one of Houston’s most beloved public spaces hosting up to two million visitors annually.
As outlined in the Request for Proposals, the selected project will be installed on the Sarofim Picnic Lawn for 4-6 weeks in the Fall of 2025. The total project budget is $80,000, inclusive of all costs.
Artists or artist teams with experience in outdoor public art are encouraged to apply, with special consideration given to Discovery Green’s Houston-based Art Lab Fellows.
Applications are due by 11:59 pm on Friday, February 21, 2025. Questions may be directed to ady@weingartenartgroup.com.
Meet the inaugural Art Lab Lead Artist:
Jen Lewin
Jen Lewin is a widely respected public artist based in Brooklyn known for her interactive light landscapes using innovative technologies. Over her nearly 30-year career, Lewin has honed her artistic and technical expertise to design and fabricate large-scale interactive public sculptures across the world, both temporary and permanent, that encourage community interaction and play. Her design “The Other,” will be featured at The Man Pavilion in 2024’s Burning Man celebration.
Her work unites nature and technology to create connected human experiences and underscores the ripple effects that individuals have on their community and habitat. With experience in mentoring artists, Lewin is exceptionally suited to serve as the inaugural Lead Artist and mentor for Art Lab. Lewin’s winter art installation at Discovery Green, debuting in November 2024, will serve as a real-life example and hands-on learning experience for the chosen artists.
A call for art supporters: PRISM
PRISM members invest in the park, Houston artists, musicians, and other professional creatives.
You and a guest will enjoy great benefits, plus special invitations to:
- behind-the-scenes receptions
- private art collections
- artists’ studio tours
- backstage tours
- culinary experiences, and more
