On view at Discovery Green's
Sarofim Picnic Lawn
Commissioned by Discovery Green Conservancy as part of the inaugural Art Lab program, Chroma Collective blends two-dimensional imagery with three-dimensional sculpture and mirrored surfaces that invites the public to interact and contribute to its dynamic, shifting tapestry.
Inspired by Navarro’s journey as an immigrant of Latin American, European and Indigenous descent, Chroma Collective represents the fluidity of identity while reflecting the environment and the people who engage with the work. It also draws from the vibrant woven traditions of the Altiplano—particularly the Aymara aguayo, a colorful, handmade fabric used by women to carry both children and goods—along with Houston’s rodeo culture and the city’s longstanding role as a welcoming place for immigrants.
It’s location in Discovery Green – a 12-acre oasis in the heart of the city – highlights how Houston’s diversity creates opportunities to celebrate individuality while cultivating collective action for a more equitable society.
Art Lab was co-created and co-curated by Discovery Green Conservancy and Weingarten Art Group.
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
Chroma Collective marks Navarro’s most expansive public work to date, embodying her signature blend of deconstructed portraits, Indigenous memory, and participatory storytelling. Rooted in her experience as a Latin American, European, and Indigenous immigrant, the installation transforms portraiture into an interactive, sculptural archive of identity. Composed of rotating metal components printed with self-portraits and portraits of Houstonians, the work shifts with each interaction, inviting viewers to manipulate its surfaces and turn each element into a living expression of community. “Chroma Collective is a mirror, a collective body,” Navarro says. “It’s playful and bright, but it also holds complexity—it’s about being seen, being counted, and being in motion.”