Discovery Green Conservancy is proud to announce that Houston-based artist Karen Navarro, a former Art Lab fellow, has been selected to create the park’s fall 2025 temporary art installation. The installation will be on view at Discovery Green’s Sarofim Picnic Lawn beginning in September.
“Art Lab was created to provide Houston’s local artists with the support and opportunities to grow and showcase their work in our city,” said Kathryn Lott, president of Discovery Green Conservancy. “Seeing Karen Navarro, one of our inaugural Art Lab fellows, selected for the park’s fall pop-up installation is a testament to the program’s mission in action. We’re thrilled to see her bring her vision to life and to continue fostering opportunities for Houston’s creative community.”
Navarro is a Houston-based artist whose work explores identity, representation, race and belonging through photography, collage and sculpture. Drawing from her migrant experience, Indigenous heritage and the history of colonization, she investigates the complex intersections of history and personal narrative. Originally from Argentina, Navarro has exhibited her work globally. In recent years, she has expanded her practice, transforming two-dimensional photography into immersive three-dimensional sculptures. Navarro’s installation at Discovery Green will further explore these themes, celebrating diversity and reflecting her journey as an immigrant woman of European and Indigenous descent from Latin America.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue evolving my practice and working on a project of this scale as an introduction to the realm of public art,” Navarro said.
Launched in 2024, Discovery Green’s Art Lab is a groundbreaking mentorship program designed to support underrepresented local artists by equipping them with the skills and resources needed to expand their practices into large-scale, interactive outdoor public art. Fellows are paired with a lead artist and mentors, gaining hands-on experience in designing, building and installing large-scale public art projects.Art Lab is co-curated and co-administrated by Weingarten Art Group. It is funded by an anonymous national foundation.
“Karen Navarro’s Fall Pop-Up proposal brilliantly captures the essence of Discovery Green – its vibrant community, lush green spaces, interactive landscape, and spirit of exploration,” said Weingarten Art Group Principal Lea Weingarten. “Her concept, soon to be realized, is a testament to the transformative power of Art Lab, showcasing how this invaluable program empowers artists to elevate their practices into impactful, large-scale sculptures that engage and inspire the public.”
Navarro is currently holding an open call for Houstonians to be photographed for the project. To be considered, please visit the form linked here.
To learn more about Karen Navarro and how she uses art as a medium to express her identity and legacy, visit discoverygreen.com.
