ROUX
SALT

The Houston-based artist collective ROUX includes Rabéa Ballin, Ann Johnson, Delita Martin, and Lovie Olivia. Their works navigate between styles of the past and the proposed future and address experiences unique to Women of Color residing in the American South. These four artists not only embrace and challenge drawing conventions in medium, surface and concept but apply unusual approaches to the process and ingredients of printmaking, installation, video, sculpture, and painting. Their exhibition, SALT, is presented in conjunction with PrintHouston, a biennial celebration of original prints at galleries and museums throughout the region.

Born in Germany, raised in southern Louisiana, Rabéa Ballin received her informal training from her mother who was a friseur and salon owner. The cultural shifts resulting from being the daughter of an American soldier and a European mother resulted in a sensitive awareness of the power and politics of hair. Her scrutiny of the sculptural aspects of hair began with her self-taught hair braiding practice. The cross pollination of untold histories and hair are the core elements of her work. Ballin holds an MFA (University of Houston), and a BFA (McNeese State University). During her years at McNeese she returned to Germany to attend the Goethe Institute, subsequently studying Art History in Rome and Florence, Italy. Currently an assistant professor of art, Rabéa is living and working in Houston’s historical Third Ward community.
www.rabea-ballin.com

Ann Johnson was born in London, England and raised in Cheyenne, WY. She received a BS in Home Economics from Prairie View A&M University, an MA in Humanities from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, as well as an MFA from The Academy of Art University, in San Francisco with a concentration in printmaking. In 2010, she received the Teaching Excellence Award at Prairie View A&M University, and was awarded Art teacher of the year in the School of Architecture. In 2011, she received the distinguished Presidents Faculty of the Year award. Johnson’s work has been exhibited nationally in solo, group and juried exhibitions. She was a Prize winner in Lawndale Art Center’s “The Big Show” in 2004, and was the Mixed Media winner in the Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition in 2007. Johnson was also included in the Texas Biennial in 2013. Most recently Johnson has focused on experimental printmaking, and in 2015 she was acknowledged as an “Artist to Watch” in the International Review of African American Art. She has exhibited at The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, TX; The Museum of Printing History, Houston, TX; Women and Their Work Gallery, Austin, TX; Project Row Houses, Houston, TX; Tisdale Beach Institute, Savannah, GA; Charles H. Wright Museum, Flint, MI; The Apex Museum in Atlanta, GA; and The California African American Art Museum in Los Angeles, CA. Johnson has published several articles for School Arts magazine (Davis), and has written and designed a number of books including: I’ll Fly Away (Solefolio Press), BÄs (Solefolio Press), Paper & Ink (blurb), ROUX (Solefolio Press), Craft$ For The No Budget Art Teacher (Solefolio Press), and STIR (Solefolio Press).  She is represented by Hooks Epstein Galleries, Houston, TX.
www.solesisterart.com

Delita Martin is an artist currently based in Huffman, Texas. She received a BFA in drawing from Texas Southern University and a MFA in printmaking from Purdue University. Formally a member of the fine arts faculty at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Martin is currently works as a full-time artist in her studio, Black Box Press. Working from Oral traditions, vintage and family photographs as a source of inspiration, Martin’s work explores the power of the narrative impulse. Her process of layering various printmaking, drawing, sewing, collaging, and painting techniques allow her to create portraits that fuse the real and the fantastic. In her work, she combines signs and symbols to create a visual language. By fusing this visual language with oral storytelling, she offers other identities and other narratives for women of color. Martin’s work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. Most recently Martin’s work was included in the State of the Arts: Discovering American Art Now, an exhibition that included 101 artists from around the United States. She was also included in International Review of African American Art as one of 16 African American artists to watch who are gaining national and international attention in 2015.
blackboxpressstudio.com

Lovie Olivia is a native Houstonian and a visual artist who’s practice employs Fresco (buon and secco) with the addition of digital fresco (monotype) and sgrafitto (scratch) to create paintings, objects, installations and discourse around issues of gender, sexuality, race, class and power. Although her past includes some formal artistic training, including graduating from Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, she mostly relies on her independent studies of art, cultures, music, literature, and history to influence her work. She has exhibited at Jam Gallery, Brooklyn, NY; Pillow, Brooklyn, NY, 36; Steps Gallery, Pittsburgh PA; The Art League Houston; Darke Gallery; GalleryM2; Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston; Project Row Houses; Arthello Beck Gallery, Dallas, TX; and Houston Museum of African American Culture. In addition to her multifaceted approach to visual art, she teaches drawing at Art League and painting at Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Olivia is also a recipient of an Individual Artist Grant Award 2009 and 2014 which is funded by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.
www.lovieolivia.com