Our Artists
Jennifer Godinez
Jennifer Godinez, known as VNA is a Dallas-based artist whose work explores themes of identity, displacement, and the immigrant experience. Originally born in Mexico and brought to the U.S. at a young age, VNA's art revolves around the complexities of being an "authorized alien,” a legal immigrant who lives in the shadows of both worlds, never fully belonging to
either.
Her process often involves self-portraiture, using the medium of Sumi ink and a precise mix of eyeliner and eyeshadow brushes, applied to cold press paper. VNA's choice of Sumi ink is symbolic, with the stark contrast between black and white often representing the duality of her lived experience: the external narrative of "official" identity versus the internal, personal struggles of fitting into a place that doesn’t fully accept her. She uses grays, created through water or dry brush techniques, to create depth and emotional layers, reflecting the complexities of her story and the broader immigrant narrative. The use of grays in her work symbolizes the space in between certainty and ambiguity, a metaphor for the space occupied by those caught in limbo.
Leili Arai Tavallaei
Leili Arai Tavallaei is a Dallas based interdisciplinary artist, independent curator, and cultural organizer working primarily in print, video, new media installation, and bricolage painting. Tavallaei’s work weaves intergenerational stories and personal ritual, confronting identity and ancestral memory in today’s world. Tavallaei’s work channels preservation and culture building, creating contemplative works teaming with immigrant clutter, family heirlooms, and personal anecdotes connecting collective pasts to future generations.
Tavallaei is the Fine Arts Program Director on the Board of the Dallas Asian American Art Collective, programming events and exhibitions to connect & cultivate the Asian American creative community in Dallas. She has completed residencies with the Museum of Asian Texans, The Cedars Union, Islam & Print and is a 2025 recipient of the Arch and Anne Giles Kimbrough Fund from the Dallas Museum of Art. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and film festivals across the United States, most notably at the Scout Art Fair in Baltimore’s War Memorial Building, with Erin Cluley Gallery in Dallas, at Lawndale Art Center in Houston, and screened with AURORA Video Art Night, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and the Downtown Independent Theater in LA.
Jaden McCreary
Born in 2000, she received her initial training as a Multimedia Artist in Houston, Texas. In 2019, she enrolled at Houston Community College where she studied Liberal Arts, completing two semesters. In 2019, after transferring from Houston Community College, she then went on to study Fine Art at Texas State University. In 2022, she completed her Undergrad Studies, receiving a BFA in Studio Arts with a Concentration in Drawing.
Her work has been shown at a variety of Museums and Galleries including The Odomone Center for Rest, Art, and Reimagination, Fort Worth, Texas ; The Arthur Rose Museum; Orangeburg, South Carolina; The Artist Circle Online Art Gallery; International, and more.
Our Founders
Jessica Bell
Jessica Bell is a recognized National Community and Public Art Artist specializing in large-scale, mixed-media, fiber, and metal sculpture. Her public art installations are located across the country. Her bold, colorful, and interactive work has earned her recognition through press, grants, and museum solo exhibitions.
Bell's vibrant practice frequently combines durable materials like steel with elements such as glass and acrylic to create pieces that are both playful and deeply meaningful. She is passionate about crafting art that invites engagement, sparks joy, and truly reflects the community it is placed in.
With a strong foundation in arts education, including nearly two decades of experience teaching children and adults, Bell often incorporates community outreach and youth involvement into her projects. Her practice seamlessly blends expert craftsmanship, storytelling, and accessibility. Whether she is installing a kinetic sculpture in a hospital courtyard or leading a community design workshop, Bell's ultimate goal is to create art that is not only visually impactful but also powerfully rooted in connection, culture, and shared experience.