Canvas of Dreams: Spotlight on Houston's Young Art Pro's

Houston has a new generation of artists on the scene. Thanks to muralist Alex Roman Jr., (known to many as Donkeeboy) the Young Art Pro’s have quickly become one of the most talented groups in the city. 

While the group has risen in popularity very quickly, the Young Art Pro’s have been years in the making. It all started with young Alex as he grew up watching his mother paint her own variations of popular artists' work such as Frida Kahlo. It was his own mother's creativity that inspired him to pick up a paintbrush. And with his mother's artistic influence, he formed his own unique flare which translated over to murals which he calls “remixes”. 

As Alex grew, so did his skills. He soon took on the name “Donkeeboy” and began to collaborate on various murals with his mother “Donkeemom”.  While working on these “remix” pieces the two continuously incorporated nods to their Mexican heritage. Roman’s bold artistic nature has led him to amazing opportunities in his professional career. As of today, Roman has worked with organizations such as the Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo, UFC and many other Houston establishments. 

With the growth of both his personal brand and skills he eventually decided in 2019 he wanted to give back to the art community. Alex chose to take on a select group of young individuals to mentor in order to help develop their artistic skills - they are known as the Young Art Pro’s. 

“Mentorship can come at any age, I feel like paying it forward as artists can help the Houston art scene and community to keep growing. Giving someone information or guidance can be very impactful. We all learn from somewhere.”

Composed of a handful of young protégés, each student receives guidance and continuously works on new projects to stimulate growth. Often the group showcases their art at various shows and events happening in the city. While the Young Art Pros are out at these events, they get the chance to not only sell their work but also sell their personal “brand”. Making these connections out in the real world helps the artists develop the potential for a long-term career. 

Most recently on November 10th the Young Art Pros participated in a community event called the Segundo Barrio Block Party, which is hosted by another local art group, the Divine Art Coalition. The event aims to bring together the community of East End, once known as “Segundo Barrio”. The block party is centered around paying homage to the culture  while including its small businesses, and most importantly - art. 

One of the most notable Young Art Pros at the event was muralist, 16-year-old Abby Guerrero. Guerrero has collaborated on many murals throughout the city. And while she has worked on a handful of solo projects such as a mural paying homage to Houston rapper Don Toliver, her most impressive feat to date is a mural that focuses on Judge Lina Hidalgo. Located in Midtown, the 16-foot-tall mural encapsulates Jude Hidalgo’s culture as well as her passion for diverse opinions in political spaces. Guerrero took the jump and worked on the four-month long project, despite its ambitious nature. This project has since propelled her career as a muralist and even gained media attention from across the city. While she is only a junior in high school her career exhibits the potential for extreme promise.  It’s events like the Segundo Barrio Block Party that continue Abby’s growth along with her peers. 

“Events like this are even better than when I work on the bigger pieces because it brings everyone together and it’s not just about the art. It’s about the cars, the community, the food and supporting smaller businesses. It’s just a tight community and getting to work in a setting like this makes the process more enjoyable”.