The Amon Carter Museum of American Art (the Carter) in Fort Worth has named the four local artists selected to participate in its 2025 Carter Community Artists (CCA) initiative.
Since establishing the CCA program in 2018, each year the Carter invites four North Texas artists to assist with the creation, planning, and implementation of educational programs at the museum and in the community. Over the past six years, the museum has worked with 24 artists, who have hosted more than 300 events and connected with over 60,000 people.
In a press release, Amanda Blake, Director of Education, Library, and Visitor Experience at the Carter, said, “Working with these four artists in the year ahead will help us continue to expand our vision of American creativity at the Carter and beyond… As we approach our seventh year of this initiative, one of our goals is to explore innovative projects designed to create new connections between emerging local artists and the local community.”
This year’s artists include Kristin Boyer, LaShonda Cooks, Dizzy Orbit, and Javier Sandoval. Learn more about each artist below, via biographies provided by the Carter.
Kristin Boyer. Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Kristin Boyer
Kristin Boyer is a North Texas-based artist and educator. In 2024, Ms. Boyer received her MFA from the University of North Texas. Her work consists of prints, sculptures, and fiber art involving an alphabet of invented symbols alongside animal characters to explore ways in which communication skills are developed through play. Ms. Boyer’s artwork has been exhibited throughout DFW galleries, including Kinfolk House and the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center.
LaShonda Cooks. Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art
LaShonda Cooks
LaShonda Cooks is a Dallas-based artist and writer. With a specialty in portraiture, Ms. Cooks loves exploring cultural norms, identity, and beauty through words and images. Over the past decade, she has partnered with local cultural centers to increase access to the arts by hosting community-based art workshops for all ages. Ms. Cooks’ work has been exhibited at locations around the world, including the Moody Performance Hall, the African American Museum of Dallas, Boston City Hall, Illamar Galeria in Peru, and the Chateau D’Orquevaux Residency in France.
Dizzy Orbit. Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Dizzy Orbit
Dizzy Orbit is a Fort Worth-based multidisciplinary artist and educator. Her work focuses on mask making and fiber manipulation, which she uses to create her installations, sculptures, and photographs. Ms. Orbit collaborates with other Fort Worth artists to create photographs that include her artwork, her friends, and the local landscape. Her work has been featured in galleries and businesses throughout the DFW area. Some of her awards include an Artist’s Grant from Art Tooth and a residency with TX Studio in Dallas.
Javier Sandoval. Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Javier Sandoval
Javier Sandoval is a Fort Worth-based Chicano visual artist. As a first-generation Mexican American, Mr. Sandoval’s work is deeply inspired by his cultural heritage, combining vibrant Mexican traditions with pop culture’s bold, contemporary energy. His work often explores themes of LGBTQ+ identity, personal and cultural heritage, and the blending of traditions in a modern context. Through his use of intricate patterns and rich, vivid colors, he invites viewers to reflect on how cultural heritage and modern influences shape identity in a constantly evolving society.
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