State of the Arts on Fort Worth’s Cultural Influencers

On Thursday, November 11, KERA’s Art&Seek and the Kimbell Art Museum will present “Fort Worth, Follow Me: The City’s Cultural Influencers,” a live online State of the Arts discussion.

Fort Worth’s tastemakers and trendsetters gather to discuss how public figures have the power to affect change in the community. Join us for a meaningful conversation on the impact of social influence in the ever-evolving cultural landscape.

State of the Arts Fort Worth, produced by KERA’s Art&Seek and the Kimbell Art Museum, identifies important trends and issues affecting North Texas arts organizations. It brings artists, experts and arts leaders together for a thought-provoking, one-hour conversation.

Tony Green of “Hello, I’m Tony Green”; contemporary sculptor and painter Nancy Lamb; Jonathan Morris, owner of Hotel Dryce and host of the Magnolia Network’s “Self Employed”; and fashion artist Sunflowerman will join moderator Miguel Perez, arts reporter and producer for Art&Seek, in this discussion.

Tony Green. Photo by Ben Bender, Make Something Beautiful
Nancy Lamb. Photo by Ben Bender, Make Something Beautiful
Jonathan Morris. Photo courtesy of the Magnolia Network
Matthew “Sunflowerman” Miller. Photo by Ruth Meharg

This free one-hour event begins at noon. Bookmark this link to attend the conversation. For more information, visit kimbellart.org.

Tony Green is known for bridging the gap between the social scene and the arts community. With a background that includes interior and furniture design, event planning, catering and experience in wine and spirits, Green is considered a jack-of-all-trades in the art and entertainment industry. His “cultural cachet” garnered attention and eventually led to the development of the YouTube channel “Hello, I’m Tony Green.” Equal parts talk show and “follow along with me”-style videos, Green’s channel has been picked up by Visit Fort Worth, which has sent him to locations from Austin to New York City to represent the Fort Worth community from a unique LGBTQ perspective.

Nancy Lamb is a sculptor and painter who blends aspects of whimsy, wit and sophistication to create diverse forms of art with the intention of delighting and challenging their viewer. Lamb was formally trained at Texas Christian University and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Her work has been featured in Harper’s Magazine, Texas Monthly and New American Painting. Notable works include designs for two 200-foot terrazzo floors at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, murals for the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and her slice-of-life oil paintings “Social Spaces.” She resides in Fort Worth, Texas, where she is associated with and represented by Artspace 111.

Entrepreneur Jonathan Morris fulfilled his goal of creating a fresh take on the barbershop experience in his hometown in 2014, when Fort Worth Barber Shop officially opened its doors and quickly became one of the city’s premier men’s grooming establishments. Morris is also the co-founder of Memo Hospitality Group, the developers of the recently opened Hotel Dryce, a 21-room craft hotel in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. His most recent entrepreneurial venture is to host the Magnolia Network’s “Self Employed.” In this docuseries, Morris travels the country to share the inspirational stories and new challenges of fellow small business owners and their journeys to building their dream jobs.

Sunflowerman is a fashion artist who was “born with a pencil in his hand.” After growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he set out to travel the world with a suitcase full of art supplies. Living in London, Milan, Paris and New York inspired him to revive the lost art of men’s fashion illustration with his own signature style. He takes his studio wherever he goes and can often be spotted at Fashion Week, international menswear industry events or a local coffee shop. Sunflowerman currently works with clients and collectors from around the globe through his illustrations and watercolor paintings. His work can be found in private collections in London, Hong Kong, Dallas, New York, Switzerland, South Africa and around the world.