About Us

2001 Artists

The Artist Residency Program is designed to offer time and space for craft artists to focus on their creative work and interact with the public. The program supports emerging, mid-career, and established artists working in all craft media, including but not limited to clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood and mixed media. Museum visitors have the unique opportunity to visit the artists’ studios and watch the artists at work. Interacting with the resident artists is a great way to learn about a range of craft processes and techniques. In turn, the artists receive a unique opportunity to gain exposure, make connections with the Houston community, and help educate the public about craft.

Liz Axford

Medium: Fiber Artist
Residency:
January 1, 2001 –
January 1, 2002

Liz Axford is a quilt maker and surface designer. Creating her own fabric has become as important to her as the piecing of quilt making. Her surface designs explore the subject of conflict or contradiction. While at HCCC, Axford focused on shibori dyeing techniques on silk and cotton. Axford has a B.A. in Architecture and Fine Arts from Rice University.

Simon Boses

Medium: Ceramic Artist
Residency:
January 1, 2001 –
January 1, 2002

www.mudmonkey.com

Simon Boses is a figurative ceramist. The human form has been the vehicle by which he tells stories, make social comments, and attempt to beautify the world. Until recently, Simon wasn’t aware of why he found the figure to be a great vehicle for doing this. “Vehicle” turned out to be the key. “People aren’t vehicles; we’re vessels. We act as living jars, traveling about, collecting stories as we go.” Boses received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute, College of Art and teaches ceramics at the Glassell Junior School of Art. Boses is a member of our inaugural group of artists-in-residence.

Shelby Cefaratti

Medium: Feltmaker
Residency:
January 1, 2001 –
January 1, 2002

Shelby Cefaratti is a feltmaker. Her work is generally comprised of garments, wearable and sculptural, expressing personalities or characters. Cefaratti received her B.A. in Visual Arts and Applied Design from the University of Houston, Clear Lake. She has also received Best in Show: Formal Wear and Three Dimensional Fiber Sculpture at the Stars Over Texas Contemporary Handweavers of Texas in May 2000.

Darryl Lauster

Medium: Mixed-Media Artist
Residency:
January 1, 2001 –
January 1, 2002

Darryl Lauster recreates historic tableware and furniture in the contemporary media of plastic, resin and plaster. While at HCCC, Lauster focused on a group of cast furniture pieces that are examples of American Baroque and Rococo tea tables and armchairs. Lauster has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Houston. He is the recipient of the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County Individual Artist Grant.

Frances Trahan

Medium: Metalsmith
Residency:
January 1, 2001 –
January 1, 2002

Frances Trahan is a self-described metalsmith who creates beautiful, but not practical objects. She creates what she describes as luxurious prosthetics, such as gloves, codpieces, bras and masks that serve dual purposes: concealment and transformation. “I attempt to connect the illustrative qualities of anonymous objects, tools and regalia to the well-established desirability of beauty and perfection.” Trahan is a recent graduate of the University of Houston with a Master of Fine Arts Degree. She has been an instructor of Jewelry and Metalsmithing at both Houston Community College and Alvin Community College. Trahan is the first member of our inaugural group of artists-in-residence.

The application for the 2025 – 2026 cycle opens December 1, 2025. It’s free to apply!

The Artist Residency Program is designed to offer time and space for craft artists to focus on their creative work and interact with the public. The program supports emerging, mid-career, and established artists working in all craft media, including but not limited to clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood and mixed media.

The application for the 2025 – 2026 cycle opens December 1, 2025. It’s free to apply!

The Artist Residency Program is designed to offer time and space for craft artists to focus on their creative work and interact with the public. The program supports emerging, mid-career, and established artists working in all craft media, including but not limited to clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood and mixed media.

Skip to content