Join us for an Artist Talk celebrating Black History Month featuring Meow Wolf Collaborating Artists El Franco Lee II, Dawn Okoro, and Sam Lao in conversation with Meow Wolf Social Media Manager, Imani Thomas.

Join us in-person at Meow Wolf Houston or join our watch party at Meow Wolf Grapevine. Our artist talk series is an open forum - so feel free to stop by for a moment or settle in for an in-depth discussion. Discounted exhibition pricing will be available at both exhibitions during our Artist Talks and the Artist Talk is included with admission.

About Our Artists

Sam Lao is a multidisciplinary artist based in Dallas, TX. Despite being dubbed early on in life as a creative child Lao spent much of her upbringing trying to find a more “acceptable” career path. A UTA graduate with a BFA in Visual Communications Lao worked with multiple artistic mediums post graduation, most notably painting and music before turning to fiber art in 2020 in an effort to combat the isolation of the global pandemic which lead her to tufting. Lao’s practice explores the interaction between color, texture and pattern as they relate to the constant flow of creating and the actions required to bring thought to fruition. This process considers the ever shifting nature of an idea from its inception to its ultimate consumption. Through her craft she examines the abstract nature of what it means to be creative. Having been reprimanded many times in her youth for getting too close to the artwork during museum visits the tactile qualities of Lao’s current work subverts the old adage of ‘do not touch the artwork’ by inviting the viewer to do just that and in turn making a visual experience a physical one as well. Between crafting her own works Sam teaches the skill of tufting to others interested in learning the technique.

El Franco Lee II is a resident and native son of Houston, Texas. During his formative years in the public and parochial schools of Houston, El Franco’s artistic abilities were duly acknowledged by Houston Independent School District, the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston, Houston Livestock and Rodeo, and Glassell School of Art.

El Franco’s solo and juried exhibitions have included Gift of the Spirit (A partnership of JPMorgan Chase and Art League Houston); Project Row Houses – Houston, Texas; Angstrom Gallery – Dallas, Texas; Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., LLC Public Finance Summit – Napa Valley, California; Contemporary Arts Museum – Houston, Texas; Romo Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia; G Gallery – Houston, Texas; University of Houston Project Gallery; Blaffer Gallery – Houston, Texas; Yale University – Annual Art Barn Exhibit – Norfolk, Connecticut; Diverse Works Gallery Art Space – Houston, Texas.

The future for El Franco will certainly encompass more of his “Urban Mannerist Pop Art” on a larger scale. You can also expect a recommence for his love of sculpting and comic book characters

Dawn Okoro is a multidisciplinary artist living in Austin, Texas. Her desire to make art sparked from her love of fashion illustration and design. Her work is influenced by punk, hip-hop, and the composition techniques used in fashion photography.

Okoro’s art is highlighted on Season 2 of “Law & Order: Organized Crime” on NBC. Her work can be seen in theaters in Sony Pictures’ “The Invitation,” opening on August 26. She has collaborated with Pepsico, with her art on the company’s LIFEWTR water bottles.

Okoro is featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Architectural Digest, Hyperallergic, USA Today, W Magazine, and Essence. Her art was recently exhibited at Christie’s New York. In 2022, Okoro made her UK debut with her solo exhibition, “Mad Explosive Spontaneity” at Maddox Gallery.

About Our Moderator

Imani Thomas is 1/2 of the fantastic Social Media Team digitizing the Meow Wolf Universe one disorienting post at a time. Imani has over six years of experience managing social media & digital marketing efforts with entertainment companies and nonprofit arts organizations including Broadway agency SpotCo and Tony Award-winning Dallas Theater Center. She has presented to international audiences on Social Media for Creative Industries and Video Content Creation/Strategy at a variety of conferences, including Capacity Interactive’s Boot Camp and OPERA America’s Marketing Forum. Both as a speaker and an educator, she enjoys sharing her philosophy on building unique online presences. Her work with students has centered Media Arts & Podcast Production, she has experience working with students ages 8 through 18 and continues to volunteer her time working with students throughout the DFW metroplex.