Congratulations to the RISD Art Students selected as the Top 10 Emerging Artists! The Emerging Artist Program recognizes the talent of young local artists and offers them opportunities to participate in Cottonwood Art Festival and to grow professionally.
It is through the generosity of our sponsor, Neighborhood Credit Union, that students have the chance to exhibit April 2-27 at the Charles W. Eisemann Center in the Forrest & Virginia Green Mezzanine Gallery, and sell their work May 3-4 at Cottonwood Art Festival alongside professional artists. Emerging Artists can also win awards and scholarships and attend professional development workshops.
Berkner High School
Ray Hunter
Christina Nguyen
Lizbeth Rodriquez
J. J. Pearce High School
Rui Lai
Lake Highlands High School
Monica Bravo
Max Young
Richardson High School
Victoria Martinez
Anna Tran
Oliver Vaughn-Hebert
Ayianna Wooten
The Emerging Artist Program is open to Richardson ISD students in 10th through 12th grades. Applicants submit five samples of their artwork, a brief artist statement or bio and explanation of their interest in art. A jury of professionals in the art industry review entries and 10 students are selected to participate.
Neighborhood Credit Union sponsors the Emerging Artist program and artwork is exhibited during April at the Charles W. Eisemann Center in the Virginia Green Mezzanine-Gallery. Artists additionally have the opportunity to win placement awards and scholarships including $750 for Best of Show, $500 for 2nd Place, $300 for 3rd Place and $200 for Honorable Mention.
“We are extremely grateful to have a wonderful partnership with Neighborhood Credit Union. The Emerging Artist Program would not be possible without the support and donation of their scholarship prize money,” said Dianna Lawrence, Superintendent of Community Events. “Their support also gives the students the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work at the festival. For some of the artists selling off their prize possession is a hard thing to imagine but then they make their first sale and realize the value of their work. By the end of the festival many of the artists won’t have any artwork left.”
The selected artwork by Emerging Artists will be showcased from April 2-27 at the Virginia Green Mezzanine Gallery, situated within the Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts at 2351 Performance Drive in Richardson. Admission is free and open to the public during regular business hours. Additionally, students will have booths at the Cottonwood Art Festival, presenting their complete collection of artworks for purchase.
Cottonwood Art Festival is May 3-4, 2025, at Cottonwood Park, located at 1321 W. Belt Line Rd. in Richardson, Texas. This year, the festival will be open on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and on Sunday, May 4, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free.
The festival additionally includes live entertainment on the Imagery Courtyard Stage and Acoustic Stage, a craft beer garden, food trucks, ArtStop stations with activities for kids of all ages and more than 190 artist booths with artwork from around the world.
2025 Emerging Artists
The following RISD students were selected to participate in the 2025 program.
Ayianna Wooten
Richardson High School
Christina Nguyen
Berkner High School
Oliver Vaughn-Hebert
Richardson High School
Lizbeth Rodriguez
Berkner High School
Max Young
Lake Highlands High School
Monica Bravo
Lake Highlands High School
Anna Tran
Richardson High School
Ray Hunter
Berkner High School
Rui Lai
JJ Pearce High School
Victoria Martinez
Richardson High School
Click here for additional information on the Emerging Artist Program or email [email protected]
The first Friday of every month from 6-8 pm, the Charles W. Eisemann Center hosts a reception to celebrate the newest exhibition displayed in the Green-Mezzanine Gallery located on the second floor of the lobby. This month features the artists from the Cottonwood Art Festival Emerging Artist Program. This event is free and open to the public! Light bites will be provided as you view the artwork in fellowship with other locals who appreciate visual arts.
