Mark Cervenka, Director, O'Kane Gallery and Professor of Art, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Houston-Downtown

Mark Cervenka, Floyd Newsum’s colleague and close personal friend, will examine the trajectory of the artist’s career, including a discussion of early works and Newsum’s role in the founding of Houston’s Project Row Houses. Cervenka will focus his insights on paintings created during the last twenty years, many of which will be on view in Floyd Newsum: House of Grace. Ultimately, Cervenka will explore the ways Newsum’s engaging and joyful paintings resonate as significant contributions to contemporary art.