Houston Arts category interest

When Naomi Stevens, the chair of the Pearland Arts League, attended the initial brainstorming sessions that were called by former Pearland Mayor Tom Reid, she said she never envisioned the group of people around her would grow into a nonprofit organization that aims to put Pearland on the art world’s map.

“When [Reid] pulled this group together, we had about 20 people, and then it grew to about 40,” Stevens said.

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The nonprofit organization achieved a milestone in September, securing its first storefront gallery, which provides a physical space for Pearland Arts League’s artists to showcase their work and is exclusively their own.

The creation of the gallery solidified the initial vision the group of 20 founders had in the early 2000s, which was to incorporate the artistic talents of Pearland-area residents into one shared organization, according to the Pearland Arts League.

Nearly 20 years ago, when the group became a nonprofit organization, its artists, which varied from 20 to 40 members over the years, were given the opportunity to showcase their work.

Through the help of several entities within the city of Pearland, such as the Pearland Chamber of Commerce and several schools, the Pearland Arts League’s artists were able to have their work shown at local events, Stevens said. Through it all, the league was able to do it without a physical office or space.

“We’ve never really had a home,” Stevens said. “We’ve never really had an office, and we still don’t. We don’t have a facility. This gallery is being used as that. Eventually I hope we do have a home, and I am sure we will.”

Despite now owning the gallery space, the Pearland Arts League still provides artwork year-round to the Pearland Chamber of Commerce, other organizations and local businesses, Stevens said.

The gallery is located in the Pearland Town Center and features work from 25 artists. All the art​​work displayed is for sale with a price that is set by the artists.

While the gallery was an achievement for the organization, Stevens said she still hopes to secure a building where the league can hold art classes and have a small theater. She said her ultimate goal is to make Pearland an art scene hot spot.

“We want to someday be that good with our arts that people will say, ‘Oh, let’s spend some time in Pearland. Go to the galleries. Take in a show,’” she said.