2026 FAIR ARTISTS

It was my first ever show in Dallas where I found an amazing and engaging artistic community.

Deep Ellum was truly where my self employed art journey/ freedom began. in 2016, I came to Deep Ellum & had a sell out show. The love & appreciation I was welcomed with in the community was beyond my belief. From the artists displaying alongside me, to the patrons that walked the streets. I knew these were my people. Funky, wild style, outside the box rebels that didn't believe in limitations.

Deep Ellum, to me, represents a raw, unfiltered hub of creative energy. From what I’ve seen, it’s a place where art, music, culture, and community collide in an authentic way. That kind of environment feels natural to me, like a space where my work can genuinely connect, contribute, and belong.

It is exciting to be in this aria of Dallas and a great opportunity to exhibit my art during one of the most popular art festivals and Texas. It is the opportunity to be with other local artists and meet many new people. The entire atmosphere with so many different kind of art, music and people everything is inspiring.

It gave me a place to go that is full of music and culture.

Deep Ellum is one of the few islands of sanity in a more and more complex world. A sanctuary in a more and more divided world. To me it is a place that shows the world that there can be communion, tolerance and peace. A place where everyone can feel welcome. As the world changes so too Deep Ellum changes but at the heart it will always be an oasis of peace.

Having lived in Dallas since 2001, 13 years of which were in Little Forest Hills in East Dallas and 1 year in Deep Ellum, and working full time as a gigging musician for much of that time, I have spent countless hours in Deep Ellum making music and maneuvering that scene, Deep Ellum had a lot to do with my development as an artist.

I have lived in Dallas over 20 years and in my youth I went to Deep Ellum to dance all night! Now I go for the food and the art.

Means home and family. I have lived in Deep Ellum for over 14 years and now live in the Cedars but have always called Deep Ellum home.

To me, Deep Ellum represents the resilience of creative communities. While I’m not from Texas, I know what it means to be part of an artistic community that bands together in crisis. I’ve dug fellow artists’ work from the mud, brought meals to studios with no power for months, raised funds for those who lost everything, and cried alongside friends as we rebuild. This solidarity transformed me. I stopped creating for just myself and I am creating for the healing of others.

"Deep Ellum" due to the pronunciation of its original name, "Deep Elm," is one of Dallas, Texas's most historically and culturally significant neighborhoods - known for it's longstanding history with the arts, performance, tattoo parlors and a love live music.

Deep Ellum is beloved community, the perfect blend for Arts and Entertainment for me and my family

Deep Ellum is where creativity, grit and community all come together. It reminds me to slow down, soak in the art and enjoy the people around me

I'm originally from South Louisiana and am excited to revisit the vibrant southern culture that made me who I am today.

Deep ellum is the place where I found community after moving to dallas during covid. Me and my artwork seem to fit in and it's been a community I'm growing to appreciate more and more.