FUTURE FORWARD
A group exhibition featuring work from emerging artists across Texas, juried by Madi Murphy

Throughline is pleased to present Future Forward,  a group exhibition featuring the work of fifteen emerging artists from across Texas, juried by Madi Murphy, Associate Curator of FotoFest. Future Forward will open with a public reception on Friday, August 8, from 6 – 9 pm at Throughline Gallery, 3909 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002. It will be on view through Saturday, August 30, 2025.

Each artist in Future Forward was selected through a juried open call for work by graduate and undergraduate art students, whose practices encompass painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, and textile-based art. As a whole, the exhibition showcases a wide range of creative approaches that reflect diverse lived experiences.

Juror’s Statement:
“The selected works explore intersections of identity, memory, space, and materiality. Though varied in form and subject, they are connected by a shared desire to explore how meaning is made. Many of the artists demonstrate a deep investment in material and process, using their chosen mediums to engage with personal and collective histories. These works suggest pathways to navigate the world and meditate on the complexity of contemporary life.

Future Forward offers a glimpse into the concerns and creative directions shaping a new generation of artists. In their work, we find acts of remembering. Acts of resisting. Acts of imagining new possibilities in an increasingly uncertain moment in time. As both juror and curator, I am honored to share this vision of the future of contemporary art in Texas.”

Participating Artists:
Eric Acuña, Maddie Casagranda, Gavin Gilmore, Michael Godoy, Chloe Hudspeth, Sydney Lemmon,  Julia Marcucci-Wood, Joshua Mokry, marcel omen, Josh Peterson, Robyn Rozelle, Esther Santee, Lane Schaefer, Diana Sexton, and Lydia Tran..

About the Juror, Madi Murphy:
FotoFest Associate Curator Madi Murphy is an arts professional with a background in curatorial practice, exhibition coordination, administration, and visual art. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Arts Leadership and a Graduate Certificate in Museum and Gallery Management from the University of Houston, as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Maryland Institute College of Art. Madi is also a practicing artist, working in painting, drawing, and photography. She has participated in artist residencies at Wildacres Retreat in Little Switzerland, NC; Redux Contemporary Art Center in Charleston, SC; and Tashiro Kaplan Artist Lofts in Seattle, WA. Her multidisciplinary background reflects a deep engagement with the arts and a dedication to empowering contemporary artists.

Scheduled Programs: 

Opening Reception: Friday, August 8, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm