Local Artist Anat Ronen brings the past to life with new mural at Houston Endowment
It took approximately 65 hours across eight business days for muralist Anat Ronen to replicate memories of the past and complete her latest work, Re:Collection. The work, a mural of decades-old photos with layered paintings, is the latest installation of the 2025 Jones Artist Awards Program, which recognizes local artists and reflects the many stories and perspectives of Greater Houston’s residents.
Ronen produced Re:Collection on-site at Houston Endowment and welcomed engagement from the Foundation’s staff and board as she worked.
“Watching Anat’s creative process unfold in person and as it happened was truly inspiring. She provided our organization a new way to engage with art—and artist,” said Ann B. Stern, president and CEO of Houston Endowment. “Anat allowed us to experience what art does best—spark dialogue, foster understanding, and illuminate new perspectives.”
Ronen took a nostalgic approach to conceptualize the mural. She revisited family photos, collected others from estate sales and online collections, and wove the images together into a statement about the stories we carry and how they are preserved.
The installation evokes the experience of uncovering old photos from boxes—a rarity in today’s world of digital photo streams. Her idea seamlessly aligned with the 2025 Jones Artist Awards Program theme of “rituals.”
Featured images include:
- Red; 2025; Acrylic on canvas; 36” x 60”
- the beginning; 2025; Acrylic on wood panel; 20” x 20”
- un poquito mas; 2025; Acrylic on wood panel; 30” x 24”
- youth; 2025; Acrylic on canvas; 30” x 30”
- in daddy’s shoes; 2025; Acrylic on wood panel; 20” x 20”
- new beginnings; 2025; Latex and acrylic painted mural; 8’ x 8’ approx.
- joy; 2025; Acrylic on canvas; 24” x 24”
- the best place on planet earth; 2025; Latex and acrylic painted mural; 8’ x 8’ approx.
- little things; 2025; Latex and acrylic painted mural; 8’ x 8’ approx.
- happiness; 2025; Acrylic on wood panel; 20” x 20”
With her solo exhibition, Ronen joins eight other Houston artists as a 2025 Jones Artist Award recipient. Earlier this year, Melissa Aytenfisu(opens in new window), Lotus Bermudez(opens in new window), Bradley Kerl(opens in new window), and Carolina Otero(opens in new window) were featured in Between Me and You, while the work of Margaux Crump(opens in new window), Abbie Preston Edmonson(opens in new window), Jamie Sterling Pitt(opens in new window), and Richard Poe(opens in new window) will comprise the final installation of the year, Chasing Light.
The public is encouraged to visit HoustonEndowment.org for more details of the series. Photos of Re:Collection are available here(opens in new window). Please credit Nicki Evans courtesy of Weingarten Art Group (@weingartenartgroup) and Houston Endowment (@HoustonEndowment).
Houston Endowment has a long-standing commitment to the arts, beginning with its founding by Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones in 1937. The Joneses recognized the significant value arts and culture provided to the community and envisioned the world-class arts that exist in Houston today. Today, the Foundation takes a comprehensive approach and seeks to identify opportunities to support creators and creative organizations.
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