Who are we?

Founder

Maria Romero (she/her) is a curator, musician, community builder, and seasoned Business Development professional based in Austin, Texas. She is the founder of The Gallery ATX. Her work focuses on providing a platform that celebrates varied narratives, connecting a network of diverse creators, and cultivating a safe environment where discussions on intersections of identity are maintained.

President + Growth Strategy

Reb Carlson (she/her) is an artist and marketing strategist based in Austin, TX. Originally from Delaware, her early passion for journalism and culture brought her to New York City to study marketing, social media, and fine arts, leading to a 15-year award-winning career in marketing strategy, with work recognized by Cannes, SABRE Awards, Effie, and more. In 2020, she launched Mad Focused Consulting and reignited her creative practice while pregnant with her son. After the pandemic, she moved to Austin where she works at a digital marketing agency, serves on the board of The Gallery ATX, and pursues her creative practice.

Executive Director

Dani (she/her) is the Executive Director of The Gallery ATX, where she oversees nonprofit operations, content development, and fundraising strategy. She is especially focused on expanding audience reach and developing content that highlights diverse artistic voices. Beyond the logistics, Dani is committed to making The Gallery ATX a space where creativity and community meet. A writer and editor, she also finds joy in making clothes, thrifting, and experimenting in the kitchen.

Vice President

Annie Purpura is an artist and former educator with a passion for creativity and community engagement. She is a member of the Reisor Group at Douglas Elliman Real Estate and the founder of Hola Tonto Ceramics, her own small-batch ceramics brand based in Austin. She was the recipient of the Fred Endsley Memorial Fellowship at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Zine Lead + Secretary

Amarys Dejai (she/her) is a writer, artist, and educator from right here in Austin, TX. She hates being idle, both in body and mind, and is always moving and doing in some way, whether that be writing, being in front or behind the camera, hiking the Rockies, or swimming in the Caribbean Sea. She has been with The Gallery since the beginning of 2023 and has loved it every step of the way.

Director of Fundraising

Kennedy Swift (they/she) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Austin, Texas. Through painting, print, drawing, and fiber arts, they explore the relationship between the basic flesh-instincts of the body and the process of self-creation through the selective curation of histories and myth. Kennedy finished their BFA at Texas State University in 2020. They were awarded a fellowship in printmaking for Penland School of Craft’s Winter Residency in 2023. Since 2024 they have worked in close collaboration with The Gallery ATX and Mujer Manifesto, including co-curating Riot: Art as Resistance, a show benefitting the cause for Palestinian liberation. 

Film Fest Lead + Volunteer Coordinator

During the day, Tiara (she/her) is an eager and enthusiastic marketer and journalist who applies her passion and skills to promote local library services to the community. In the evening, Tiara loves exploring the rich art scene in Austin, taking classes in various artistic disciplines such as ballet and aerial arts, and performing as her alter ego, DJ Ladybug. An Austin native, she enjoys supporting local arts organizations by volunteering and, through her work at The Gallery ATX, enjoys helping others who seek to do the same.