Painted Bridges: Houston Mural Program Unveiling Ceremony
Presented by EpNex and supported by the Ministry of Education's Youth Billion Overseas Dream Fund
Painted Bridges: Houston Mural Program – Community Mural Unveiling
From Taiwan to Houston: six artists, one shared table, and a seat for everyone.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Please RSVP by Thursday, August 6!
📅 Friday, August 7, 2026 | 9–11 AM
📍 9750 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, TX 77036
(next to Trung Nguyen E-Coffee)
Join us for the public unveiling of Painted Bridges: Houston Mural Program, an international public art and cultural exchange connecting six Taiwanese artists and designers with Houston’s creative community while introducing them to the people, places, and cultural landscapes of the broader Greater Houston region.
The unveiling marks the culmination of a 21-day experiential-learning program led by EpNex 橋翼 in partnership with GONZO247 Studio. As the inaugural cohort of EpNex Meridian Fellows, the six artists have spent three weeks learning, creating, and building relationships across cultures. Their experience has included cultural immersion throughout Houston, Pearland, and Sugar Land; conversations with local artists and arts professionals; studio sessions; mentorship; collaborative mural development; and individual portfolio work.
At the center of the program is the creation of a permanent public mural in Houston’s Southwest Management District. Under the mentorship of Houston muralist GONZO247, each Fellow contributed perspectives and skills from their own creative practice, including painting, public art, installation, visual design, storytelling, education, and socially engaged research. Together, they drew inspiration from the region’s people, histories, neighborhoods, and cultural diversity to create a unified mural design.
The mural reflects the conversations, discoveries, and relationships that shaped the artists’ experience. Each Fellow is also developing an individual portfolio inspired by the program theme, “The Space Between”—the meaningful moments between arrival and departure, process and completion, and people who began as strangers and became collaborators.
At the heart of the mural is a shared feast where everyone is welcome. Each person has something to contribute—a dish, a story, or simply their company. The gathering celebrates what becomes possible when people from different cultures, generations, and experiences come together.
An empty seat at the center holds a dual meaning: it serves as an honorary place for loved ones who have passed while remaining open for anyone to join. Its message is simple: “There is always a seat for you.”
Woven into this broader visual story is a tribute to photographer Corky Lee, whose documentation of Asian American history expanded visibility and representation. His inclusion adds another layer of remembrance to a composition centered on shared stories, cultural memory, welcome, and belonging. Together, the mural’s elements honor those who came before, recognize those gathered in the present, and leave space for future relationships and stories.
This collaboration honors the past, reflects the community of the present, and looks toward a future shaped by greater visibility, connection, and belonging.
Event Highlights
Public unveiling and artist presentation of the completed mural
Lion dance
Introduction of the six EpNex Meridian Fellows
Remarks from GONZO247, Lead Artist Mentor, and community representatives
Refreshments, photo opportunities, and community celebration
Participating Artists
GONZO247, Lead Artist Mentor
Lawrence Hsieh
Tsai-Ni Chen
Hsin Hwuang
Stu Yang
Lin Ying Huang
Ami Liu
Program and Community Support
Painted Bridges: Houston Mural Program is presented by EpNex 橋翼 in partnership with GONZO247 Studio and supported by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education Youth Development Administration through the Youth Billion Overseas Dream Fund.
The Houston mural is supported by the Southwest Management District and Greatland Management, with event, outreach, and logistical support from OCA-Greater Houston. Additional local support was provided by Stephen Le, Kenneth Li, and community partners who supported the Fellows through meals, hospitality, introductions, local knowledge, and practical assistance throughout their stay.
EpNex 橋翼 facilitates international youth leadership and cultural exchange programs connecting emerging leaders and artists through global collaboration.
The Southwest Management District works to strengthen quality of life, economic vitality, and public spaces throughout southwest Houston.
OCA-Greater Houston advances the well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through advocacy, arts, education, civic engagement, and community partnerships. OCA-Greater Houston secured permission from the Corky Lee Estate to include Lee’s image and legacy in the mural and is supporting event outreach and logistics.
While Painted Bridges is an independent international collaboration, the project aligns with the spirit of OCA-Greater Houston’s AAPI Trailblazers Initiative, which recognizes AAPI history, leadership, and contributions throughout Greater Houston. The mural demonstrates how future public artworks can continue honoring AAPI trailblazers and sharing their stories with broader communities.
About Dr. Kjell Lindgren
Dr. Kjell Lindgren is a NASA astronaut, physician, and Deputy Director of NASA’s Flight Operations Directorate. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, he spent part of his childhood in Taiwan before returning to the United States to pursue a career in medicine and human spaceflight. A veteran of two International Space Station missions, 311 days in space, and two spacewalks, he proudly represents the enduring ties between Taiwan, Houston, and the shared pursuit of exploration, innovation, and service.