Beth Damphousse Art & Design Gallery celebrates TXST student talent

After Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse and First Lady Beth Damphousse arrived on campus in July 2022, they began decorating the university’s new presidential residence as anyone would.

Instead of hanging traditional art on the walls, however, they knew they wanted to put a spotlight on TXST students from the School of Art and Design to help personalize the new home, which TXST purchased in the Spring Lake Hills neighborhood in 2021.

The Damphousses created the Beth Damphousse Art & Design Gallery in the home’s entryway so all visitors would see the artwork when arriving. With a social calendar that calls for hosting more than 50 events per year, the Damphousses and their gallery provide significant exposure for the work of student artists.

“Why not highlight us?” Beth said. “One of Kelly’s and my favorite things to do is to brag on our students because they're incredible. I love being able to have the Regents or alumni come to events at our home and use this as an opportunity for Kelly and me to share what our students are currently working on. It's always fun to recognize just how talented our own students are here at Texas State.”

There wasn’t much time to start an application and selection process for student artists before the Damphousses’ first semester at TXST began, though. Fortunately, one student, Jacob M. Garza Jr., a 2022 graduate, was still in town that summer, and agreed to display his work in the presidential residence until they could formalize a process.

Sarah Kleinman, Ph.D., director of TXST Galleries, manages the annual application process and acts as the facilitator between the Office of the President and School of Art and Design. Once the students are selected, usually one to two, she gathers their biographies and artist statements, and she helps coordinate a reception for family, friends, and staff and faculty members to see the newly installed artwork.

The selected students also receive a small scholarship supported by the Damphousses.

“When you dedicate your time to something like creating art, being displayed in a gallery signals that value,” Kleinman said. “It is both a feather is our students’ caps and a meaningful sign that the leadership of their university recognizes the merit of their work.”

Grace Nielsen, ’26, communication design major, and Blanca Luna Nunez, ’25, art education and studio art major, are the 2025–2026 featured artists in the gallery. 

Nielsen was honored that her painting The Things We Carry was selected because new viewers can experience the piece and connect with it.

“What makes the experience especially meaningful is knowing that my work can be shared with and appreciated by others,” Nielsen said. “I’ve been creating art my entire life, but after years pass, many pieces end up displayed only in my own home or tucked away in storage. While I understand the personal meaning behind the piece as the artist, it’s exciting to see how others may find their own meaning within it as well." 

Nunez submitted her painting Saddle Works because one of her goals as an artist was to have her work shown in a gallery, which is something her professor, Tommy Fitzpatrick, encouraged her to do.

“It means that my artistic ability and passion are being recognized and appreciated,” Nunez said. “I think this painting is particularly interesting because it focuses on a saddle tree—not the saddle itself, but the craftsmanship behind making one. The inspiration photo was taken in Mexico and captures the artistry of saddle making in a local saddle shop. Through this piece, I wanted to show my appreciation for both the craft and the culture behind it.” 

For Beth, or the “chief volunteer” as she calls herself, supporting students in any way possible is her and Kelly’s job. The Damphousses consistently look for opportunities to go to games to support student-athletes, concerts to support students in the School of Music, shows to support students in the Department of Theatre, Dance & Film, and other events.

In this case, displaying artwork created by students in the School of Art and Design is their way of letting art students know that they’re important to them. She created a similar gallery previously when she worked for another university.

“It's not the importance necessarily that we come, but it's the importance of the role that we serve,” Beth said. “We have to be our students’ best cheerleaders to help them finish their goals and move forward with what they want to do in life. I can't have a pole vaulter out in the front yard or a sprinter, but art is something I can have here at the house. And if I can think of ways to do other things, I'm sure that'll be next on the list.”

While the selected works have been based on the academic year, the application process will now be based on the calendar year. Applications for the 2027 featured artist(s) will open early in the fall semester to be displayed starting in January 2027 through the year.

Visit the Beth Damphousse Art & Design Gallery webpage to learn more and to apply.