The Julia C. Butridge Gallery is located in the heart of the arts district adjacent to the Long Center and Butler Park at the Dougherty Arts Center, a multi-cultural community arts center providing opportunities for creative expression to citizens for over 41 years. Visitors enjoy an exceptional 2,000 square feet of exhibit space in the main gallery, and an additional 480 square feet in newly renovated gallery space. The natural collision of creative activity at the arts center contributes to the gallery’s longstanding reputation among the arts community as an accessible and nurturing venue and incubator, ideal for emerging and established artists. The gallery is free and open to the public.
On Display
London Farris, Existentialism, 2021, Acrylic on Canvas, 24x36”
Swammer
London Farris
April 26 – June 21, 2025
Artist Reception: Wednesday, May 21, 7-9pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, June 11, 7-9pm
London Farris’ Swammer is a mixed media series reflecting her personal experience as a female swimmer, navigating body image, self-identity, and the unique challenges of club and collegiate swimming. The shift in color and tone within her work narrates different phases of her athletic journey—darker pieces created during the swim season convey the mental and physical toll of competition, while bolder, more vibrant works represent a retrospective appreciation of the sport. Through figurative compositions, rich textures, and layered research, Farris captures the resilience and beauty of female athletes, inviting viewers into the often-overlooked realities of an athlete’s everyday experience.
Instagram: @londonfarris_art_
Website: https://londonfarris.wixsite.com/mysite/portfolio
Rachel Long, Home, 2021, Acrylic on wood panel, 100 x 70 cm
Relation Earth
Melinda Barsales and Rachel Long
April 26 – June 21, 2025
Artist Reception: Wednesday, May 21, 7-9pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, June 11, 7-9pm
Relation Earth is a collaborative exhibition by Melinda Barsales and Rachel Long, exploring the deep connections between place, ecology, and the human experience. Drawing from their backgrounds in visual, performing, sound-based, and healing arts, the artists engage in a multidisciplinary dialogue that invites viewers to slow down and reconnect with the more-than-human world. Through their use of collage, texture, and site-inspired compositions, Relation Earth fosters a sense of belonging, reflection, and attunement to the landscapes that shape us.
Websites: www.racheljlong.com and www.melindabarsales.com
Lindsey Millikan, Barton Springs Leap, 2023, Acrylic and Aerosol on Cradled Panel, 12x12”
Tides and Time
Lindsey Millikan
May 17 – June 21, 2025
Artist Reception: Wednesday, May 21, 7-9pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, June 11, 7-9pm
Tides and Time is a new series by Lindsey Millikan that reflects on the past, engages with the present, and inspires intentional movement toward the future. Through a fusion of celestial and aquatic elements, distorted perspectives, and bold patterns, Millikan creates a surreal landscape where central figures transcend their current reality. Rooted in both fine art and mural traditions, this work provokes intellectual and emotional responses, offering fresh insights into the complexities of the human psyche and our evolving world.
Instagram: @milli_art
Website: https://www.lindseymillikan.com/
Upcoming Exhibits
Rebecca Pugh, “Fence Posts (Texas)”, Acrylic paint, graphite, and paper on wood panel.
Fences and Fields
Rebecca Pugh
June 28 – August 9, 2025
Artist Reception: Wednesday, July 9, 2025, 7-9pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 7-9pm
Rebecca Pugh’s “Fences & Fields” explores the visual rhythm of fenced Texas landscapes through a series of mixed media paintings and sculptures. Her freestanding and wall-mounted works combine painting, drawing, and sculptural form to evoke the experience of moving through open fields lined with fences. Using materials like bed linens and acrylic paint, Pugh transforms everyday textures into vibrant abstractions that reflect her connection to place and the evolving nature of her practice.
Website: www.rebecca-pugh.com
Instagram: @Rebecca_pugh
Leila Ali Sánchez, “Tillandsia Recurvata (Ball Moss)”, Colored pencil and watercolor on vellum paper
Plants Consumed
Leila Ali Sánchez
June 28 – August 9, 2025
Artist Reception: Wednesday, July 9, 2025, 7-9pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 7-9pm
Leila Ali Sánchez’s exhibition “Plants Consumed” explores the evolving relationship between humans and plants through botanical illustration, photography, and collected objects. Her work highlights the ecological importance of plant life in the face of habitat loss, climate change, and environmental degradation. By focusing on both wild and cultivated species, she invites viewers to reflect on the visibility, value, and future of the plants that shape our everyday lives.
Website: www.leilaali.com
Instagram: @leila_ali_artstudio
Heidi Lowell, “Much Bigger Than Us”, Watercolor on Clayboard
Dust to Dust
Heidi Lowell
June 28 – August 9, 2025
Artist Reception: Wednesday, July 9, 2025, 7-9pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 7-9pm
Heidi Lowell’s “Dust to Dust” reminds us that the soil beneath our feet is both our foundation and our future. Using natural pigments made from Texas soils, plants, and insects, Lowell creates work that highlights the fragility and resilience of our ecosystems. This exhibition invites viewers to consider how environmental care and Texas pride can coexist in powerful, restorative ways.
Website: www.heidilowell.art
Instagram: @heidilowell.art