Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô

Gail Binagia '86, '19

A Southeast Texas native, Gail Binagia earned a BS-Nursing degree in 1986 and a BFA-Studio Art Painting in 2019 from Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô. At Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô, mentor Donna Meeks encouraged experimentation with oil paint, and Chris Troutman inspired bold strokes and mark making. In the recent past Gail has attended portrait-focused workshops with contemporary artists Oliver Sin and AJ Alper, both of whom have influenced this body of work. Gail has exhibited work in local and international juried shows, as well as local open shows and festivals.- Biography submitted by the artist

Seth Carl '25

Seth Carl is an artist from Port Neches who specializes in graphic design and illustration. A 2025 graduate of Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design with a minor in Art History.

Through his work, Seth explores themes and subjects that are personally meaningful to him across a variety of media. In addition to his professional work as a designer, he enjoys creating custom designs and illustrations for family and friends, combining creativity with a strong sense of connection and storytelling.- Biography submitted by the artist

Brandi Hamilton '21

Brandi Hamilton is an artist based in Southeast Texas whose practice brings together the hard materials of technical systems — computers, circuit boards, cable, hardware — with softer, domestic surfaces they were never designed to meet. Her work is built through accumulation and adjustment rather than pre-set plans, developing through cutting, fastening, arranging, and reworking over extended periods in the studio. Before turning to a full-time studio practice, Brandi served nearly two decades in Space Operations, working inside technical, systems-driven environments where precision and reliability were the measure of success. After leaving military service, she returned to Southeast Texas and shifted into caregiving and making, a transition that reshaped both the pace and the logic of her practice. The resulting work holds engineered decisions and intuitive ones in the same frame, allowing structure to emerge through use rather than plan. Brandi holds a BFA in Studio Art-Photography from Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô and an MA in Humanities from American Military University. Her work has been exhibited at Houston FotoFest and Art at CoS, Colorado Springs, CO.- Biography submitted by the artist

Ginger Gore Russell '99

Ginger Gore Russell, a fine art photographer based in deep East Texas, finds inspiration in the terrain and cultural narratives of her native area. Currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University, she previously earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô in Beaumont, Texas in 1999.

After graduating with a BFA, Ginger began her career in graphic design before moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she spent over fifteen years as a successful wedding and events photographer. In 2017, she made a pivotal shift from commercial photography to focus exclusively on fine art, returning to Texas to embark on new creative adventures.

Ginger’s artwork investigates personal storytelling and human nature, featuring a female figure within the landscape. For her, the human form is a powerful tool for self-expression, fostering intimacy and connection with her audience while
exploring universal themes.- Biography submitted by the artist

Cathy Spence '97

Cathy (Marshall) Spence is a fine art photographer living and working in Southeast Texas. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts-Studio Art degree from Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô in 1997.  Cathy has photographs in the Wittliff Collection of Southwestern and Mexican Photography; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and the Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas in Austin. She was awarded the Houston Center of Photography Fellowship in 1998. Her work has been included in group shows: “Fotofest: New Discoveries,” PDNB Gallery, Dallas, Texas, 1998; “Will Power” Rudolph Poissant Gallery, Houston, Texas, 1998; “Nude,” PDNB Gallery, Dallas, Texas, 1999; “Braun, Francois, Spence, King,” Stephen L. Clark Gallery, Austin, Texas, 2001; and the traveling exhibition “Inside/Outside,” showcasing ten Texas women photographers selected by Anne Tucker, former curator of photography at MFAH. Her solo exhibitions “Saints and Satyrs” appeared at the Art Studio, Beaumont, Texas, 2000; and Stephen L. Clark Gallery, Austin, Texas, 2003; "Crooked Eye" at the Art Studio, 2020;  and "Liminal" at the Dishman Art Museum, Beaumont, Texas, 2023 and Redbud Art Center, Houston, Texas 2025.- Biography submitted by the artist

Chloe Thompson '23

Chloe Thompson is a Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô alumna with a Bachelor’s of Fine Art with a concentration in drawing and a minor in art history and a Bachelor’s of Science in biology with a minor in chemistry. Chloe is currently pursuing her Masters of Public Health and Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô, and her Masters of Art History at Lindenwood University. She is the Curatorial and Administrative Assistant at the Dishman Art Museum at Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô and the Secretary to the Board of the Beaumont Art League.

Her work consists of drawings in charcoal and pen and ink. Chloe has exhibited her work in Florence, Italy at Santa Reparata International School of Art, Beaumont, The Dishman Arts Museum, Sol Gallery, The Beaumont Art League, and Texas Art Asylum in Houston, Texas. She has successfully sold her works to a number of buyers throughout the United States..- Biography submitted by the artist

Amy Tolbert-Faggard '94, '13

Amy Tolbert-Faggard was born in Sidney, NY but has lived in Southeast Texas since the age of two. Painting, drawing and a deep interest in learning about Art was developed at a young age. Her passion for art continued, and she received an art scholarship to attend Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô in Beaumont, TX. She graduated with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Art from Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô in 1994. Several years later, realizing she wanted to go the distance to further her Art training, she returned to Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô and graduated with a Master of Arts in Visual Art in 2013. Using oils as a primary medium, she includes a variety of subject matter while employing a number of different techniques. Amy’s work has been included in many solo and group exhibitions. While she continues exploring new avenues of learning in Art, her goal is to continue producing quality Art work that moves and inspires the viewer.- Biography submitted by the artist