Christy Lynn Lee
Founder, Christy Lynn
Sun-drenched and ready for the summer months’ jet-setting itinerary, Christy Lynn’s Summer 2026 collection feels like a passport stamped with silk and sun. Inspired by resort living and California wine country, the designer intentionally embraces vacation vibes. “My hope is that this collection can take my customer into a sun-filled escape,” says designer Christy Lynn Lee. This season, she will debut her first foray into swimwear alongside signature kaftans and breezy dresses made for effortless vacation dressing. The mood is light, but the details are well-defined, with shoppers already gravitating toward the new dresses, punctuated by pops of gold and teal.
Behind the scenes, Lee’s design process is all about hunting for just the right fabrics and discovery. She sources vintage fabrics from around the world, looking for unique prints, laces, and cutouts, then collaborates with her sister, who hand-sketches each print. Biannual trips to Paris are where she recharges her creative spirit, allowing each collection to have a timeless quality. That mindset shapes her business, too. “I’ve always seen obstacles as opportunities,” she says. This perspective guides her brand’s evolution with resilience and style. christylynn.com
Susan Meeks
Contemporary Artist
Houston-based artist Susan Meeks is redefining the traditional floral still life, scaling it up and giving viewers an up-close view. Her work, rooted in contemporary realism, transforms familiar botanicals into immersive compositions.
“I’ve always been drawn to the structure of flowers,” Meeks says. “There’s an architectural strength there that people often overlook.” Working exclusively in oil, she builds each piece through thin, translucent layers, creating a luminous depth that gives her art a sculptural presence.
Her latest piece, a five-by-four-foot magnolia study, captures that balance. Constructed from a custom collage of her own photography, the composition allows her to create a scene that a single image can’t. “I want the viewer to feel like they’re stepping inside the canopy,” she explains. “That sense of intimacy is everything.”
That closeness is accomplished through a signature macro perspective. By zooming in, Meeks eliminates background distractions to provide a closer view of each curve and gradient. It is both delicate and technically detailed.
Behind the scenes, Meeks balances her studio practice with her role as an early childhood teacher, often painting late into the night. The payoff has been worth it for the artist. Seeing her work represented at Jack Meier Gallery, a space she admired as a child, is a full-circle moment. “It’s surreal,” she says. “I used to dream about being in those windows.”susanpaintsflowers.wixsite.com
Kara Przybyl McIver
Deputy Director, Opera Gallery
Opera Gallery recently opened in River Oaks District, and Deputy Director Kara Przybyl McIver sees it as a natural fit rather than a gamble. “Houston has a cultural community that genuinely supports the arts,” she says, pointing to institutions like the Menil and Rothko Chapel as anchors for a sophisticated audience that is already deeply engaged.
The gallery’s mix of historic masterworks and leading contemporary artists taps into that mindset, offering work that invites not just acquisition but a clear sense of legacy. McIver’s approach to building those relationships is shaped by a career spent close to collectors, from auction houses to art consulting and time at the Kimbell Art Museum. “Collecting is both personal and thoughtful,” she explains. “It’s about what someone connects with, but also how a work fits into a larger story over time.” That perspective carries into her vision for the gallery as a place where conversations and transactions take place side by side, bringing together artists, curators, and new audiences. McIver believes Opera Gallery will feel right at home, adding to Houston’s evolving cultural dialogue in a collaborative, intentional way. operagallery.com
Brittany Cobb
Founder and CEO, Flea Style
Flea Style recently returned to Houston with a new storefront in River Oaks, bringing boots, belts, and custom hats back to a city that helped create the brand. Founder and CEO Brittany Cobb calls the opening a full-circle moment, having launched her early business at The Houston Flea. “I’ve been looking for a Houston location for about five years,” she says. “This finally felt like our long-term home.”
The shop opens with a tight edit of vintage women’s cowboy boots, kantha quilt capes, and custom-decorated hats, alongside the brand’s popular Original Hat Bar. “Our Houston customer loves vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces,” Cobb says. “I shopped with them in mind.”
Cobb says the return feels both exciting and personal. “The Houston shopper has been part of my story from the beginning,” she says. “I’m happy to be back and continue that connection in person.” fleastyle.com
Michele Leal
Director, City of Houston Mayor's Office of the Arts
Michele Leal’s role as Director of the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of the Arts comes at a moment when the city’s cultural momentum is hard to ignore. “I’m excited that Mayor Whitmire has placed this level of trust in me,” she says, noting her role as a bridge between City Hall and Houston’s arts community. That energy is already visible across the city, from record-breaking exhibitions to milestones like Houston Grand Opera’s third Grammy win, Asia Society Texas’s The House of Pikachu, and the return of Untitled Art, all of which point to a growing spotlight.
Her approach is formed by a career full of community-focused work and a sincere respect for artists. “My entire professional life has been about creating space for stories that might not otherwise be told,” she says. Interacting directly with artists and appreciating their perspectives is central to how she leads. As a native Houstonian, she also sees the role as personal. “We have so much to offer, and we deserve that recognition on a global stage.”
For Leal, accessibility is a priority moving forward. Through partnerships and citywide funding initiatives, Leal is working to ensure the arts reach every corner of Houston. “Accessibility is about going out, listening to Houstonians, and finding ways to bring those ideas to life,” she says. “I would love to see Houston thriving in the national spotlight as the arts destination it already is. We have award-winning institutions and programming, very generous arts patrons, and so many unique Houston arts and cultural activities.” houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs
Courtney Freels
Owner of Blushington River Oaks
For Courtney Freels, opening Blushington in River Oaks seemed like a natural fit. “Blushington’s customer is a multifaceted woman wearing a lot of hats,” she says, and that’s exactly who you’ll find in River Oaks. From working women to socialites to beauty lovers, it’s a neighborhood that reflects how Houston actually lives and gets ready. “It’s elevated, but still incredibly community-driven,” she adds.
Inside, the focus is on making that getting-ready process feel easy and fun, not overwhelming. Freels says the “Debut Package" is one of her favorites. “It really captures the full Blushington experience in one visit,” she says. She also recommends the signature “Simply Glowing” because it was what made her fall in love with the brand in 2015. “It’s that effortless, polished soft glam that enhances your features without ever feeling overdone.”
Her path here wasn’t exactly linear. Freels came from global energy trading before moving into entrepreneurship, all while raising a family. “Both demand resilience and the ability to juggle a lot at once,” she says. Now, she has learned to embrace the unpredictability. “No two days are the same, but if you stay focused and keep a sense of humor, it’s incredibly rewarding.”blushington.com