HER VISION 2023
“Her Vision” was an event crafted by women for women in the visual arts to connect and collaborate together in a safe and welcoming environment.
Organized by Raquel Natalicchio, Delicia Waller and Nneoma Ajiwe, this event was created to provide women in the visual arts community a space collaborate together with the purpose of growth and support. In addition to having local female vendors, there was also a panel discussion that consisted of successful creative women from Houston. We called on all Women-indentifying photographers, Videographers, Producers, Editors, Directors, DP’s, Stylists, set designers, curators, re-touchers, and everything in between. In this space, women from across the city were able to lean on one another and be reminded to unapologetically hold space in rooms they might be overlooked in.
Since we were able to gather so many women, we asked them to provide us with information about their careers and how one might be able to contact them. We have created a page where you can find this information. Click the button below to access the HER Database!
This event would not have been possible without the team of women who believed in this event and contributed their talents and resources.
Thank you to our sponsors… Houston Camera Exchange & Timeless Vodka.
To our vendors… Arte Sana & Miixed Feels.
To the wonderful Ann LeCompte & Houston Camera Exchange for creating individual photo booths for women to get their photos taken. Last but certainly not least, to DJ Womon for the wonderfully curated music.
There is nothing more powerful than when women come together to provide for and support one another…
PANELISTS
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Ineye Komonibo
Lagos-born, Houston-raised, and Brooklyn-based, Ineye Komonibo is a millennial entertainment writer and culture critic with a love for all things pop culture. Ever-curious about who we are and what we do because of the media we consume, Ineye’s focus has always been on fleshing out the deep cyclical relationship between society and the media we engage with.
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Jessi Bowman
Houston-based photographer and curator with over 14 years of experience. Jessi has curated shows, including "Sight Lines" at Houston Center for Photography, where she served as Exhibitions Manager for 8 years, and has worked with other notable organizations like FotoFest International and Project Row Houses. She is the Founder and Curator of FLATS, a community darkroom and photo lab that began as a nomadic exhibition series showcasing local artists. Additionally, she has started FLAT Files, the only photo publication dedicated to highlighting Southern Central photographers and curators.
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Gabrielle Henderson
A color and naturally curly/coily hair specialist for 9 years, and a certified trichologist since 2018. For years, she’s been responsible for providing luxury hair color and services to the city of Houston and has built of a reputation of being one of the top colorists/stylists in the Houston area.
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Elizabeth Conley
Senior staff visual journalist at The Houston Chronicle. Prior to joining the Chronicle in 2015, Conley worked at The Detroit News for over a decade where she specialized in long-term environmental projects and sports photography. She has been an International Women Media Foundation Fellow, accepted into the Kalish Photo Editing Workshop, a Gerald Loeb Finalist, a Kiplinger Fellow in Public Affairs Journalism, a mentor for the DoD and since 2019, has worked with the Eddie Adams Workshop as faculty/black team where she’s been fortunate to mentor some amazing photographers. She has been recognized nationally and internationally for her work.
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Raquel Natalicchio (Moderator)
Raquel Natalicchio is a photographer originally from Los Angeles, CA and now based in Houston, TX as a staff visual journalist for The Houston Chronicle. Raquel documents social issues, community driven stories, political mobilization and migration across the US/Mexico border. Her work focuses on the universality of humanity, including themes of love, struggle, resilience and community.
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Whylan Rucker
A Beaumont, Texas native, who currently resides in Houston, Texas as an entrepreneur and contributor to the in performing arts. In 2020, Whylan began teaching commercial classes within the Houston region, while serving as a public school educator. In 2022, she became CEO of TheWhy Dance & Consultant Services, which is a business that serves a diverse group of clients in the art form within the art form. In May of 2023, she decided to retire as teacher to pursue her entrepreneurial endeavors full time. Currently, she is a freelance choreographer, creative director and content creator looking to advocate for the visual and performing arts community in the Houston region and beyond.
