Everyone’s journey is distinct and significant. In Valerie’s opinion, no single occurrence can dictate a path, but rather, it is a collection of events or happenings that embody the experience and story of that individual. It is our memories, our past, the now, and entities yet to come that shape who we are, who we become, and inadvertently serve as excuses for what we’ve done. The “Becoming” Series is an aesthetic exploration of the truth and illusion behind the often-unfortunate actions that stem from human nature. Our skin is what binds us physically yet separates us emotionally. Using pigment and skin tone, a visual representation of the pain of being the other is portrayed in each piece through the lens of an African American mother. In strength and with one’s emotions guarded, pain is oftentimes overlooked or ignored. The masks we wear daily contribute to the seclusion and loneliness of what it feels like to be Black in America. Becoming is a visual journey of the bold and beautiful elements that define African American women. It is this beauty that often creates the divide but illuminates the magic that we possess.

Valerie is an independent curator and gallerist based in Dallas. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of New England in Portland and curatorial practice from New York University. Her undergraduate degree is in Studio Art and Spanish from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia. During her years abroad in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, Valerie studied art and architecture. While completing her artist in residence program with Università Iuav di Venezia in Venice, Italy, she studied painting and art history under the guidance of Maurizio Pellegrin. Valerie currently is the Director of Fine Arts at the Winston School of Dallas and owner of Pencil on Paper Gallery in the Design District in Dallas. Some of her recent exhibitions include curatorial projects with the 500X Gallery in Dallas, The Other Art Fair, The Beachum Family Collection, The Martin Museum, Southern Methodist University, The Hawn Gallery and the Texas Visual Arts Association. Pencil on Paper Gallery was awarded Best Art Gallery in Dallas/Fort Worth in 2021, awarded Best Art Space in Dallas by D magazine in 2023, Best Art Gallery for Emerging Artists in 2024 by D Magazine, and has been featured in the Dallas Morning News, Patron Magazine, Elliman Magazine, D Magazine, the Dallas Observer, and Voyage Dallas.