About Civic Art

The Houston Arts Alliance Civic Art Division delivers turnkey results, comprehensively managing public art projects-starting with the project's intentions, through artist selection, contracting, final design, fabrication, installation, completion, and close-out.

We work with artists to produce exciting and innovative visual experiences matched to the needs of each unique client and space. Drawing on tested processes and years in the field, we pride ourselves on serving clients through every step. Our dedicated team is equipped to handle a range of assignments, including permanent and temporary art project management, exhibition planning, creative place-making, and urban design.

Our Services

Following industry recognized best practices, HAA designs artist selection procedures that are tailored to each client's goals, budget, and timeline. We deliver artist recommendations that are distinctive, exciting, and inspiring for the clients and communities we serve.
Your trusted partner throughout the entire design, fabrication, and installation process. HAA will be with you each step of the way. In the office, in the studio, or in the field, HAA has overseen hundreds of projects from design to opening day, ensuring excellence at every milestone.
HAA offers a streamlined process for acquiring artworks and can advise on building poignant and balanced collections. We utilize the latest cloud-based collection management software to keep your collection records secure and up to date.
HAA staff work closely with clients to craft arts-based master plans that are thoughtful, comprehensive, impactful, and achievable for organizations and spaces of all sizes.
Clients with artworks in need of care benefit from HAA's expertise in conserving and maintaining indoor and outdoor collections with all types of artwork.
City of Houston, United Airlines, Houston First Corporation, Southwest Airlines, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Caydon USA, Downtown Management District, The Kroger Company

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Meet the Team

GRACE ZUÑIGA (She/Her)

Director of Civic Art
grace@haatx.com
713.527.9330 x 126

Grace Zuñiga is the Director of Civic Art for Houston Arts Alliance and brings leadership and creativity to the role.
She is a proven leader in the Houston arts community and has dedicated a near-decade of her professional career to curating art exhibitions and cultural experiences in the City on behalf of corporations, nonprofits and galleries. A multifaceted artist, Grace is an influential figure in the Houston arts scene. Most recently, she shaped arts programming and public art programs for Sawyer Yards. Grace also serves on the board of directors of multiple local arts and culture organizations.
A Corpus Christi native, Grace received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2007. In 2010, she studied printmaking and paper-making in the UGA Cortona Program in Cortona, Italy. Two years later, Grace received her Master of Fine Arts from the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia.

CHELSEA BENOIT

Finance and Database Coordinator
chelsea@haatx.com
713.581.6130

Chelsea earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Finance from the University of Houston in 2014. After nearly eight years as a financial advisor serving a diverse range of clients, she chose to follow her childhood dream of working in the arts. Since 2023, Chelsea has been an active collaborator in Houston's vibrant arts community, supporting institutions and artists such as ART IS BOND., Hogan Brown Gallery, United by Design, and Robert Hodge.
Chelsea is passionate about fostering meaningful connections between art and its audiences, advocating for accessibility and inclusivity across all aspects of the creative world. She is committed to inspiring others to follow their creative aspirations while shining a light on the often-overlooked roles within creative administration and production.
In her role as Finance and Database Coordinator for the Civic Arts Division, Chelsea ensures the timely and accurate processing of financial operations and oversees the management of the City of Houston's art collection database.

ALLISON KILLEN (She/Her)

Senior Civic Art Project Manager
allison@haatx.com
713.527.9330 x 132

Allison is a project manager and creative with over seven years of experience working with artists and organizations in the Houston area. She is passionate about creating accessible and inclusive experiences with art outside of traditional spaces and has curated programs and written strategic plans that help local arts and culture groups establish programs in public places.
Allison is currently finishing her Master’s in Arts Leadership at the University of Houston and holds a BA in Arts Management and a BFA with a concentration in Photography from the University of North Texas. In her free time, Allison enjoys traveling, playing board games with friends, and checking out the latest exhibitions on view around town.

SASHA DELA (She/Her)

Associate Project Manager
sasha@haatx.com
713.527.9330

Sasha Dela, originally from Atlanta and now based in Houston, brings over two decades of experience in the visual arts, education, and nonprofit sectors. In 2007, she completed a residency at the Core Program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Dela holds a Master of Fine Arts from California College of the Arts in San Francisco and was awarded the DeCosse Fellowship to study at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy. As co-founder and director of SKYDIVE, a nonprofit art space, Dela fostered a platform for experimental art. She also founded the Saturday Free School for the Arts, a radical school open to all, offering free, inclusive arts education. Dela has contributed her expertise to committees at DiverseWorks, Lawndale, Project Row Houses, and the Center for Houston’s Future. In a major curatorial project, she organized a show celebrating the 25th anniversary of DiverseWorks, highlighting a legacy of impactful local and national arts programming.

XIAOYU (LINDA) WU (She/Her)

Civic Art Finance & Collection Management Coordinator
lindawu.xw@haatx.com
713.527.9330 x 113

Linda received her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Rice University in 2018. She has since supported various Houston art organizations such as Lawndale Art Center, Sawyer Yards, and The Idea Fund through administrative roles. She works closely with the Civic Art team to ensure timely and accurate processing of financial procedures.