Sentience: Presence as a way of Seeing, being & Creating
Opening reception
Thursday October 1st, 2026
Mid Main Lofts
3550 main st. houston, texas 77002
6pm - 10pm
A part of Mid Main Houston’s first thursdays Block Party
Sentience: Presence as a Way of Seeing, Being & Creating at Mid Main Gallery features 20 new abstract paintings, and 3 sculptural, deconstructed paintings, that aim to induce the experience of Sentience—an awareness of one’s inner thoughts, feelings, and sensations through the experience of abstract art.
AVM Hawkins uses the experience of creating and viewing art as an interactive metaphor for humanity’s inherent ability not only to perceive and experience the world around us, but also to perceive and experience our own inner world. As humans, we are aware of our own thoughts and emotions, and we have the ability to empathize with the feelings of others.
With the rise of AI technology, Hawkins’ proposed answer to the question of what distinguishes Artificial Intelligence from Human Beings, is Sentience—the ability to feel, perceive and experience sensations within as an additional means to process information.
Sentience invites the viewer to use presence as a means of seeing, being and creating in their everyday life, through the contemplation of each work, and the experience of the sensations that arise within.
The exhibition considers three components: 1) Creating—the creative process, 2) Seeing—the experience of viewing art, and 3) Being—the experience of how the work makes one feel.
The exhibition aims to create a mechanism through which the viewer can have a sentient experience—inviting them to be fully present with each work, take the time to allow it in, and become aware of what words, emotions, inner sensations, thoughts, and ideas that arise within.
