Biography

AVM Hawkins is an American contemporary fine artist of Creole descent, living in Houston, Texas. AVM is an abstract expressionist who intuitively uses color, contrast, and movement to evoke emotion while incorporating mixed materials, verbiage, and multiple painted layers to draw the viewer deeper into her work. She seamlessly blends color-filled freehand patterns with fluid gestural improvisations, bridging the worlds of form and abstraction to create space for exploration and serendipity.

“I gravitate toward certain materials subconsciously and apply them impulsively, possessed by a sparked conviction to act without excessive contemplation. Each painting reveals a distinct personality, an individualized self, and a message. I may have an idea or inspiration for where I’d like to go with a painting, but the path always unfolds before me, leaving me vulnerable and open to the possibility of a divine detour. The final destination is always unknown to me, which excites and scares me.”

AVM layers various mixed media to transform the physicality of the canvas into a relic that exudes a sense of history, decay, and energy. This transmutation becomes an embodiment of stored intentions, inspirations, moods, and emotions—elements that coalesce into a visual expression. Once observed, experienced, and interpreted, this exchange of consciousness becomes art.

AVM Hawkins was born and raised in New Orleans, LA. In August 2005, after losing all of her personal belongings in the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, AVM relocated to Houston, Texas, to continue her undergraduate education at the University of Houston. In 2009, she earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration. However, during her final year of college, she regretted not majoring in art. Though she initially pushed these thoughts aside, she nurtured her love for art by working part-time at The Gite Gallery in Houston’s Historic Third Ward and exploring art as a hobby, painting on small canvases, t-shirts, and tennis shoes.

In the fall of 2009, AVM was admitted to Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Ironically, while studying law, she also discovered how to be an artist. The rigorous demands of law school—relying solely on the analytical, logical, and linear left side of her brain day in and day out—created a void within her soul. During her first year, she experienced a breakthrough: she decided to channel and release her fears, insecurities, self-doubt, stress, and anxiety onto the canvas. This experience led AVM to create art by following her natural instincts and embracing self-love without conditions, judgment, or attachment to the outcome. Once she fully embraced her need to create, the resistance she felt in law school dissipated.

During her second and third years of law school, AVM interned at the Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy, Inc. (ECI) as a legal intern in their Pro Bono Property Clinic. In 2012, she was admitted to the Texas Bar and continued her work at ECI as a staff attorney. After undergoing a rigorous juried interview process, she was selected as a 2018 Fellow in the prestigious John Ross Palmer Escapism Art Mentorship Program. During this time, AVM created, exhibited, and sold her artwork full-time in the evenings and on weekends while continuing to practice law. She dedicated 2018 to transitioning toward her lifelong dream of becoming a successful professional artist.

In July 2019, AVM made the pivotal decision to leave her law practice and pursue art full-time. She specializes in custom-created and large-scale abstract paintings, designed to curate elegant spaces with awe-inspiring, meaningful art. AVM’s work can be viewed and purchased online at www.avmhawkins.com. For inquiries, call or text AVM at 713.487.9685 or email AVMHawkinsArt@gmail.com.

CV

ACADEMIC HISTORY

Artist INC. Houston, Mid-America Arts Alliance, facilitated by Fresh Arts 2020

Texas State Bar, 2012

Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Juris Doctorate 2012

University of Houston, Bachelors of Arts Business Administration 2009

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023 Enter, Mid Main Gallery, Houston, Texas

2022 Impetus, Mid Main Gallery, Houston, Texas

2021 Alchemy, John Palmer Art Gallery, Houston, Texas

2021 Homecoming, John Palmer Art Gallery, Houston, Texas

2018 Love Life, John Palmer Art Gallery, Houston, Texas

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024 Goddess, Reeves Art Gallery, Houston, Texas

2021 Deux, John Palmer Art Gallery, Houston, Texas

2021 Triad, John Palmer Art Gallery, Houston, Texas

2019 Art for Hope - Children’s Assessment Center, Houston, Texas

2019 Inspiritus II – Sawyer Yards, Houston, Texas

2019 Trez Art & Wine – Bisong Art Gallery, Houston, Texas

2018 Escapism Graduation Group Show, Houston, Texas

2017 Art Crawl, Mother Dog Studios, Houston, Texas

AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES

2021 John Ross Palmer Escapism Residency

2018 John Ross Palmer Escapism Residency