Impact Leadership Academy Students to Showcase Artwork at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Exhibition

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The Shared Grounds Exhibition will take place on November 18 at the University of Houston’s 3rd Space Art Gallery.

Students from Aldine ISD’s Impact Leadership Academy will debut their collaborative artwork in Shared Grounds, a new exhibition hosted by the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH).

Event Details

Shared Grounds Exhibition Opening
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025 | 7–9 p.m.
The 3rd Space, University of Houston Fine Arts Building
Free Admission (RSVP at Eventbrite link)

Free parking is available in designated spaces in front of the Blaffer Art Museum.

The exhibition marks another milestone in the transformative partnership between Impact Leadership Academy and CAMH, through the museum’s Teaching Artist-in-Classroom (TAIC) program. Under the guidance of teaching artist Carlos Mendoza and Impact Leadership Academy art teacher Toby McCraw, students have created a series of large-scale paintings that delve into themes of place, memory, and the future, offering a unique perspective that will engage the audience.

The eight-foot-tall canvases, spanning more than eight panels, combine layered imagery of figures, gestures, and everyday scenes. Together, the works reflect on the challenges, hopes, and shared experiences across generations, offering a vision of connection, care, and possibility.

Felice Cleveland, CAMH’s Director of Learning and Engagement, praised the students’ creativity and insight.

“I got a chance to preview the work in the early parts of the process, and it was truly inspiring,” Cleveland shared in a message to Aldine ISD Visual Arts Director Kaileigh Newman. “I hope everyone can make it out to the opening!”

Newman said the district is proud of McCraw and his students for continuing to elevate the visual arts in Aldine.

“Mr. McCraw has built an environment where students feel empowered to express their stories through art,” Newman said. “Collaborations like this show our young men that their voices and perspectives matter.”

This collaboration follows previous exhibitions featuring McCraw and Impact Leadership Academy students, including Threat of Joy earlier this year. McCraw, who also serves on CAMH’s Teacher Advisory Group, continues to help shape the museum’s education and engagement initiatives.

The Shared Grounds opening celebration will feature light refreshments and provide an opportunity for students and teaching artists to share the inspiration behind their work. The event is free and open to the public; RSVPs are recommended.

The Teaching Artist-in-Classroom (TAIC) program connects K–12 students from historically under-resourced schools with local artists for collaborative, curriculum-aligned projects. Aldine ISD and Houston ISD are among the participating districts.

Impact Leadership Academy is one of Aldine ISD’s Choice Schools campuses. The all-boys campus, in partnership with Prairie View A&M University, cultivates learning experiences rooted in cultural identity, community, and leadership.