Archway Gallery is presenting a dual exhibit of new paintings by Kay Sarver and Trudy Askew, on view Dec. 5, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2026. Askew’s new body of work is titled “Obscure Narratives” and Sarver’s is titled “Sleepwalking.”
The opening reception is Saturday, Dec. 6, 5-8 p.m., when guests can meet the artists and attend the artists’ talks starting at 6:30 p.m.
The gallery is at 2305 Dunlavy, Houston, TX 77006. Complimentary valet parking and light refreshments will be available.
Lily of the Leaves, 24×18, acrylic on canvas, by Trudy Askew (submitted photo)
Houston artist Trudy Askew explores the connection between reality and imagination in her exhibit of new surrealistic paintings, “Obscure Narratives.” Inspired by old family photographs and albums, news stories, personal dreams and visions, the work evokes layers of mystery. Secrets and hidden meanings are for the viewer to discover. “I accentuate inscrutability and contradiction,” she says. “I challenge the viewer to resolve the ambiguities of truth and meaning.”
Star Eater, oil on wood, 12×12, by Kay Sarver (submitted photo)
Kay Sarver’s exhibit of new oil paintings, “Sleepwalking,” draws from images that sprang from her imagination as she navigated as though sleepwalking through the chaotic nightmare of recent times. “Working this way has felt both vulnerable and comforting in the same moment,” explains Sarver. Drawing in part from a rich imaginative world she retreated to amid stressful times in childhood, her new work also incorporates a fascination with Tarot cards’ archetypes, metaphors and symbols.
Trudy Askew was born and raised in San Diego. She pursued an extensive education in fine arts with an emphasis on painting. She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree at The University of Texas at Austin and a master of fine arts degree at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. When Askew moved to Houston, she won awards for her paintings, receiving recognition from the press and the Houston art community for her artistic excellence. For many years, she taught art. “My classrooms were exciting, crazy and experimental,” she comments. “My students were passionate about art, and I learned as much as they did.” Other artistically transformative experiences include summers spent in Guadalajara, Mexico, at the Universidad de Artes Plasticas; adventures at the Universidad de Belles Artes in Valencia, Spain; and participation in a course of study at The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Skowhegan, Maine.
Serenity, oil on wood, 12×12, by Kay Sarver (submitted photo)
As a young child, Kay Sarver was always drawing, usually creating some sort of grand scene with animals and trees. Her parents fed this passion by taking her to classes at the Museum of Fine Arts in Cincinnati, the city where she grew up. Through school she won multiple awards, eventually receiving a Gold Key while in high school. Later, she attended the University of Cincinnati, majoring in fine arts, where she soon embraced painting with oils.
Sarver’s art career includes many solo, group and juried shows. She was a finalist in the Hunting Art Prize three times. Most notable was a solo museum exhibition of her series of oil paintings, “Studio Junkies,” at Lawndale Art Center. A longtime Houston resident, Sarver continues to reflect a deep affinity for trees, animals and humans as subjects, while also expanding her vision to include human-invented symbology.
This exhibition comes at a time when Houston’s art community is emphasizing personal narratives amid broader cultural shifts. Askew’s surrealism invites viewers to question perceptions, much like the city’s evolving skyline blends old and new. Sarver’s introspective pieces echo the resilience seen in local artists post-pandemic, using symbolism to process collective experiences.
The dual show highlights how cooperative spaces like Archway support emerging and established talents, fostering a scene that’s accessible beyond elite institutions. With works starting at affordable prices, it’s an entry point for new collectors in a market often seen as exclusive.
About Archway Gallery
Since 1976, Archway Gallery, one of Houston’s oldest artist-run galleries, has showcased fine art at 2305 Dunlavy. Open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Sunday, 1–5 p.m., it features affordable sculpture, pottery, painting, and photography by 30+ artist members. Meet an artist onsite, enjoy monthly exhibitions, and attend opening receptions the first Saturday of each month, 5–8 p.m. For more, visit ArchwayGallery.com or call (713) 522-2409.
Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market. Visit his website at ArtValet.com.