Chroma Collective

Karen Navarro, Artist

Houston-based artist Karen Navarro presents her first major public installation, Chroma Collective, developed during the pilot year of Discovery Green’s Art Lab, a mentorship program designed to help Houston artists transition from studio practice to large-scale public art. Art Lab provided Navarro with mentorship, resources, and guidance from Houston-based design firm Metalab, artist Jen Lewin, and co-curators from Weingarten Art Group, enabling her to bring this ambitious project to life.

The installation is a 22-foot-long, six-and-a-half-foot-tall serpentine sculpture featuring 31 mirrored columns and 93 rotating panels. Some panels display images of Houstonians (and the artist herself), while others reflect the environment and visitors, creating an interactive, participatory experience. By spinning the panels, viewers generate constantly shifting patterns that explore the interplay between individuality and interconnectedness. The result is a playful, layered sculpture that invites cultural storytelling, reflection, and personal introspection.

Photography: Nicki Evans
Videography: Tripp Films