ALH Announces Top Honors for 2025 Annual Awards

Dario Robleto (photo credit: Sean Su), Leah Bennett (photo credit: Sadie Sanders Photography).

(Houston, TX – March 31, 2025) Since 1983, Art League Houston (ALH) has been a leader in celebrating contemporary art in Texas through its annual awards program. In 2025, ALH is proud to honor two exceptional individuals whose impact has shaped both the cultural and philanthropic fabric of our state: Dario Robleto as the 2025 Texas Artist of the Year, and Leah Bennett as the recipient of the 2025 Texas Patron of the Year award.

Dario Robleto, a Houston-based artist born in San Antonio, has garnered national and international recognition for his deeply poetic and research-driven practice. Through sculpture, installation, film, and writing, Robleto explores the intersections of science, empathy, history, and the human condition. His work is held in the permanent collections of major institutions, including the Menil Collection, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. With a career spanning over two decades, Robleto’s visionary approach bridges disciplines and challenges the boundaries of contemporary art. In addition to his artistic practice, he has served as an artist-in-residence and consultant with leading scientific and academic institutions across the country.

Leah Bennett is a devoted arts patron and advocate whose collection and philanthropic work center around championing women and underrepresented voices in the arts. With an unwavering belief in the power of art to build empathy and foster connection, Bennett works closely with artists, museums, and communities to promote inclusion and cultural awareness. In addition to her leadership roles in the finance sector, she serves on the boards of ArtPace, Performing Arts Houston, CHRISTUS Foundation for Healthcare, and the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto. Through her strategic giving and community engagement, she has made an indelible impact on the cultural landscape of Texas.

“This year’s honorees embody the transformative power of art - not only through creation, but through advocacy, curiosity, and vision,” says Jennie Ash, Executive Director of Art League Houston. “Dario Robleto’s practice expands our understanding of what art can be, seamlessly weaving together science, emotion, and history to explore what it means to be human. Leah Bennett’s generosity and dedication to lifting up underrepresented artists reminds us of the importance of passionate, purposeful patronage. Together, their contributions have reshaped how we experience and support art in Texas.”

“Dario Robleto’s practice demonstrates a number of remarkable features,” says Josh T Franco, artist and art historian. “One that stands out is his adeptness at entering highly specialized areas of study–from astronomy to histories of colonial empires–and working with those experts to not only create beautiful works across a range of mediums, but also to leave a mark on those fields in return. Few artists work and think on such immense scale with such consistency as Robleto has throughout his extraordinary career.”

“Energized by a genuine inquisitiveness, Leah Bennett follows her instincts and takes risks, supporting artists at every step of their journey,” says Erin Dorn, Founder of Seven Sisters Gallery. “Beyond reading between the lines, Leah can see past the surface, quickly reaching the elemental core of what compels an artist. This approach allows Leah to contribute substantially to the growth of artists through meaningful encouragement, increased visibility, and scholarship.

In her engagement with museums, galleries, friends, and clients, Leah Bennett is more than a collector. She is an ambassador of the dynamic range of artistic expression and the power of choice. Her sparkling kindness and warmth both inspire and uplift. In a contagiously good way, she invests in building a stronger community around art and people through listening and exchanging ideas. I’m grateful to be in her orbit.”

A committee of distinguished artists and arts professionals from across Texas selected this year’s ALH Award honorees. In recognition of Dario Robleto’s groundbreaking practice, Art League Houston will present a solo exhibition of his work from September 26 to December 21, 2025, accompanied by the publication of a limited-edition monograph developed in collaboration with the artist. Both Dario Robleto and Leah Bennett will be honored at ALH’s Annual Gala on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Thompson Houston, co-chaired by Erin Dorn and Mitra Murthy. For more information about sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, please visit www.artleaguehouston.org/2025-gala or contact Jennie Ash at jennie@artleaguehouston.org or 713-523-9530 Ext 7.

Dario Robleto (photo credit: Sean Su)

2025 Texas Artist of the Year

Dario Robleto

Dario Robleto was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1972. He received his BFA from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1997. He lives and works in Houston, Texas.

Robleto’s work has been widely exhibited and is held in prominent collections, including the Menil Collection, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Since 1997, he has had numerous solo exhibitions, most recently at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (2024), the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (2024), the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University (2019), Menil Collection (2014), the Baltimore Museum of Art (2014), the New Orleans Museum of Art (2012), and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver (2011). In 2008, a ten-year survey exhibition, Alloy of Love, was organized by the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York. In 2023, a second ten-year survey show, The Heart’s Knowledge: Science and Empathy in the Art of Dario Robleto, was organized by the Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University. A major monograph accompanied each exhibition.

Ancient Beacons Long for Notice, 2023-2024 (film still)
UHD video, 5.1 surround sound installation, 71 minutes

His work has been featured in numerous publications and media outlets, including Radiolab, Krista Tippett's On Being, and The New York Times. Robleto has held positions as an artist-in-residence, research fellow, and lecturer at various cultural and scientific institutions, including the Smithsonian Museum of American History, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the SETI Institute, the Robert Rauschenberg Residency, the Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, and the Center for the Advancement and Study of Visual Arts at the National Gallery. During 2013-2014, he served as the Viola Frey Distinguished Visiting Professor at the California College of the Arts in Oakland, CA. From 2016 to 2019, he was the Artist-in-Residence in Neuroaesthetics at the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering, and from 2018 to 2023, he served as Artist-at-Large at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering and the Block Museum of Art. In 2015, he became a part of a distinguished team of scientists as the artistic consultant for “Breakthrough Message”—a multi-national initiative designed to stimulate intellectual and technical discussions about how and what to communicate if the ongoing search for intelligent life beyond Earth proves successful.

***Unknown and Solitary Seas (Dreams and Emotions of the 19th Century)***, 2018 (detail)
Earliest waveform recordings of blood flowing from the heart and in the brain during sleep, dreaming, and various emotional states (1874-96), rendered and 3-D printed in brass-plated stainless steel; lacquered maple, 22k gold leaf

His awards include the Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant, the USA Rasmuson Fellowship, an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Grant, and a VIA ART grant. In 2016, he was appointed the Texas State 3-D Visual Artist. He currently serves on the board of advisors at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.

In 2020, he served as a research consultant for the popular science television series Cosmos: Possible Worlds, which aired on National Geographic and Fox. He is currently working on his first book, The Heartbeat at the Edge of the Solar System: Science, Emotion, and the Golden Record, co-authored with Harvard art historian Jennifer Roberts, and is set to be published by Scribner, Simon & Schuster. In 2025, Robleto was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Middlebury College. In May, he will debut his next film at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

2025 Texas Patron of the Year

Leah Bennett

Leah Bennett is a passionate advocate for the arts whose commitment to championing women and underrepresented voices has made a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of Texas and beyond. As a dedicated art collector, museum lender, and supporter of countless artists and institutions, Leah believes in the power of art to challenge norms, provoke empathy, and inspire deeper understanding. She works closely with artists, curators, and communities to foster inclusivity and spark meaningful dialogue through the arts.

She serves on the board of ArtPace and is the primary underwriter of the Performing Arts Houston Arts Contest. Over the years, Leah has played a pivotal role in funding museum acquisitions and supporting major art initiatives that elevate diverse voices and perspectives. Her collection and philanthropic approach are rooted in the belief that art has the power to build bridges, celebrate diversity, and create a more compassionate world.

In addition to her deep commitment to the arts, Leah is an accomplished financial executive and thought leader. She currently serves as the Chief Investment Strategist at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC, with more than 30 years of experience in asset management, wealth strategy, and financial leadership. She advises high-net-worth families, entrepreneurs, and institutions with innovative investment solutions and expert guidance in portfolio construction, risk management, and wealth preservation.

Prior to her current role, Leah served as President of Westwood Wealth Management, where she led the firm’s private wealth division and oversaw several billions in assets. She also held senior leadership positions as Co-Chief Investment Officer at South Texas Money Management and Chief Investment Officer at King Investment Advisors. Early in her career, she worked as a Fixed-Income Product Specialist at The Capital Group, where she helped launch and develop investment strategies for one of the world’s largest asset managers.

Leah has appeared as a trusted financial voice on Bloomberg, CNBC, Fox Business News, and Reuters, and previously served on the CFA Institute Global Board of Governors, promoting ethical and professional standards in the investment industry.

Leah’s philanthropic leadership extends beyond the arts. She currently serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including the CHRISTUS Foundation for Healthcare, ArtPace, Performing Arts Houston, and the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto.

A global traveler and tennis enthusiast, Leah brings the same curiosity and passion to her personal life that she brings to her advocacy and professional endeavors. Through all her pursuits, she remains a steadfast supporter of the essential role that artists play in shaping and enriching our communities.

Art League Houston Contemporary Texas Artist Archive

Our Contemporary Texas Archive program is a cornerstone of ALH's commitment to highlighting and preserving often-overlooked aspects of contemporary Texas art history. This program platforms artists who have demonstrated exceptional creativity and achievement, significantly impacting contemporary visual art in Texas. Through exhibitions, documentary video interviews, and publications, we archive the rich and diverse histories of these artists.

Texas Artist of the Year

In 1983, Art League Houston (ALH) established the Texas Artist of the Year award to document and celebrate contemporary Texas art history. The award honors artists who have demonstrated exceptional creativity and outstanding achievement, making a significant and lasting impact on the field of contemporary visual art in Texas. Honorees are recognized for producing a substantial body of work and for standing out as visionary talents and leading figures in the arts community.

Each year, a panel of distinguished, anonymous jurors from across the state nominates and selects the award recipient. Since its inception, forty remarkable artists have received the Texas Artist of the Year distinction. Past recipients include Beili Liu, Vincent Valdez, Letitia Huckaby, Vicki Meek, Rick Lowe, Margarita Cabrera, Francesca Fuchs, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Terrell James, Amy Blakemore, Havel Ruck Projects, Rachel Hecker, Aaron Parazette, Mary McCleary, Joseph Havel, Melissa Miller, Al Souza, The Art Guys, Dick Wray, Luis Jiménez, Bert L. Long, Jr., Jesús Moroles, James Surls, and Dr. John Biggers, among others.

Texas Patron of the Year Award

Established in 1989, Art League Houston’s Texas Patron of the Year award honors extraordinary individuals who have significantly advanced the work of Texas artists. The award recognizes the essential role of patrons whose remarkable support, advocacy, and commitment have helped shape the landscape of contemporary visual art in Texas.

Whether through innovative initiatives, sustained financial support, or deep community involvement, these individuals have made a lasting and positive impact on the cultural fabric of the state. Past recipients include Cecily E. Horton, Melanie Lawson & John Guess, Chinhui Juhn & Eddie Allen, Mary & Bernadino Arocha, Anita & Gerald Smith, Jereann Chaney, Lynn Goode, Annise Parker (Mayor of Houston, 2010–2016), Stephanie Smither, Leigh & Reggie Smith, Judy & Scott Nyquist, Victoria & Marshal Lightman, Leslie & Brad Bucher, Anne & James Harithas, Gus Kopriva, Clint Willour, and Lester Marks, among others.

Lifetime Achievement Award in the Visual Arts

In 2013, Art League Houston (ALH) celebrated its 65th anniversary as an arts organization and the 30th anniversary of its Texas Artist of the Year award. To commemorate this milestone, ALH established the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Visual Arts to honor artists whose careers have spanned over four decades and who have made outstanding contributions to the visual arts in Texas and beyond.

This award recognizes individuals whose lifelong dedication to their practice has had a profound and lasting impact on the cultural landscape. Past honorees include Kathy Vargas, Earlie Hudnall, Jr., Celia Álvarez Muñoz, George Smith, Jesse Lott, Forrest Prince, and Kermit Oliver.

Lifetime Achievement Award in Arts Leadership

In 2019, Art League Houston (ALH) transformed its Lifetime Achievement Award into a biennial honor recognizing visionary arts leaders who have made significant contributions to contemporary visual art in Texas for over forty years. This award celebrates individuals who have consistently championed and supported the visual arts, distinguishing themselves through their leadership, advocacy, and impact on the cultural landscape.

Past honorees include Michelle Barnes, Wendy Watriss, Dr. Alvia Wardlaw, and Betty Moody.