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Artwork by Arely Morales, visiting assistant professor of drawing in the School of Art at Stephen F. Austin State University, has been acquired by the Dallas Museum of Art as part of its ongoing collecting practice of supporting local and regional artists, reports Glasstire, the oldest online-only art magazine in the country.

Morales’ 65 1/2 by 60-inch oil on canvas painting “María,” of a woman laborer picking apples, is among the works by eight Texas artists purchased by the DMA for 2021. In addition to Morales, the group includes artists Ivonne Acero, Kaleta Doolin, Sam Gummelt, Anna Membrino, Kazuya Sakai, Danny Williams and Margaret Meehan, according to Glasstire.

Morales’ work centers on the Latino immigrant community in the United States. Born in Mexico, Morales immigrated to the U.S. as a teen. Glasstire describes her work as “deeply personal, seeking to bring to light the humanity of people whose experiences are often invisible or seen through a politically charged lens.”

“In my work, I am interested in exploring these issues and the vulnerabilities that take place within this group,” Morales’ artist statement explains. “I hope to uplift my community by bringing awareness of the struggles that often go unseen. I seek to show their strength, elevate, and dignify their presence, and create a clarity that makes my subjects feel visible and present as they exist.”

“The School of Art congratulates Ms. Morales on her success.,” said Director Chris Talbot. “Her work is an inspiration to our students as she helps them find their own artistic voice and develop the talents that will resonate with their audience as she has done.”

The acquisition of “María” was made possible through the Charron and Peter Denker Contemporary Texas Art Fund. Morales is represented by Talley Dunn Gallery.

A non-profit 501(c)(3) publication, Glasstire describes itself as the only publication in Texas that is producing serious art criticism on a daily basis. It is supported in part by grants from The Houston Endowment, The Brown Foundation Inc., the National Endowment for the Arts, the Greater Houston Community Foundation, the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, and the Texas Commission for the Arts.