Modified: Sep 25, 2025

Texas Southern University: Women in the Arts

Over many decades Texas Southern University’s art department has produced exemplary female artists. These women and their works have made a contribution to both HBCU and American history while pushing the boundaries of excellence and achievements in their individual fields. Some have fulfilled the dreams of becoming the first of many as it relates to their career paths.  From visual artists, fashion designers, art educators and conservators many of the art alumni paved their individual ways into the booming art scene across America.  

For decades, Texas Southern University's art department has nurtured extraordinary women whose creative achievements resonate far beyond campus.

From painters to conservators, designers to educators, these alumni have shaped both HBCU and American cultural history. Some became "the first" in their fields, while others carved innovative paths in established art forms. Their work demonstrates how HBCUs have long been incubators of brilliance, resilience, and boundary-pushing creativity.

 

This post features some of TSU's women creators from 1960 to the present. Featured creators include:

  • Mary Alice Williams
  • Patricia Morris
  • Elizabeth Montgomery Shleton
  • Marion Cole
  • Delita Martin
  • Shirlette Thompson
  • Lastarsha Mc Garity
  • Yvette Chapman
  • Latonia Allen
Historical Print - Interactive Viewer
Courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University
Mary Alice, Courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University
Mary Alice, Courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University
Mary Alice, Courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University
Mary Alice, Courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University

Patricia Morris graduated class of 1970, majoring in art. During this time of the art program students participated in more than sculpture, ceramics, and painting but included in the curriculum were weaving. Most likely she would have been taught by Professor Teresa Allen. The works displayed in Morris’s art journal are her weaving and drawings that mostly included portraits and abstracted sculpture. 

 

Elizabeth Montgomery Shleton graduated in the class of 1970, she captures strength and sensuality of all women in her work and specializes in sculptures. She was commissioned to create a bust of MLK for the Mountain Top Award for the Black Heritage society in Houston, notable winners and honorees of this award include Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, and Nelson Mandela. She studied art in Rome and taught art for decades in Texas, currently still a practicing artist working on sculpture. 

 

Elizabeth Shelton courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University
Elizabeth Shelton, Self- Portrait, courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University
Elizabeth Shelton, Creation, courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University
Elizabeth Shelton, courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University
Elizabeth Shelton, courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University

Marion Cole was a graduate of 1972, having practiced in muralism, weaving and sculpting. Dr. Biggers, the founder of the art department quoted “ One of our most beautiful murals and one of our best compositionally” on Cole’s mural titled “Women”. This mural features a composition of women figures of all ages representing the multigenerational stages all women venture through while living life. As seen the composition is full of symbolic figures such as a  turtle, hanging greenery and stars in the background. There are no empty spaces. Although we do not know the direct intention of the full composition it is clear that this mural does mimic that of Dr. Biggers work leaving no negative space. 

Marion Cole, Courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University
Marion Cole, Landscape, Handspun wool, 43 1/4 x 59 ¼ in. 1974 ​Courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University
Marion Cole, Courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University
Marion Cole, Circa 1970 Courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University
Mairon Cole, Women, Mural, acrylic on wall, 114 x 72 ½ in. 1972 Courtesy of University Museum at Texas Southern University

Delita Martin graduated from TSU in 2002,  receiving her BFA in drawing. Martin is currently a master printer working in her studio, Black Box Press in Hufman, Tx. Her recent works have been featured in the State of the Arts: Discovery American Arts Now in the Crystal Bridges Museum Exhibition. Featured in permanent collections such as Bradbury Art Museum, Library of Congress, National Museum of Women in the Arts and more. 

Martin’s current work deals with reconstructing the identity of Black women by piecing together the signs, symbols, and language found in what could be called everyday life from slavery through modern times. Martin’s goal is to create images as a visual language to tell the story of women that have often been marginalized, offering a different perspective of the lives of Black women.

As a printmaker Mrs. Martin continues to explore the versatility of printmaking by adding stitchwork to her prints, merged with a variety of patterns and color to embellish her pieces. 

 

Courtesy of Delita Martin Website https://blackboxpressstudio.com/
Courtesy of Delita Martin Website https://blackboxpressstudio.com/
Courtesy of Delita Martin Website https://blackboxpressstudio.com/

Shirlette Thompson is a graduate of TSU receiving her BFA in Arts in 2016. She works in fashion design and fashion merchandising. She currently is located in Brooklyn, New York pursuing her shop in arts and entertainment, hosting paint and sip workshops, photography and more.

These images are from For the Sake of Art Gala and Runway show. In 2016  she won the  Most Creative Design award for creating a mini-dress of orange peels - paying tribute to TSU artist Kermit Oliver. In 2018 she won 1st place as well as the People's Choice award in the competition with her "catch a fire" dress made of matches. 

 

Courtesy of Shirlette Thompson instagram
Courtesy of Shirlette Thompson instagram "mini dress of orange peels"
Courtesy of Shirlette Thompson instagram "catch a fire dress"

Lastarsha Mc Garity graduated from TSU in 2013 receiving her BFA in Arts Pursuing her career in conservation Lastarsha is currently  the Preventive Conservator and Interim Director at the Tuskegee University Legacy Museum. As an objects conservator, Lastarsha is  interested in redefining the limits of care and expanding the scope of the conservator in caring for cultural heritage. As a doctoral student, she is exploring the creative and practical ways that HBCUs care for their collections and the conditions that developed these collections and care practices. She is passionate in her line of work and highlights “ why diversity in conservation matters'' 

These images are of - LaStarshas work at T.S.U. restoring murals of Dr. John Biggers and Kermit Oliver . In 2014 she also worked at the NMAAHC as a Mellon Fellow in conservation. She was able to clean dresses worn in 1990’s by R & B group En’Vogue. 

She Also restored artwork by Thornton Dial Jr. and dioramas from Tuskegee’s collection. 

 

Courtesy of LaStarsha McGarity Linkedin profile
Lastarsha McGarity participating in conserving Hannah Hall murals at TSU . Image courtesy of Houston Chronicle
Cleaning dresses worn in 1990’s by R & B group En’Vogue Image courtesy of Houston Chronicle
Courtesy of Spectrum News

Having worked in education for over 12 years Yvette Chapman is a certified art teacher, studying art education at T.S.U. with a concentration in painting and mixed media. She works as an at risk counselor and artist. Yvette contributes the inspiration of her art to her childhood experiences of growing up in the south, complex family dynamics, traumas of colorism, and exploration of identity. Her current installation titled “ Colored Struck” invites her audience into the conversation about colorism within all cultures of color and the divides that are created within, along with the challenges of identity of biracial or multi-racial individuals. 

 

Courtesy of Yvette Chapman
Courtesy of Yvette Chapman Standing in front of instillation "Color Struck"

LaTonia Allen - Class of 2015 graduated with her B.F.A. in arts and minored in Business Management Ms. Allen is currently based in New York working as a graphic designer, visual artist and illustrator.

"Infatuated with vibrant colors and positive imagery, LaTonia Allen's work consists of depicting people of color emphasizing the beauty in skin, hair and fashion. She strives to create images to promote pride, happiness and beauty."

In these works of arts viewed here Allen focuses on the male figure and the natural elements that embody traditional African hairstyles from locs to wearing traditional hair wraps. These works of art are exciting, fresh and express the nature of the beach in solitude moments. The use of blue feels like crisp air but also a reflection of open spaces, freedom and a representation of faith and stability. To add, blue also has positive effects on the mind and body.

 

Courtesy of artist website https://www.latoniaallen.com/
Courtesy of artist website https://www.latoniaallen.com/
Courtesy of artist website https://www.latoniaallen.com/
Courtesy of artist website https://www.latoniaallen.com/
Courtesy of artist website https://www.latoniaallen.com/

Credits 

Rita Reyes, Graduate Fellow, Texas Southern University 

Further Readings

  1. "Texas Southern Graduate Hopes More HBCU Students Pursue Museum Careers." Spectrum News, 25 Feb. 2022, ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2022/02/25/texas-southern-graduate-hopes-more-hbcu-students-pursue-museum-careers. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
  2. "Latonia Allen." Latonia Allen, www.latoniaallen.com/. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
  3. "Delita Martin." Delita Martin, blackboxpressstudio.com/. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

How to Cite This Source

"Texas Southern University:  Women in the Arts" HCAC Beta, https://hcacbeta.org/urislug [accessed Month, Day, Year]