Hunter Lacey Makes a Place for Creation

Teacher opens studio to bolster opportunities for special artists

During a recent opening-day visit to Creation Studio off Southwestern Boulevard, founder and executive director Hunter Lacey explained her mission to empower adults with disabilities to become working artists and diversify the arts by sharing their artwork with the public. 

Lacey, a photojournalist from Preston Hollow, draws upon her experience growing up alongside a brother with disabilities.

“In doing my thesis on the positive aspects of employment for people with disabilities, I was back in that world,” she recalled. “I realized how comfortable I felt there and how much I resonate with that community.”

While teaching journalism at The Hockaday School this past year, she discovered the enduring success of the Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, California, via a fellow teacher. 

“This is everything I love coming together,” she observed. “I wondered if this exists in Dallas. If so, this is my dream job.”

With no such opportunity, Lacey decided to create one. She consulted her parents, who had founded a school for children with disabilities, Chase’s Place, named after their son.

“When they told me they thought it was a great idea, I felt encouraged,” she said. “I just went for it — started reaching out to people, family friends, other people in the community to see about fundraising.

The nonprofit studio is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at no cost to the artists. Donations are accepted on the website, and 50% of art sales go to the artist, with 50% returning to the nonprofit for supplies, rent, etc.

Locally popular young UP artist Reese Gould is already attending.

“There’s a lot of artists with disabilities in any city, it’s just figuring out where they are,” Lacey said. 

Mondays and Thursdays are open studio for artists to work on their projects. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are drawing and painting classes taught by Lacey’s sister, artist Anabelle Folsom. Fridays are fiber art and photography, helmed by Lacey. 

“I’m thinking in April or May we’ll do our first show,” Lacey said. “We’re keeping it small at the beginning so we can really provide value to them as artists — giving them the space, time, and attention they need to make really quality art and giving them the platform to share it with other people.

“I would love to partner with other galleries as we get more established, maybe even partner with the DMA (Dallas Museum of Art) down the line. I have lots of hopes and dreams for it. From reading what other galleries like us have done around the country, I know there’s a lot of potential.”

She also understands the potential of her artists.

“One of my favorite things about spending time with people with disabilities is that they’re very open and accepting of you, however you come,” she said. “I feel more at home because I know they’re not really judging me or thinking any preconceived notions about me, ‘Here’s a new person, I want to befriend her.’”