Current Residents
Bridgette Ralph,
Co-Director
Bridgette Ralph is a self-taught intuitive artist from Silsbee, Texas, whose work spans across genres including folk art, iconography, contemporary abstract painting, and digital art. Color is a central element in her creations, serving both as a passion and muse. She resides in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas, with her husband Brian, their three children—Liam, Finn, and Calum—and their dog Maggie. When she isn’t painting, Bridgette enjoys cooking, reading, and staying active through yoga, kettlebell workouts, and rebounding.
Artist Statement:
Bridgette’s approach to art is driven by passion and intuition. "I paint what I love, and most of the time I love what I paint," she explains. While some pieces carry messages meant for the wider world, others are created purely for joy. Bridgette believes that art doesn't always have to be serious—it’s about expression, necessity, and personal fulfillment. Through her work, she explores themes of religious trauma, exclusion and inclusion, color, shape, dogma, humor, and nostalgia, inviting the viewer into her world of introspection and vibrancy.
www.backsliderstudio.com/
Symone Martinez,
Co-director
Symone Martinez is a Self-taught artist based in San Antonio Texas. A wife and mother of 3 kids. She uses her art as a therapeutic expression of her emotions as well as a way to connect with others.
she is passionate about helping other artists navigate their careers and avoid the struggles she faced during her own artistic journey. Symone is focused on offering growth opportunities and guidance for the artists of Clamp Light.
We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Clamp Light and all the incredible artists we work with!
@symonemartinez_art
symonemartinezart.com
WHY CLAMP LIGHT?
I came to Clamp Light because I was drawn to the intimacy of
the community. I believe being part of a creative community is
essential for an artist. It offers support, inspiration, and
connection. The monthly events here have given me consistent
opportunities to share my work, and since joining, I’ve been
able to grow both personally and professionally. I’m grateful for
all the opportunities I’ve received and hope to continue
creating meaningful opportunities for others in the future.
Laura Stevens
Laura Ann Stevens was born in San Antonio but grew up traveling the world with her family following their active duty father in the Air Force. A graduate of the University of Iowa with a B.A. in psychology, Laura is a hand embroidery artist. Her first show was in August 2023 at Clamplight Studios in San Antonio, Texas. Since then she has appeared in numerous other shows throughout the city. Practicing cross stitch and embroidery for the last 10 years, Laura has finally gained the confidence to share her artwork with the lovely people of San Antonio.
WHY CLAMP LIGHT?
I was invited into Clamp Light by a friend who was
also a resident at the time. I am now in my second
year at Clamp Light and have chosen to stay due
to the community and creativity that Clamp Light
fosters. I am able to explore different ways to be
fearless and fun in my art, and it’s because of the
flexibility of this space.
Manuela Gonzalez
Manuela Gonzalez is a Venezuelan-born artist who came to the United States as a young child, working and living as an undocumented resident in the state of Texas. Typically producing work in traditional pencil and oil mediums, she also ventures into digital painting, though oil painting is her home. With a focus on uplifting racialized women and shedding light on the beauty of the tropical elements of her home country, Manuela aims to create art through which women of color can be seen outside of the strict racial and gender norms under which they would usually be viewed.
WHY CLAMP LIGHT?
Clamp Light is one of the only studios in the city that is entirely
artist-run and operated, giving people like me an opportunity to
collaborate and meet other local artists while also learning
from them and having the freedom to expand the bounds of my
own ability to create as an artist. This space has always been
nothing but welcoming, and it has inspired in me the need to
treat every piece of art like a testing ground to stretch the
extent of what I can do and push myself to try new things.
Clamp Light is the basis for a world of connection to the arts
space in San Antonio.
Hannah Richmond
A self-taught artist born and raised in San Antonio. Diagnosed with epilepsy at age 4,
Hannah learned to navigate triggers like stress and overstimulation by using art as a
calming tool. This eventually expanded into painting, sculpting, photography and
mixed media. Her artistic journey has been shaped by trial and error, self-teaching,
and books given to her by her mom to expand on this new passion. From coping with
a neurological condition to pursuing a full-time career as an artist—hopefully.
@hannahpaintsstuff
WHY CLAMP LIGHT?
Honestly, I wasn’t really thinking of joining a studio at the beginning of this year. I
have a house for creating and spreading out, but the moment I was introduced to
Clamp Light, I fell in love. This little studio attached to an antique store with so much
community that is filled with the friendliest people and impressive entrepreneurs
following their own dreams. Just being here was inspirational, and it was the best
decision I’ve made since I became more full-time. I was at a point in my career where
I was stuck and didn’t know what to do next. When you’re at home alone and rarely
getting out of the house to meet people, you tend to fall into a rut. You need people
physically around to remind you that social media posts aren’t the way to actually
understand your own capabilities. Ever since I came here I’ve become more
emboldened to step out and be proud of my work once again. I love the support that
I get from all of my friends and family, but there is nothing like fellow artists and art
lovers enjoying and understanding what you do. I’m very new here, but I feel like I
have learned more than was ever expected already. Right now we’re all exhausted
from the cycle of depressing news and false perspective of the loud voices speaking
for all. We need community more than ever right now, and I’m happy to finally be a
part of it once again.
Amira Alsareinye
Amira Alsareinye is a San Antonio-based visual artist whose vibrant, dream-inspired works
explore themes of identity, resilience, and cultural duality. Born to Syrian and Mexican
immigrant parents, Amira draws from a rich blend of heritage and personal transformation
to inform her creative voice. After years of balancing motherhood, career shifts, and a return
to her hometown, she has reemerged with bold new work that reflects her journey of rebirth
and self-discovery. Her art has recently been featured in galleries across Texas, including
Clamp Light (San Antonio), RichesArt (Austin), and Hardy & Nance (Houston). She is currently
preparing for a group show slated for late 2025 or early 2026.
@artistaamira
WHY CLAMP LIGHT?
After the Mind Fruit show I saw how inspiring and beautiful the Clamp Light Studio was, and I
inquired about a gallery space. Recently some space opened up, and I had the opportunity
to join, and I knew I had to say yes. Being a part of the Clamp Light family feels so welcoming,
and I am ready to create in this space. I am already creating space in my studio area for
another artist I am featuring and love how this has provided opportunity to communicate
and showcase other artists as well.
Miranda Villanueva
Miranda Villanueva (b. Edinburg TX, 1997) is a San Antonio-based multimedia artist and photographer. She received her BA from Brown University in 2020, graduating with honors from the Visual Arts program there while double-majoring in Science, Technology, and Society (STS). Her work frequently centers some combination of feminine bodies, food, play, and sensuality. She also likes to play with distortion, disgust, and discomfort in contrast with beauty and aesthetics.
Miranda’s work has been exhibited in solo and group shows at List Art Center in Providence, Rhode Island (solo shows include Private Shows (2019), Maternal Musings (2020)), where she also gained experience in curating group shows (Whetted Appetites 2019). She is currently a resident artist at Clamp Light Studios in San Antonio TX.
Caterina Holdbrook
Caterina Holdbrook is an award-winning wire sculptor and designer based in Central Texas. Working with a range of wire gauges, she transforms metal into dynamic sculptures that capture the movement and rhythm of nature. Using freeform crochet and weaving techniques with industrial materials, her work challenges the boundaries of traditional artistic mediums while blurring the line between craft and contemporary art. Caterina’s artworks have been exhibited in a variety of settings such as Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival in San Antonio, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, and the runway of Austin Fashion Week. Passionate about sharing her skills, she regularly leads public workshops that invite others to explore the versatility and expressive potential of wire as a sculptural medium. Her art reflects both technical precision and a deep appreciation for the transformative power of handmade creation."
Statement
My artistic vision centers on elevating materials and techniques historically relegated to supporting roles. While wire is typically used as armature or scaffolding, I center it as a primary medium. Drawing from crochet, embroidery, and weaving, fiber practices long devalued through gendered divisions between art and craft, I translate “soft” domestic processes into sculptural forms made of industrial metal. I honor these traditions while recontextualizing them, bringing marginalized labor to the forefront.
In a culture that prioritizes speed, efficiency, and surplus production, the visible labor of craft becomes an act of resistance. My process is slow, repetitive, and labor-intensive; each twist, loop, and interlacing gesture remains visible. Over years of inquiry, I have explored the tensile strength, malleability, and structural capacity of varying gauges of wire, developing technical fluency through experimentation, failure, and refinement. My work foregrounds touch, time, and the social production of value.
Caterina Suttin Holdbrook
Regina Moya
Artist Statement
My writing focuses on everyday life. It often incorporates my Hispanic background and
sometimes takes a poetical reflective view of social, cultural, or political issues. A very
important part of my work is migration viewed as a joyful human experience. My visual
artwork is heavily influenced by my Mexican roots, and I incorporate bright colors and
mixed media techniques in my illustrations, paintings, murals, and sculptures. Each project
is very different from one another, I am always open to explore new territories.
Artist Bio
Writing:
Regina Moya is a Mexican writer and illustrator born in 1978. She has published four
novels, Memorias de Dos Mujeres Mexicanas (2002) Donde Anidan las Palomas, (2003)
Turkey Day (2017) and Julita de Mis Amores (2023).
Regina has written and illustrated three children book stories, The Counting Machine,
commissioned in 2012 by Deutsche Bank and The Gift of Water, commissioned in 2013 by
Mexican leading non-profit Kaluz, they both talk about environmental awareness. The Gift
of Water was converted into a short, animated film. In 2021 she published The Last
Butterfly/La Ultima Mariposa (FlowerSong Press) coauthored with Dr. Carmen Tafolla and
illustrated by Moya. This book was awarded Most Inspirational Children’s Book 2022 by the
International Latino Book Awards and Honorable Mention by Campo y Ada Awards.
Tanya Balderas
Tejana artist whose life and work are shaped by the rhythm of moving between two lands and cultures. Drawn to the duality of color and texture between the earthy landscapes of Texas and the vibrant, colorful spirit of Mexico. Working in primarily hand-built ceramics, she creates sculptural forms that that explore abstract interpretations of nature and the feminine. While her mural pieces are mostly abstract shapes and line work that create an intentional flow in any room.