Photo Credit: LSC-CyFair’s Art ProgramArt & Culture
LSC-CyFair’s the place for artists to turn passion into purpose and profession
Years after earning degrees and entering the workforce, two unique women decided to return to their first passion and goal of becoming professional artists and enrolled in Lone Star College-CyFair’s Art Program.
Both Talaura Stoker and Yating Zhang began taking art classes in 2024 and have since been creating an acclaimed portfolio with award-winning pieces featured in the college’s Bosque Gallery. In addition, these student artists agree the faculty – their support, encouragement of creative freedom, professional guidance, as well as genuine care and kindness for students – makes LSC-CyFair’s program truly special.
From Pharmacy to Fine Arts and Fashion
Stoker, a 2020 Cypress Ridge High School graduate, said “I went straight into the workforce as a pharmacy technician, but in 2024 I made the decision to return to school and pursue art something I’ve always been passionate about.”
That fall, her ink drawing “The Crow” won an award in the semi-annual Student Art Showcase, while her papier-mache alien “Glip Gorp”, a piece that completely embraced organic form using paper, won first-place in 3D Design this spring.
In addition, Stoker had two wearable art pieces featured in the spring fashion show, including her “Dove” sculpture that moves with or constricts the body (modeled by Ni’Tayja Jacque) created using mixed media, primarily feathers, paper and fabric, and which closed the show.
“The inspiration behind the piece was independence and elegance. I wanted it to embody strength and grace, something bold, yet beautiful,” she said. “It was designed to feel like a reflection of my artist voice, and I’m incredibly proud of how it came together.”
Opening the fashion show was Stoker’s “Sweethearts” painting which allowed for “exploring what love looks and feels like in a playful way.” This piece was inspired by artist Joan Miró and modeled by LSC-CyFair President Dr. Valerie Jones – “an incredible honor … a once-in-a-lifetime experience” she’ll never forget.
“Art has always been my happy place. I love the joy it brings me and how it connects with others emotionally,” said Stoker, who plans to graduate this fall and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. “My ultimate goal is to share my work with a wider audience and continue growing as an artist.”
From Graphic Design to Beauty and Blessings
“In 2019, I moved to Houston,” said Zhang, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design at the School of Design, Central Academy of Fine Arts (2014) in Bejing, China, where she worked as a graphic designer for several years. “After the pandemic, I realized I needed to reconnect with the world, to learn and communicate again. Since I live nearby, I decided to begin studying at LSC-CyFair in 2024.”
In search of the artistic medium that suits her, Zhang has been exploring many different materials – ink painting, acrylics, watercolor, polymer clay, shrink plastic, UV resin, air-dry clay, and low-fire clay – each of which she said has been meaningful.
While at LSC-CyFair, one of her oil paintings was displayed in the Bosque Gallery’s Student Art Showcase in fall 2024 followed with three paintings as well as three ceramic pieces – a lantern cover, purse and necklace – she titled “Green Dream” this spring. Not only did she get a first-place win in Ceramics I, Zhang modeled an outfit inspired by Tang Dynasty clothing with colors and style that perfectly complemented her award-winning wearable art.
She said ceramics are “beautiful and timeless” and her pieces were inspired by traditional Chinese yunjian (cloud shoulder ornaments) and hebao (embroidered pouches sometimes filled with fragrant herbs as a scented accessory). The designs were embellished with ruyi patterns, which symbolize good fortune and harmony.
“I hope to combine painting with ceramic art in my work to create pieces that convey beauty and blessings as I continuing studying at LSC-CyFair and developing my career as a professional artist,” she said. “Art can be expensive, but we need to strive to find a meaningful way to bring beauty into everyone’s daily life. This will be my mission.”
Additional Art Program Benefits
LSC-CyFair’s Art Program offers multiple benefits for emerging student artists beyond the classroom and learning techniques in a variety of artistic mediums.
The college’s fall and spring end-of-the-semester student art exhibitions not only provide a venue to showcase their talent and win awards, but their multi-media artwork is also available for purchase by Bosque Gallery visitors as well as at the college’s Holiday Art Sale.
In addition, some students will have their one-of-a-kind pieces selected to become a part of LSC-CyFair’s history with their work displayed around campus thanks to the college’s Art Procurement Committee.
LSC-CyFair’s student artists have also had their work chosen to be included in the 2022 inaugural Collegiate Art Collective at the 50th Annual Bayou City Art Festival, a 2023 permanent outdoor public ceramic art installation “BuoyantSea”, the Houston Food Bank’s annual Empty Bowls Project and most recently, the 2025 Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts “Fresh Perspectives” exhibition.
For information on LSC-CyFair’s Art Program and scholarship opportunities, go to LoneStar.edu/art-dept-cyfair or call 281.290.5273. Register for the summer session starting July 10 and fall semester classes that begin Aug. 25 at LoneStar.edu/RegCyFair.
Source: LSC-CyFair’s Art Program
