brittany ham and justin korver

after the bonfire

March 9 – 29

After the Bonfire features a collaborative body of work that centers on the theme of the allegorical hunt used in European tapestry and its references to the relationship between men and women. Historically, European tapestries have represented men as actively pursuing the passive, feminine prey. Through tapestry, embroidery, painting, sculpture, and text-based work, After the Bonfire seeks to problematize this binary reading and reexamine the relationship between humanity and the natural world, creating a more ambiguous dynamic of gendered narratives of the hunt.

Mutually interested in allegorical imagery of the hunt, Ham and Korver conceptualized this subject during independent research residencies at Kunstlerhaus Bethanien International Studio Program in Berlin, Germany. They developed imagery and concepts through three large-scale exhibitions, The Hunt at Charles Adams Studio Project in 2021, The Chase at grayDUCK gallery in 2023, and After the Bonfire at Bosque Gallery in 2025. Building on these iterations, After the Bonfire at TXST FL3X Space will also examine the tendency to separate the human and inhuman, engendering landscape as an active participant in reimagining these narratives to reveal the false nature of such boundaries.

During the exhibition’s run, Ham and Korver will hold an artist talk about their co-working practice and collaboration—an opportunity for art students to engage with the creative potential found in collaborative art practice and the importance of building bonds within their local art community. 

Brittany Ham (b. 1990, Tacoma, WA) [ @brittanyham.art ] is an artist and educator based in San Antonio, TX. She currently teaches as a Lecturer of Art at Texas A&M University- San Antonio. Ham has shown internationally in South Korea, Germany, and the United States, and her work has been featured in publications such as New American Paintings, Friend of the Artist, BE Magazine, and VAST Magazine. Her art practice explores conventions of historical painting, feminine experience, and figuration. 

Justin Korver (b. 1991, Sioux Center, IA) [ @justincaseyourewondering ] is an artist, educator, and community organizer in Kanas City, MO. He is originally from Iowa and the plains taught him to love minimalism. While an undergraduate, he discovered a passion for hardware stores. In graduate school, he focused on a critique of masculinity. Now, Korver teaches as an Assistant Professor of Foundations at the Kansas City Art Institute. Currently, his work examines hunting culture as a microcosm of our relationship to each other and our environment.

ABOUT THE TXST FL3X PROGRAM

The Texas State Galleries’ FLEX space invites Texas State Art and Design students, faculty, staff, and alumni to envision and assemble well-considered, visually engaging, and conceptually stimulating exhibitions and events. Through these programs, FLEX highlights the unique creative vision of our community and its relevance within the larger art world. 

For details regarding the application process, including application deadlines, see Opportunities.