Greg Busceme '79

Born in 1955, Greg has lived in Beaumont most of his life. He was raised by great parents and shared a life with two brothers and a sister. They spent half of their lives living at Crystal Beach where he was highly influenced by life on the coast and affected by all the marine life and shoreline fossils. The shape of shells and rocks and later shark teeth on the shore had a particular beauty that continues influences on his forms.

He began his career in clay at Lamar University under the influence of Jerry Newman during the summer of 1975. He worked alone for two years and then returned to LU to study under Meredith Jack for two years where he gained a true understanding of what it takes to be an artist. He graduated from Lamar University with a BS-Speech in 1979. In 1980, Greg started graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis and studied under Professor David Hershey, where he spent his time working in clay and glass blowing. He received his MFA in Ceramics in 1982 where he was the first student at Washington University to receive a Masters degree in Ceramics. Upon returning to Beaumont, it was Greg's desire to open a studio where other artists could gather, share space, and work together. Ultimately, Greg along with his wife Angela, founded The Art Studio, Inc. located in downtown Beaumont. In 1992, they raised just enough funds to put a down payment on the purchase of their present location at 720 Franklin Street. As a native, it is Greg's personal mission to encourage art in all aspects of the Southeast Texas community, especially in the various educational institutions and youth care programs. Greg began roasting coffee at his family’s coffee manufacturing plant, Texas Coffee Company in 2002 and continues to be a Roast Master at the facility. From 1991 until his retirement in 2020, Greg worked as an Instructor in Art Appreciation, Drawing and Design at Lamar University’s Department of Art and Design. - Biography submitted by the artist

Andy Coughlan '01, '05

Andy Coughlan is a native of Brighton, England and has lived in Southeast Texas for nearly 40 years. Andy has taught at Lamar University for 30 years where he is adviser to the University Press, the student newspaper. He is also an award-winning journalist specializing in arts and features. He published a monthly arts magazine for 18 years. Andy is an artist with seven solo exhibitions to his credit, and has exhibited in too many drawing, painting and photography shows to count. Andy started drawing political cartoons for the Port Arthur News in 1989, and since 1995 has published a regular Sunday cartoon in The Beaumont Enterprise. He also acts, directs and writes plays. With his writing partner Catalina Castillón, he published a book of translated plays from the Spanish Golden Age and is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America. Andy graduated from Lamar Univeristy with a BAAS in 2001 and an M.A.-English in 2005.- Biography submitted by the artist

Robert Dandino '92

Robert "Dino" Dandino graduated from Lamar University with a BFA-Studio Art in 1992. He is a husband, father, sales executive and sometimes artist.

He resides in St. Louis, Missouri and works in the style of mixed media assemblage, working on a collection of micro dialogues about the human condition. He likes to visualize in a sculptural form the conflict of Man verses Man or Man verses Himself. War, Lust, Conflict and Triumph are recurring themes in his art. The vehicle for this expression is found in mass produced statues, figures and plastic model kits, re-constructed and juxtaposed to present a new narrative.

Dino has recently started showing his art again and has received the “Best of Show of Excellence” award in the gallery exhibit “Art St. Louis XXXVIII” the Exhibition in November 2022.- Biography submitted by the artist

Mark Nesmith '98

Mark Nesmith’s artwork has been included in exhibitions at the Longview Museum of Fine Art, the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, the Museum of East Texas, the Dishman Art Museum, the Museum of the Gulf Coast, the Texas Artists Museum, and the Mesquite Arts Center. He has shown work in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and has appeared in American Art Collector Magazine, Art Reveal Magazine, the Austin Chronicle, the Dallas Observer, Empty Easel, Off Ramp Magazine, Professional Artist Magazine, VIP Magazine, and more. Mark was also featured on the syndicated television series Texas Country Reporter. Mark’s paintings are included in private and public collections in thirty-two states throughout the U.S.A., and overseas in Singapore. Notable collections include the Longview Museum of Fine Art, Duke University, Grant Thornton LLP, The Honorable Ron Clark, Chief Judge U.S. District Court, Verabank, and the Lone Survivor Foundation. Mark graduated from Lamar University with a BFA-Studio Art in 1998.- Biography submitted by the artist

Darrell Robins '15

Darrell Robins is a Houston based fine artist. He holds a BFA in graphic design from Lamar University and is a current Art teacher at Northshore Senior High School. Throughout his childhood, Darrell has always had a passion for the arts, but once he began learning more about himself and exploring his own ideas, he started to explore his own experiences and how he could visually tell a captivating story. His art uses inspiration from pop culture, anime, music, childhood memories, daydreams, and the African American experience. His work focuses on dynamic and vivid colors, composition, illustration, anatomy, perspective, and nature. These different elements help in conceptualizing his style as an artist and creating his own unique perspective on life viewed through his own personal stories.- Biography submitted by the artist

Amy Tolbert-Faggard '94, '13

Amy Tolbert-Faggard was born in Sidney, NY but has lived in SE Texas since the age of two.
She developed a love of painting, drawing and a deep interest in learning about art at a
young age. Her passion for art continued and later she received a small Art
scholarship to attend Lamar University. Amy graduated with a BS in
Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Art from Lamar University in 1994. Several years
later, realizing she wanted to go the distance to further her Art training, she
returned to Lamar University and graduated with a Master of Arts in Visual Art in
2013. Using oils as a primary medium, she includes a variety of subject matter
while employing a number of different techniques. Amy’s work has been included
in many solo and group exhibitions. While she continues exploring new avenues of
learning in Art, her goal is to continue producing quality Art work that moves and
inspires the viewer.- Biography submitted by the artist