Moncrief Cancer Institute, in conjunction with the Texas Christian University (TCU) School of Art, presents A Place in This World, featuring a selection of works by Kev’Ron Madden and Stacey Najera.

Cultural identity takes many forms. From how we express ourselves to where we live, our identities are constantly shifting with our landscape. In A Place in This World, artists Kev’Ron Madden and Stacey Najera explore their connections to Texas regional culture and the universe that expands beyond it. With distinct creative approaches in painting and digital art, and with complementary themes, a conversation unfolds between their work that highlights the interconnected nature of all life forms on this Earth. Curated by Eliza Monge, this exhibition invites viewers to consider the beauty of the natural world and all the beings in it, urging us to celebrate our continual growth on this planet and inspiring us to reach for the stars.

Kev’Ron Madden is a Black painter and illustrator living and working in Dallas. In his work, Madden explores the endless realm of surrealism, fusing it with the traditional beauty of Western art. Through his paintings, he aims to create a visual language that transcends the boundaries of reality, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in a world of heightened emotions and imaginative narratives while also being grounded in the familiarity that comes with cowboys, cacti, and all things wild west. Madden earned a BBA in Marketing from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2020. He has participated in multiple exhibitions and art fairs throughout the United States, including Barnstorm 2023 at Punch Gallery in Thorpe, Washington, Summer City Idyll in New York, and Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition in Dallas.

Stacey Najera is a Mexican graphic designer and illustrator based in Texas. Her work explores the intersection of self-love, feminism, and environmental awareness through vibrant colors and bold, organic shapes. Deeply inspired by the beauty of nature and the resilience of women, Stacey creates art that invites reflection, empowerment, and connection. Guided by curiosity and emotion, she often lets her daily inspirations shape her creative process, allowing each piece to flow naturally from feeling to form. Her art becomes a celebration of growth, balance, and inner strength and a visual reminder to slow down and reconnect with ourselves and the world around us.

Eliza Monge is an emerging curator and art historian based in Fort Worth. Her approach to curation activates artwork for healing and mental wellness, providing visual support to viewers as they navigate an increasingly desensitized world. Growing up on a small farm, her artistic inspiration stems from abundant time spent in nature and the calm it provided her active mind. Eliza’s background in Latin American Art and her own Mexican heritage heavily influence her practice, raising questions of belonging, identity, and community ties. A Place in This World seeks to recognize the similarities across distinct cultures, uplifting marginalized voices with care and exploring the interconnectedness of life on this Earth. In 2023, Eliza graduated with a BA in Spanish from Arcadia University and earned her MA in Art History from Texas Christian University in 2025. She currently works as the McDermott Intern for Indigenous American Art at the Dallas Museum of Art.

Moncrief Cancer Institute provides Tarrant County and surrounding communities with the foremost science, resources, and programs to reduce the threat and impact of cancer. The partnership between Moncrief Cancer Institute and the TCU School of Art celebrates the vital relationship between art and medicine and how art positively impacts the patient experience. TCU graduate students are selected to participate as guest curators and then mentored through the exhibition-making process by staff of The Art Galleries at TCU. 

While the gallery is closed to protect immunocompromised patients, installation images, a video walkthrough of the exhibition, and the exhibition brochure will be made available online.