Introduction:
The 2.5 Urban Initiative celebrates artists who bring urban life to the forefront of their work, turning cityscapes into spaces of reflection, imagination, and transformation. This year’s winners shared their journeys, inspirations, and creative processes, revealing the depth of thought behind their award-winning pieces.
What inspired this project?
“This project has been a labor of love that evolved over time. I’m an architecture and interiors photographer by day, constantly observing buildings and thinking about how to photograph them. What started as capturing static architectural details of Dallas transformed as I began experimenting with motion blur.
Adding motion brought a new life to the images, making them less like photographs and more like paintings. Suddenly, the feelings I experience while walking or driving through Dallas were present in the images—this mix of awe, fear, excitement, and melancholy. It’s all there.”
Why did you choose Thanks-Giving Square for this piece?
“Thanks-Giving Square is one of my favorite places in Dallas. It’s a small, serene space in the middle of downtown, and the white chapel there has always fascinated me. From the outside, it looks like a cold, lifeless monolith. But step inside, and the swirling stained-glass ceiling fills the space with light and energy.
The 2.5 Urban Initiative talks about ‘disrupting perceptions,’ and that resonated with me. The chapel feels like a metaphor for how I often feel: vibrant and emotional on the inside but reserved or static on the outside. This piece was about capturing that duality and bringing it to life visually.”
How has your art evolved, and what does this piece reflect about your growth?
“My work has become more emotional over time. When I started, I was focused on precision—capturing architectural details as accurately as possible. Now, I focus more on how spaces make me feel and finding ways to express that. This piece is a turning point in my work; it reflects a shift from technical accuracy to emotional storytelling.”
What advice would you give to aspiring artists?
“Spend time in your environment and keep creating. You’re not always going to get it right, and that’s okay. Failure is an essential part of the process. That hundredth draft that doesn’t quite work? It’s a stepping stone to the 101st that might. Each attempt brings you closer to the version that truly captures what you’re aiming for.”
What’s next for you?
“I plan to keep exploring Dallas with this project, but I’m also eager to take it to other cities. New urban environments bring new emotions and challenges, and I’m excited to see how those experiences shape my work. Every city has its own rhythm and energy, and I want to capture that in an authentic way.”
What does being part of the 2.5 Urban Initiative mean to you?
“Being part of this initiative has been an honor. It’s so important to have spaces where we can share our unique perspectives of the urban environments we live in. These shared spaces connect us, but our experiences within them are deeply personal. Initiatives like this bring those experiences together, creating a collective narrative. I’m proud to be a part of that.”