Merge hosts monthly events out of our studio in downtown Houston at Deutser Studios (2000 Nance St., Studio B-126). We are a small artists' studio and can only accommodate ten people at a time. For group orders, please contact hlwalrath [at] gmail [dot] com. We are always happy to accommodate, but we have limited space. We can also create custom events for groups.

Upcoming Events

Deutser Studios Fall Open House

DATE: Saturday, September 5th
TIME: 12:00-5:00 PM

Centrally located in the heart of downtown Houston's warehouse district, Duetser Studios is home to a number of visual artists. Once the site of the B. Deutser Furniture Company, this preserved historic building is minutes from Sawyer Yards, East River, and the Fifth Ward Cultural Arts District.

Join us on September 5th for our fall open house and opening of the exhibition "Willkommen" featuring work by Deutser Studios artists.

Playing with Visual Poetry

DATE: Saturday, September 19, 2026
TIME: 3:00PM - 5:00PM

Visual poetry takes many forms. It is usually created through word order or structure. I would like to take it a bit further by adding visual elements such as color, special paper, or photo enhancement.

In this session we will discuss the types of visual poetry, talk about the ways we can create a visual element in our own poetry, and we will practice writing visual poems or creating visual poems out of our own works.

Sip + Create Van Gogh's Sunflowers

A mini writing + painting workshop inspired by the famous work of Vincent Van Gogh and his iconic sunflowers.

DATE: Saturday, September 26, 2026
TIME: 4:30PM - 6:30 PM

In this writing + art workshop, we'll explore one of the most iconic artists of all time: Vincent Van Gogh. Inspired by Van Gogh's famous sunflowers, we'll paint sunny summer sunflowers and incorporate Van Gogh's writing into our creative practice. Van Gogh was not only a talented painter but also a lifelong letter writer. This unique workshop will give you an opportunity to learn about Van Gogh's life and create a piece of art in the spirit of one of the most popular artists in history.

Sip + Create Goth Night

A mini writing + painting workshop for lovers of spooky season, black nail polish, and emo-punk-ska-metal, run by a certified 90s goth!

DATE: Saturday, October 10, 2026
TIME: 4:30PM - 6:30 PM

Bust out your black velvet because this is an art night for the goths! To celebrate Halloween and spooky season, join MERGE for a special all-black painting and poetry night. The challenge for this sip and create will be to create artwork that pairs dark poetry with our favorite color: Black (or maybe really really really dark gray). Attendees are welcome to dress up in their spookiest duds. Hosted by your resident emo, Holly Lyn Walrath, "Houston's most darksome poet".

"My whole life is a dark room. One big, dark room."

Creating Spooky Seasonal Art (with a twist)

DATE: Saturday, October 17, 2026
TIME: 3 PM
LOCATION: Merge Art Studio, 2000 Nance St. Studio B-126

Join Leslie Archibald for this fun and spooky creative session where we will spend time creating our scariest (or cutest spooky themed) pieces using studio materials. We will spend some time at the end creating a scary micro or poem (can even be a single word that represents the feeling of the piece) to print and add to the visual art.

Networking for Creatives

DATE: Saturday, October 17th, 2026
TIME: 4:30pm - 6:30pm
LOCATION: Merge Art Studio, 2000 Nance St. Studio B-126
Price: FREE

Join artists Leslie Archibald and Holly Lyn Walrath for a guided networking event for creatives of all practices. Whether you're an artist, a writer, a photographer, a content creator, or simply a dreamer, you'll meet other creative individuals who want to expand their network. You never know what collaboration might come from meeting other artists! This event includes free refreshments!

Sip + Create Fifth Ward Art Walk

Join us for an art walk in Houston's historic Fifth Ward. We'll start and end at Saint Arnold Brewing!

DATE: Saturday, November 14th, 2026
TIME: 4:30PM - 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Houston's Historic Fifth Ward (Starting and ending outside Saint Arnold Brewing at 2000 Lyons Ave.)

Houston is an art-lovers city! Join us for a guided tour of the art murals of Houston's historic Fifth Ward. This tour starts and ends at Saint Arnold Brewing and explores the nearby artwork, including Saint Arnold's famous art cars, Meow Wolf, and other neighborhood art. Come with your walking shoes ready to learn about the history of Houston and its many talented muralists.

Please note: This event is not hosted by Saint Arnold, they are just our meetup spot. After the event, you're welcome to join us for a drink at the brewery. This event will be outdoors. If weather becomes a problem, we will reschedule for December 5th. Please plan accordingly and wear the appropriate clothing so you can be comfy.

Exploring Pop Art Techniques 

DATE: Saturday, November 21, 2026
TIME: 3 PM
LOCATION: Merge Art Studio 2000 Nance, #126, Houston Texas 77020

Andy Warhol said Pop Art is “images that anybody walking down Broadway could recognize in a split second (comics, picnic tables, celebrities, coke bottles) all the great modern things that the Abstract Expressionists tried so hard not to notice at all.”

Dominant in the early 1960s, pop art featured common household objects and consumer products as well as forms of media (comics, newspapers, and magazines). All recognizable to the masses. I see Pop Art as bold colorful structured images — the opposite of abstract or impressionist movements.

Join Leslie Archibald in this creative session to explore the elements of Pop Art, its appeal, and to create our own versions of this art. In this session there are no rules. Art movements and history are something we’ll let inform our work but not define it. This session is for beginners and experienced creators alike. There will be no critique or judgment on each other's work, just a mutual appreciation for taking time to create.

Using Art to Create a Vision Board for 2027  

DATE: Saturday, December 12, 2026 
TIME: 2 PM (note the earlier time due to upcoming holidays)
LOCATION: Merge Art Studio 2000 Nance, #126, Houston Texas 77020

Join Leslie Archibald in December to talk about goal setting and set creative intentions for 2027.

In this creative session, we will talk about setting creative goals and intentions for the new year. We will talk about our current projects or ideas (you will not have to share specific information) and specific tasks to move us forward. We will create a visual representation of those intentions on a vision board using studio materials and we will plan a virtual check in for 2027. 

Sip + Create Holiday Cards
DATE: December 12th, 2026
TIME: 4:30PM - 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Merge Art Studio, 2000 Nance St. Studio B-126

Join us for a cozy holiday card-making sesh where you can explore your creative side and make your own poetry-themed holiday cards. In this creative session, we'll use books and texts from the December cultural holidays — Christmas, Bodhi Day, Hanukkah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa—to write poems and create our own holiday cards. Learn about the world's holidays, enjoy a cozy holiday beverage, and meet other creatives.

Open to people of all backgrounds and experiences.

MERGE Art Studio Policies and Procedures

About MERGE: 

​​Merge is the thought-child of artists Holly Lyn Walrath and Leslie Archibald. It's a space to explore the merging of minds and the merging of arts of all kinds. Merge hosts monthly workshops and creative experiences in the heart of Houston, Texas, at Deutser Studios (2000 Nance St., Studio B-126) in downtown Houston. 

MERGE Art Studio Policies:

Merge aims to provide a safe and respectful atmosphere for creatives of all genres. Please read our policies below. 

Attendance and Registration

To register for our Events, sign up via our Eventbrite listings. After you have registered, Eventbrite will send you a confirmation. A few days before the event, you will receive an email from the instructor with more details on our location, parking, and other details. 

Age Requirements

There is no set age for attendees, but some of our events are meant for adults only and will be marked as such. 

Code of Conduct

Merge is dedicated to providing a creative space that is characterized by courtesy and respect for all instructors, students, staff, and visitors. We strictly prohibit harassment of any kind, including sexual, physical, or verbal. We also prohibit discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics. Any behavior that may damage the art, walls, or larger Deutser studio space is prohibited. We reserve the right to ask anyone who violates these guidelines to leave and not return. 

Refunds

We allow workshop refunds up to 7 days before the workshop begins. This gives us time to prepare the space and materials for the workshop. Refund requests are handled automatically via Eventbrite. We specially curate each session we host, and this policy helps us keep our doors open as a small, artist-run art studio. 

Group Events

We limit ticket orders to two tickets at a time. We are a small artists' studio and can only accommodate ten people at a time. For group orders, please contact hlwalrath [at] gmail [dot] com. We are always happy to accommodate, but we have limited space. We can also create custom events for groups.