ABOUT
Our mission is to inspire a more accessible future of art and technology by supporting the voices of today’s artists and connecting diverse communities through transformative public art experiences.
A cornerstone of contemporary culture in North Texas, AURORA is a Dallas-based public arts organization working at the intersection of art, technology, and community. Through the AURORA Biennial exhibition and the year-round AURORA Expanded programming, the organization successfully engages with regional and international audiences, aiming to establish Dallas as a global cultural center for art and technology.
Supporting artists who explore the boundaries of art and technology is crucial as it enables them to create works that reflect current global events, provide creative solutions, and offer fresh perspectives. AURORA is spearheading this movement of technology-backed creativity, developing something unique and forward-thinking in Texas.
AURORA was founded in 2010 by artists Shane Pennington and Joshua King, along with veteran Dallas arts supporter Veletta Forsythe Lill. The inaugural exhibition was a one-night-only public art event featuring light, video and sound artworks; now, AURORA exists as a multifaceted platform.
︎︎︎ Discover past AURORA Biennial and AURORA Expanded events.
A cornerstone of contemporary culture in North Texas, AURORA is a Dallas-based public arts organization working at the intersection of art, technology, and community. Through the AURORA Biennial exhibition and the year-round AURORA Expanded programming, the organization successfully engages with regional and international audiences, aiming to establish Dallas as a global cultural center for art and technology.
Supporting artists who explore the boundaries of art and technology is crucial as it enables them to create works that reflect current global events, provide creative solutions, and offer fresh perspectives. AURORA is spearheading this movement of technology-backed creativity, developing something unique and forward-thinking in Texas.
AURORA was founded in 2010 by artists Shane Pennington and Joshua King, along with veteran Dallas arts supporter Veletta Forsythe Lill. The inaugural exhibition was a one-night-only public art event featuring light, video and sound artworks; now, AURORA exists as a multifaceted platform.
︎︎︎ Discover past AURORA Biennial and AURORA Expanded events.
Co-Founders
Shane Pennington
Aurora Co-Founder,
Creative Advisor
Joshua King
Aurora Co-Founder,
Executive Director
Veletta Forsythe Lill
Aurora Co-Founder,
Founding Executive
Director of the Dallas Arts District
TEAM
Monica Salazar (MONA Productions)
Communications and Programming Director
Corey Moulton
Production and Administrative Manager
Adela Lovric (MONA Productions)
Anna Russ (MONA Productions)
Marketing & Communications
Jesse Slater (MONA Productions)
Stephanie Shaw
Social Media
BOARD MEMBERS
Heather Reichstadt
President
Veletta Forsythe Lill
Vice President
Shalissa Perry
Secretary/Treasurer
Jacob Navarrete
Officer
Arthur Santa-Maria
Officer
L.D. Thomas
Officer
Megan Ruth Bowdon Wilkinson
Officer
AURORA BIENNIAL
Since its foundation, the AURORA Biennial has transformed Dallas neighborhoods into curated, large-scale exhibitions, free and open to the public. The Biennial is also an important platform for exchange between regional and international artists and curators.
In November 2024, the AURORA Biennial transformed Dallas City Hall and the surrounding areas yet again. Curated by Kendal Henry (New York City) and Leslie Moody Castro (Austin/Mexico City), the sixth edition explored North Texas' shared history and delves into topics of community connections, health advocacy, environmental sustainability, and the impact of displacement and migration on evolving cities in order to ignite new ideas about the future.
Visit the AURORA Biennial 2024 page for for details.
Miguel Chevalier, Digital Icons, 2018, part of AURORA 2018. Photo by Nicolas Gaudelet
Alicia Eggert, All the Light, 2017, part of AURORA 2018. Photo by Stephan Lucas
James Clar, Pixelated Serenity, Part of AURORA 2015. Courtesy the artistAURORA EXPANDED
AURORA’s auxiliary program, AURORA Expanded, is a regional program focused on spotlighting and supporting North Texas artists through a year-round series of site-specific installations, special events and social gatherings.
AURORA Expanded’s most recent events include Video Art Night, an outdoor, immersive exhibition of moving image artworks, taking place in various locations across Downtown Dallas, as well as educational and community outreach programs such as Art Quest, an interactive, scavenger-style art discovery program. This unique program connects diverse communities with regional artists through interactive, scavenger hunt-style events.
Visit the AURORA Expanded page for for details.
Tramaine Townsend, Suspense, 2020, part of AURORA Expanded: Area 3 exhibition, Dallas, TX. Photo by Christian Vasquez, © Paperlyte
Jess Garland, Resurrecting Gaia, 2018, part of AURORA Expanded 2018. Photo by Paperlyte
A.rt Experience is a 501(c)(3) publicly supported charity, Federal Tax ID 93-3661865. All contributions to the AURORA Fund of The Dallas Foundation are tax deductible, as allowed by law.