Curator
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Kirsten Bengtson
Kirsten Bengtson-Lykoudis (she/her/hers) serves as staff writer, archivist, and curator for NOT REAL ART. She enjoys rambling through NRA’s vast digital archive of contemporary artworks and getting to know the people behind them. After growing up in the Twin Cities, Kirsten darted between Florida, Russia, Sweden, New York, France, Italy, the Aegean Islands, and Washington, DC, before landing in Richmond, Virginia. A former New York gallery director, photographer, student of Russian literature, devout polyglot, and nonfiction writer, she is currently plotting her next trip to Greece.
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Lone Star: New Takes on the 28th State
With Texas frequently in the news for political and weather-related issues, it’s easy to overlook its diverse cultural heritage. Perched between the South and the West, this fiercely independent state was inhabited by Indigenous people for millennia until the Spanish and French arrived in the 1500s and 1600s. After briefly becoming part of Mexico, Texas declared itself a republic before joining the United States. To kick off our 2026 exhibition schedule, NOT REAL ART presents a stellar array of artists sharing insights into life and art in the Lone Star State.