Kelly Alison:"I grew up in Plainview, Texas, then went off to college in Waco, at Baylor University, and from there moved to Houston. I pretty much moved to Houston for all the reasons artists move there: the community, the chance to learn more about art, take more classes in art, and expand my horizons in that direction. I lived in Houston from 1977 until 1983: during that time I was a student at the University of Houston and got to participate in the Lawndale Art Performance Center, which was off-campus at that time. In 1983 I moved to Wild Peach, Texas, a little village between Brazoria and West Columbia, not too far in from Sargent on the coast. I’d drive into Houston three or four times a week, where I taught at the Art League of Houston for 10 years; showed with Bill Graham (Graham Gallery) at first, then Wayne Gilbert (G Spot Gallery), and DM Allison. I had lots of good opportunities when I was there."