Rockport Center for the Arts (RCA) has named Corpus Christi native Jeffery Neel McDaniel as the 2022 Rockport Art Festival poster artist, the thirtieth artist to receive the honor. The announcement was made on Dec. 11 as part of a special RCA reception for its current exhibition, Currents: The All-Members Exhibition, for which McDaniel is serving as guest juror. 

The first Rockport Art Festival was hosted in 1969 and has grown to become one of the most respected, and longest-running juried art festivals in the United States. Since 1993, a diverse committee of artists and art patrons have gathered to select one master artist to create the official poster for the annual event.

This select group of chosen artists, the first of whom was master artist Harold Phenix, are known for their achievements in the Arts, for their engagement and contributions to the Rockport Center for the Arts, and for their ability to successfully portray the unique coastal aesthetic that is uniquely Rockport and that is recognized across the State of Texas. With vibrant paintings inspired by the local scenery, Corpus Christi native McDaniel was a perfect choice.

“I have been watching Jeffrey Neel McDaniel’s work since 2013, and it’s fun to see him grow as an artist and develop a visual language that is very much influenced by the saturate colors of the Texas coast,” said Elena Rodriguez, curator of exhibitions for Rockport Center for the Arts. 

A Licensed Professional Counselor, specializing in trauma and crisis counseling, McDaniel began painting in 2013. With an amazing ability to capture the beauty of life around him, his work often depicts the awe-inspiring Rockport sunrises, the haunting depths of the ocean, and the brilliant colors of tropical flowers. He has participated in the Rockport Art Festival since 2019 and has received recognition at numerous other events over the years, including 1st Place in Botanicals (Corpus Christi Art Center, 2021); Best in Show (Kerrville Art Center, 2021); 3rd Place (Outdoor Painters Society Show, 2020); and Best of Show (Watercolor Society of South Texas, 2016). 

"I believe art enriches and improves our lives,” said McDaniel. “My art is inspired by the natural beauty of the South Texas Coast, Big Bend, and the Texas Hill Country, especially around the Laguna Madre, the Chisos Mountains, and the Frio River.  

“Painting is a great stress reliever for me, but the urge to paint is driven by the marvel and mystery of the natural world around me. I express my wonder, curiosity, and gratitude through my art, and hope people feel a connection to nature when they view my paintings."

RCA will host a solo exhibition on McDaniel’s work kicking off in June 2022 leading up to the Rockport Art Festival, scheduled for July 2–3. McDaniel’s show will feature a variety of his vibrant works, including his piece selected as the poster art for the festival, with a public unveiling of the piece along with an artist gallery talk, reception, and poster signing.