2025 EAL MENTORS & MENTEES
BRZA (EAL mentee)
BRZA is a creative activist, multidisciplinary artist, and cultural organizer. His name was personally given to him by GZA of Wu-Tang Clan, a fitting beginning for an artist making waves in music, design, and community work. BRZA creates bold statements that challenge internalized shame and redefine Asian American identity. His projects include commemorative merch honoring Austin’s lost Asia Market, a rap album chronicling self-acceptance, and running community spaces like Slipper Assembly and Asian Events in Austin.
Amitai “Ami” Plasse (EAL mentor)
Amitai Plasse (aka Ami) is a visual and motion artist known for his expressive, fast-paced sketches and animations that capture the pulse of urban life. A Parsons grad and former New Yorker, Ami moved to Austin in 2011 and founded Gonzo Viz — a creative studio for live art, animation, and collaborative workshops. He’s chronicled everything from NYC subway commuters (AmiUnderground) to Austin’s live music scene, and his rapid-drawing style has evolved into motion work that blends illustration with wild soundscapes. Most recently, he worked as an animator on Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10½.
Dil Xochitl Jones (EAL mentee)
Lys Santamaria (EAL mentor)
Dil Xochitl Jones is a dynamic interdisciplinary artist and educator whose work is bursting with joy, playfulness, and natural beauty. Through bold colors, rich textures, and organic forms, Dil explores themes of identity and transformation, inviting viewers into a world of wonder. When Dil isn’t creating art or working at an art gallery, they’re passionately convincing students that abstract art is much more than just random squiggles.
Lys Santamaria is a Colombian-born, Austin-based Bead and Mosaic Artist known for transforming thousands of tiny materials—beads, glass, and textiles—into intricate works that explore identity, healing, and belonging. As a Latina, woman, and immigrant, Lys creates deeply intentional pieces that honor personal and cultural narratives. Her work spans jewelry, sculpture, and public art, and has been featured in Good Morning America, Austin Monthly, and The Statesman. She is also part of the permanent collection at the Mexic-Arte Museum. Currently, she is working on a major public mosaic installation for Barton Springs Pool, set to debut in summer 2025.
Hailey Gearo(EAL mentee)
Hailey Gearo explores the connection between creativity and mental health through bold, dreamlike paintings that transform personal struggles into expressive works of art. As an abstract expressionist with surrealist influences, Hailey’s work features vivid colors, dynamic textures, and deeply personal storytelling. Her art has been exhibited at The Cathedral, The Carver Museum, Riches Gallery, 2324 Studios, and the San Antonio Airport. Through her work, Hailey sheds light on mental health, turning isolation into connection and struggle into beauty.
Alle Beatty (EAL mentor)
Allee Beatty is a seasoned arts professional with a deep passion for contemporary art and collecting. Originally from Connecticut, she holds a BA in Art History from Wesleyan University and an MA in American Studies (focused on Museums and Communities) from Trinity College. Her experience includes roles at the New Britain Museum of American Art, the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, and the Wadsworth Atheneum. Now based in Austin, Allee leads as Gallery Director at West Chelsea Contemporary, curating exhibitions that spotlight both blue-chip and emerging artists.
Malti B Lee (EAL mentee)
Originally from London and now based in Austin, Malti B Lee, PhD, brings a global perspective to her breathtaking acrylic paintings of urban landscapes. Inspired by her international experiences, Malti captures the energy and movement of cities in a way that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. Her work has been showcased in solo and group exhibitions across California and Texas, with major commissions from the NHL’s San Jose Sharks and the City of San Ramon. Before pursuing art full-time, Malti worked as a scientist and management consultant, giving her a unique perspective on art, community, and storytelling.
Mila Sketch (EAL mentor)
Mila Sketch is a contemporary artist based in Austin whose bold, multidisciplinary work bridges the natural world and urban life. Her practice spans fine art, murals, digital media, and Augmented Reality (AR) installations — with exhibitions reaching audiences from Seoul to London. Mila is represented by West Chelsea Contemporary, and her work has been featured by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Crocker Art Museum, and the Masur Museum of Art. Her large-scale murals and AR projects can be found worldwide, including SXSW, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and the Disney Springs Art Walk. A frequent collaborator with global brands like Google, Disney, Mazda, and The Boring Company, Mila’s work is rooted in symbolism and storytelling. In 2021, she was named “Best of Austin” Visual Artist by Austin Monthly and The Austin Chronicle — and most recently, she graced the Chronicle’s cover in April 2025 to celebrate a decade of creative impact.
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Mia Gomez-Reyes (EAL mentee)
Mia Gomez-Reyes is a stage manager, playwright, and educator dedicated to amplifying voices and telling meaningful stories. She has worked on productions like Fairview (Ground Floor Theatre), 26 Miles (Different Stages), and Tiny Fingerprints (UTNT 2022). Her plays have been featured in Teatro Vivo’s New Play Fest, UT New Theatre, and the Horizon Theatre New South Young Playwrights Festival. Beyond the stage, Mia supports the next generation of artists as the Student Success Coordinator at UT Austin’s College of Fine Arts.
Raul Garza (EAL mentor)
Raul Garza is a Latino playwright acclaimed for weaving stories rich with authenticity and a strong sense of place. His work boldly explores the intersection of popular culture and cultural identity, often incorporating music, spirituality, and nostalgia. He won the National Latino Playwriting Award for his Austin-inspired debut Fantasmaville, and his plays have since been produced across the U.S. and in Mexico — including Running Bear, Confessions of a Mexpatriate, My H-E-B, El, and There and Back. His latest, Men in Shorts, premiered in New York City. Raul’s short fiction and features have appeared in The Austin Chronicle, The Texas Observer, Men’s Journal, and HowlRound. When he’s not writing, he’s vibing in kundalini yoga, devouring pop culture, and traveling beyond his means.