Our Bird Artists
Sherman Cultural District celebrates the artists whose outstanding designs were selected for the Sherman Bird Sculpture Project. Each artist is creating a unique bird using various materials applied to a Corten steel silhouette of their chosen bird species. Two of the artists are collaborating on a fifth bird design. All sculptures will be revealed on May 16, 2026, during our inaugural Sherman Bird Festival.
Brianna Burnett
Brianna Burnett is a fine art photographer living and working in the DFW Metroplex. Her photography is a collection of images that reference storytelling, mythology and narrative. Motivated by landscape, history and the culture of her surroundings, she integrates these concepts into photographs that are studies of historical and personal narrative.
Brianna earned an MFA in Photography and Sculpture from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. She completed her undergraduate work in photography at Austin College in Sherman, Texas.
Brianna exhibits in solo and group exhibits across the US. She is currently an Associate Professor at Austin College in Sherman. With her work shown in dozens of juried shows, notable exhibitions include: Integrated - Site Specific Installation at Texas Instruments in Sherman [with Mark Monroe]; Manufactured Untruth - Curated an exhibit of over forty contemporary artists looking at the idea of manipulation in art; Artist-In-Residence for AIR Studios in Paducah, Kentucky, which included Performance art & Installations; A Little Space, Center for Art and Peace in Suchitoto, El Salvador.
Andrea Holmes
Andrea Holmes is a professional mural artist and public art designer based in McKinney, Texas. Her work celebrates nature, color, and community through large-scale murals and creative collaborations that bring joy to public spaces. She is the founder of A. Holmes Art Studio and the creator of Wings Across the World: 100 Bird Mural Project, an international public art series featuring one hundred bird-themed murals: Ten in Texas, one in every U.S. state, and forty-one abroad. Honoring the connection between art, ecology, and place. Holmes has collaborated with city governments, cultural districts, and corporations including Capital One, Starbucks, Uptown Dallas, and the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. Her work blends fine art and storytelling, encouraging viewers to appreciate both natural beauty and local identity. Holmes is a 2025 member of Leadership McKinney and serves on the MillHouse Foundation Board supporting women in the arts. Her recent projects include artist talks, workshops on creative entrepreneurship, and book collaborations celebrating the artist’s life titled, “Art Makes Magic”.
Mark Monroe
Mark Monroe is a distinguished regional sculptor and educator at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, with a national exhibition record, focusing on the re-use of materials, the culture of a space, and the interaction with historical objects. As Craig Professor of Art and past chair of the Department of Art and Art History at Austin College, Mark brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this project. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the University of Texas at Austin, where he also minored in Art History. Mark earned his Bachelor of Arts from Austin College. His extensive exhibition history includes prestigious venues throughout Texas and many in selected regional and international museums and galleries. Notable projects include: Integrated Site Specific Installation at Texas Instruments in Sherman, Texas; The Gates of New York - Central Park;
216 Grand Project - deconstruction of a house, Re-purposed into art installations;
Residency - Ditrani studios, Matera Italy;
Installation SC Garden Space, Artspace 111, Ft Worth TX;
Texas 100: Selections from the El Paso Museum of Art
Krystal Skinner
Krystal Skinner is a professional artist and creative facilitator based in North Texas, working through Empty Canvas Creations. Her artistic practice emerged from personal transformation following a car accident that reshaped her physical abilities, leading her to discover creative expression as a pathway to healing and joy. Skinner's work celebrates accessible art experiences through interactive installations integrating textiles, metalwork, and mixed media elements. She creates immersive pieces designed to invite touch, exploration, and collective healing in healthcare settings, public spaces, and community gathering areas. Her practice incorporates biophilic principles and color psychology to create environments that actively promote emotional well-being. Skinner, who is self-taught, is evolving her practice toward large-scale public art that serves diverse communities. Through Empty Canvas Creations, she facilitates workshops and collaborative art experiences that build community connections while addressing resilience through artistic expression.