Hotel Contessa is excited to host Flourish and Femme, a community art fair and immersive installation celebrating over a dozen local female artists of all generations. On Sunday, March 30 from 11:30a.m. to 3p.m., the public is invited to step into a colorful world of creativity right on the Riverwalk, where art, flowers and femme energy will come together and established artists will mentor emerging talent. (Hotel Contessa, 2025)

More than just an intergenerational art showcase, the art fair will feature a number of artisans who inject fun and flavor into every moment. This event is a celebration of female artistry, craftsmanship and community that is free and open to the public, benefiting local nonprofit Magdalena House, which empowers families to eliminate cycles of abuse and neglect in the community.

The Sunday art fair will unveil an extraordinary exhibition with a collective of local female artists, transforming the hotel’s spaces into a vibrant canvas of creativity. Through the theme of flowers, artists Kathy Sosa, Stephanie Pena Frost, Mary Carmen Sessions, Geri Garcia, and Ludi Smith will present a stunning installation that weaves together personal narratives and artistic expression. Launching on March 30, this immersive exhibit will extend through June 2025, with select guest rooms becoming intimate galleries that demonstrate the artists’ flower-themed works, inviting visitors to experience art that blooms through each individual’s storytelling.

Guests are encouraged to sip, savor and celebrate the impressive stories of a group of talented female artists and other prominent local women, many of whom are mentoring the next generation of artists in San Antonio. The creative space will also include culinary components with a special touch from Mijenta, a female-owned tequila distillery, where samples of their award-winning spirit will be available for tastings. Attendees can indulge in chocolate hand crafted by local female chocolatier Chef Alessia Benavides of CHOCOLATL. Additionally, Ambler will be open and serving their menu of creative plates and craft cocktails during the event.

This immersive experience celebrates the incredible works of over a dozen local female artists and artisans, including:

San Antonio–based artist Kathy Sosa, whose colorful works have been displayed across North America and is behind the famous Contessa painting at Hotel Contessa. Kathy will also do a book signing for her latest book, “Mestizaje: The Feminist Art of Kathy Sosa.” Kathy’s Contessa painting will be a muse/inspiration for the attending students.

Renowned San Antonio artists Stephanie Pena Frost, Geri Garcia, Mary Carmen Sessions, and Ludi Smith. Featured room artists will host mini-exhibitions spotlighting their broader portfolios and promote their work in the guest rooms.

Eight student artists from CAST School will be mentored by the featured professional artists. Students and artists will be paired up on March 30 for students to create and display their works at the Sunday Art Fair on April 27.

Chef Alessia Benavides of San Antonio’s celebrated female chocolatier, CHOCOLATL. Awarded Best Pastry Chef of 2024 by the Texas Culinary Association, Alessia Benavides is a passionate pastry chef and chocolatier dedicated to the art of baking and chocolate-making.

Mijenta Tequila, female-owned distiller based in Texas. Known for bridging eco-friendly tequila-making with female empowerment.

Proceeds from the art fair sales will be donated to Magdalena House, a neighborhood of transitional homes in San Antonio that serves mothers and their children who have fled danger and abuse. Utilizing a dual-generation approach, they provide safe shelter, basic needs, educational programming and therapeutic services. Hotel Contessa’s Flourish and Femme initiative partners with established artists and the CAST School to foster community mentorship and support, reflecting the hotel’s commitment to enhancing San Antonio’s local cultural landscape.

Hotel Contessa
306 W. Market St.
San Antonio, TX 78205

An intimate, all-suite retreat set directly on San Antonio’s beloved River Walk, Hotel Contessa delights arriving guests with stylish suites that take their design cues from the city’s rich history and vibrant culture. Discover stylish suites and unwind at our spa, complemented by Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails serving up agave cocktails and authentic Texas fare.