Welcome to South Padre Island’s Art Business Incubator, the Island’s community-focused art business that invites local artists to apply for residency at the incubator and the opportunity to be host workshops and sell their art to the public. The Art Business Incubator is committed to connecting the community and even the surrounding areas of the RGV to local, talented artists whose creativity drives them to share their work with others. Check out the stories of some of the 2026 Art Business Incubator artists.
Stacy Welchley
Meet Stacy Welchley, South Padre Island-based artist and 4-month resident at the Art Business Incubator. Stacy’s creative knack lies in transforming repurposed items that she finds on the beach into meaningful art, proving that one man's trash can quickly become another man's treasure, and that beauty can be found in even the unlikeliest of things. Stacy said her craft brings a piece of the beach into people’s lives—reminding us that we all need a little beach in our lives. “It breaks my heart that a lot of things end up in the landfill, so I like to repurpose them so someone can hang it on their wall and bring the beach into their living environment”, Stacy said. Enjoy a hands-on learning experience with Stacy in her workshop, where you’ll work with acrylics and encapsulate them creatively in layers of resin alongside fresh flowers, glitter and other materials of your choice. You’ll get to leave with unique, three-dimensional art pieces to take home as a keepsake from your day of hands-on artistry with Stacy.
Karina Torres
Meet Karina, an acrylic painter, 7 months into her journey at ABI, whose work highlights the wildlife and natural beauty of the Rio Grande Valley. She believes it’s essential for people to become invested in learning about the world around them—especially the beauty that is so often overlooked. Through small, step-by-step acrylic painting classes ranging from portraits to beach sunsets, Karina guides participants as they create their own interpretation of the Island’s iconic sunsets while learning a new skill. She invites friends and families to slow down, connect, and create together. Visitors are also encouraged to stop by during the Art District’s First Friday Art Walk, held monthly from 6–9 p.m., where all ABI artists are on-site to meet guests, share their work, and enjoy light refreshments as inspiration flows throughout ABI and neighboring galleries
Sara Smith
Meet Sara, one of the newest residents of the Art Business Incubator, already making her mark just two months in. Specializing in ceramics under her brand, Solecito, Sara creates with the intention of brightening people’s days by adding a touch of sunshine to their shelves through her art. Her work stands out for its vibrant colors, intricate details, and whimsical charm. Sara also offers hands-on clay workshops and one-on-one wheel classes open to all skill levels, where participants can learn new ceramic-building techniques and create their own pieces. While the finished ceramics take time to arrive, Sara promises the wait is worth it because once your piece arrives, you’ll have your own “little piece of sunshine” to cherish.
Stop by SPI Art Business Incubator, open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to meet the artists, join one of their workshops, or simply watch them do what they truly do best. For more information, visit their website!