Catching Up With the 2025 TRIBEZA Curators

Last fall, TRIBEZA introduced its inaugural class of Curators, a group of 10 Austinites whose work spans food, design, art, music, sports, wellness and community impact. Months later, they continue to shape Austin’s creative landscape through new projects, personal milestones and meaningful work across the city and beyond.

Cynthia Aguillón Bernard

Cynthia Aguillón Bernard of ATX Yoga Girl officially launched her Kindness Affirmation Cards for Kids, with a spring launch party benefiting the Pease Park Conservancy. She also continues her partnership with Peoples RX Pharmacy, focusing on women’s wellness initiatives and events. Aguillón Bernard continues to give back to the community by volunteering with the Just Keep Livin Foundation and Latinitas. On a personal note, Aguillón Bernard began taking guitar lessons with Girl Guitar and has a performance scheduled at Antone’s Nightclub in June.

Evan LeRoy

Over the past few months, Evan LeRoy has been hard at work planning for his first cookbook launch, “New School Barbecue,” which comes out on May 12. LeRoy says, “It’s been a longtime career dream, so to see it come to life in print is hard to put into words.” In the middle of a very busy spring, he and his team also celebrated their restaurant, LeRoy and Lewis’ second anniversary.

Emily Eisenhart

This year has included an exciting mix of personal and professional milestones for Emily Eisenhart, who welcomed her first child, a baby girl, in January. Eisenhart’s work continues to span both national and local projects, from a series of sculpture installations at Rivian hubs across the country to projects in Austin. Locally, Eisenhart is planning the next WaterWork event, set for Sept. 25–26, 2026, and she is contributing to several initiatives, including a nature-based sculptural collaboration with Amy Hovis of Barton Springs Nursery for the Long Center Collective. Eisenhart is also working on a Fortlandia submission with LPA Design Studios and a mural and mosaic project with McKinney York Architects at the Texas School for the Deaf. Eisenhart’s work on the Board of Design Austin continues to strengthen the city’s growing design community.

Evan Voyles

Evan Voyles has been quietly amassing one of Austin’s most remarkable sign collections for decades, and he recently opened up his collection to the public for the first time on May 2. The neon sign legend partnered with Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson for an auction at Burley Auction Gallery in New Braunfels, where both local legends auctioned off items from their private collections. The auction is part of a larger vision for Voyles to make space for new ideas, projects and ventures, including talks of a potential museum for his iconic neon signs. “This is about gaining space, perspective and waving the flag,” he says. “The value of space in Austin is paramount now. It’s an interesting issue that speaks to the heart of who we are, who we’ve been and who we want to be.” 

Kim Lewis

Kim Lewis had a productive stretch, completing the interiors for the new Pinthouse Pizza in San Antonio while designing the interiors and branding for Open Sesame, a new bagel shop in Aspen. She also designed and opened The Code Austin, a hotel on South Lamar, and is currently working on The Belvedere, a lakefront development in downtown Austin. Lewis launched a leather purse collaboration with Purse & Clutch, as well as ShopKimLewis on Instagram, where one-of-a-kind pieces curated by Lewis are available for purchase. She participated in TRIBEZA’s Interiors Tour and contributed as a writer to the TRIBEZA Home issue. It’s not all work, as Lewis, her husband Joey Puterbaugh and their children spent spring break in Maui, where she and daughter Sunny could be found painting watercolors together under the tropical sun. 

Michael Hsu

Michael Hsu and his firm, Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, recently reached a major milestone with their first feature in Architectural Digest (winter 2025). The featured project, Hsu’s personal residence, was designed entirely in-house and developed over more than a year, making the recognition especially meaningful for both Hsu and his wife, art adviser Sarah Hsu, who also consulted on the project. Most recently, the firm earned two Austin Home & Design Awards, including General Excellence in Architecture. One of the projects Hsu is most excited about opens in the fall: Sítio El Tropicano in San Antonio, a place that has long been woven into the city’s cultural rhythm. The midcentury property is being reimagined with a focus on preserving its character while introducing richer textures and stronger connections to the surrounding landscape and River Walk. The redesigned lobby is envisioned as a vibrant gathering place for both guests and locals.

Cassandra Shankman

Cassandra Shankman, known as DJ Cassandra, shares that this year has been one of the most creatively significant of her career. She completed her debut album, a long-awaited milestone that marks her full emergence as a recording artist alongside her celebrated work as a performer. She has also officially launched Sounds by Cassandra as a full booking agency, placing Austin’s top DJs and musicians into premium gigs under her brand — elevating both their careers and the city’s event landscape. On the philanthropic side, Shankman has been an active force at several high-profile galas this season, helping raise over $1 million for each cause, including The Kindness Campaign, The SAFE Alliance and others. 

Chef Fermin Núñez

Chef Fermín Núñez has had a landmark few months. In April, he released his debut cookbook, “Vitamina T: Your Daily Dose of Tacos, Tortas, Tamales, and More Mexican Street Food Classics,” co-authored with Masienda founder Jorge Gaviria. The book features over 100 approachable recipes for Mexican street food classics, from al pastor tacos to duck confit tamales, designed to bring the spirit of a Mexico City street food crawl into home kitchens. On the restaurant front, Núñez and partners Sam Hellman-Mass and Celia Pellegrini recently announced two new concepts coming to Manor Road in East Austin: a forthcoming taqueria as well as Karaz, a Middle Eastern restaurant to be led by chef and partner Alejandra Kuri.

Brad Stuver

Brad Stuver continues to be a cornerstone for Austin FC, both as a veteran leader and one of the club’s most reliable presences in goal. As of March 21, Stuver holds the second-longest consecutive start streak in Major League Soccer. Beyond the field, Stuver is widely recognized for his community impact. Through The Brad and Ashley Stuver Foundation, he continues to expand community-driven initiatives, supporting underserved populations across Central Texas, underscoring his ongoing commitment to advocacy, service and meaningful local engagement. The foundation partnered with the Laundry Project to surpass 10,000 loads of free laundry in Austin since 2021. “We look forward to continuing our work in the Central Texas region and partnering with more local non-profits,” says Stuver.

Amanda Turner

Chef Amanda Turner is staying active with a mix of culinary events, philanthropy and travel. She recently traveled to Milwaukee to participate in Dim Sum Give Sum, a fundraiser organized by fellow “Top Chef” alum Dan Jacobs to support awareness and research for Kennedy’s Disease. She also gave her time to support several charitable events throughout the year, including the UMLAUF Garden Party, Visit Austin’s Give Back Give and the annual Les Dames d’Escoffier fundraiser You Grill Girl! This summer, Amanda will take the stage as a first-time speaker at the FAB Conference, which celebrates women in the food and beverage industry. Outside of her professional commitments, she’s also looking forward to fulfilling a long-awaited dream of attending the World Cup.