Verónica Gaona (b. 1994) is an Mexican American artist and educator based in Houston. Gaona received an MFA in Photography from the University of Houston. Gaona was awarded the Latinx Fellowship Award (2023), the Chispa Award (2022), by Andrew Mellon Foundation and Ford Foundation, and Artadia Award (2021). Gaona attended the International Studio & Curatorial Program in Brooklyn, New York (2024), PAC Residency in Houston (2024), Lawndale Art Residency in Houston (2022-2023), DUST in Marfa (2019), School Fine Arts De Nantes Saint-Nazaire in Nantes, France (2019). She participated in Engaging Latinx Art: National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (2022). Gaona has exhibited work at El Museo del Barrio, Lawndale Art Center, Blaffer Art Museum, Charlie James Gallery, Presa House Gallery, and Museum of Contemporary Art of Tamaulipas. Gaona’s work was featured in the Wyeth Lecture in American Art at the National Gallery of Art, presented by Roberto J. Tejada. Currently, she is a part time Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston.