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Houston over the past 20 years has developed a contemporary art scene and emerged as a destination for art tourists seeking experiences in galleries, artists’ studios, nonprofit exhibition spaces, and traditional (and no-so-traditional) museums. Here, we suggest several standouts.
For local color, Archway Gallery (2305B Dunlavy, 713-522-2409), the area’s longestrunning artists-owned gallery, features local and regional painters. Blossom Street Gallery & Sculpture Garden (4809 Blossom St., 713-869-1921) also shows mostly Texas artists.
Devin Borden Hiram Butler Gallery (4520 Blossom St., 713-863-7097) shows light projections by artist James Turrell, as well as paintings by Jennifer Bartlett and William Betts; and works by Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, and Kiki Smith.
Barbara Davis Gallery (4411 Montrose Blvd., 713-520-9200) mixes emerging and established artists — Robert Kelly, Gavin Perry, James Surls, and Li Wei — with masters John Baldessari, Rebecca Horn, Zhang Huan, Elizabeth Peyton, and Ed Ruscha.
At Meredith Long & Co. (2323 San Felipe, 713-523-6671), the brightest stars include by Anthony Caro, Willem De Kooning, Robert Motherwell, Helen Frankenthaler, Frank Stella, and Donald Sultan.
McClain Gallery (2242 Richmond Ave., 713-520-9988) features Donald Baechler, Larry Bell, Louise Nevelson, Donald Judd, Julian Schnabel, Andy Warhol, and Tom Wesselmann.
A similar all-star team elevates Texas Gallery (2012 Peden, 713-524-1593) with Alex Katz, Robert Mangold, Jack Pierson, Joel Shapiro, and William Wegman.
Emphasizing reductive and concept-based art, Gallery Sonja Roesch (2309 Caroline St., 713-659-5424) features works on paper by Susanne Ackermann, neon by Soledad Arias, acrylics by Peter Kalkhof, and sculptures by John Clement.
Latin American art prevails at Sicardi Gallery (2246 Richmond Ave., 713-529-1313), with examples by Antonio Asis, Maria Fernanda Cardoso, Geraldo de Barros, and Luis Tomasello.
Also irresistible are paintings by Meredith Pardue at Laura Rathe Gallery (2707 Colquitt, 713-527-7700); outstanding contemporary photography at John Cleary Gallery (2635 Colquitt, 713-524-5070); prints by Brice Marden and sculpture by Peter Shelton at Parkerson Gallery (3510 Lake St., 713- 524-4945); and prints, documents, and collectibles at The Antiquarium (3510 Lake St., 713-622-7531).
Museums
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston mounts exhibitions in two buildings, a sculpture garden, and two house museums. It includes works by Rembrandt, Monet, Remington, and Picasso. Audrey Jones Beck Building, 5601 Main St.; Caroline Wiess Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet; open Tuesday through Sunday; free admission Thursdays until 9 p.m., and the first Sunday of each month; (713) 639- 7300; en español (713) 639- 7379; TDD/TYY for hearing impaired (713) 639-7390.
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston explores the relationship between contemporary art and society. 5216 Montrose Blvd.; open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.; free admission; (713) 284-8250.
Houston Center for Photography offers exhibitions at1441 W. Alabama; open Wednesday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.; free admission; (713) 529-4755.
Lawndale Art Center is an alternative space dedicated to Houston-area artists. 4912 Main St.; open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday noon to 5 p.m.; free admission; (713) 528-5858.
The Menil Collection, in Renzo Piano’s first U.S. building, features Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko, Jasper Johns, and Robert Rauschenberg. Don’t miss the Cy Twombly Gallery and the multicolored, fluorescent installation by Dan Flavin;. 1515 Sul Ross; open Wednesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; free admission; (713) 525-9400.
Rice University Art Gallery invites artists to create sitespecific installations. Sewall Hall, Campus Entrance 1 at 6100 Main St. and Sunset Boulevard; open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; free admission; (713) 348-6069.
The Rothko Chapel, the world’s only interfaith sanctuary, houses 14 paintings by Mark Rothko and serves as art museum and forum for educational programs and inter-religious dialogues. 1409 Sul Ross at Yupon; open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; free admission; (713) 524-9839.
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft emphasizes objects made of fiber, metal, glass, clay and wood. 4848 Main St.; free admission; open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. (closed Mondays); (713) 529-4848.
