Sometimes the best way to explore a city is through the eyes of the people who call it home. Visit these Houston art galleries and see how talents from Houston and all over the world view everything from pain and loss to shared joy, cultural evolution, and the promise of tomorrow.
Here are 20 of our favorite art galleries and museums in Houston, TX.
Off The Wall Gallery
Off The Wall, founded in 1978 by Paula and Mimi Sperber, became one of the many hidden gems in Houston. Nearly 50 years later, it still welcomes patrons. But these days, Off The Wall has grown from a playful drop-in spot for subversive creators to an anchor on the Houston art scene. It showcases how diverse and fun the city’s galleries can be.
What began as an exhibition space for new pop artists soon involved high-end graphics and large-scale paperwork. Charles Fazzino, Peter Max, and Andy Warhol have all had works at Off The Wall. Their masterpieces are appreciated in the gallery’s 2,500-square-foot exhibition space.
Today, Off The Wall has grown in both its actual footprint (its current custom-built gallery is about 4,600 sq. ft.) and its scope. Poster art joins sculptures and impressionist works. Stopping from modern shows brings everyone from Picasso to Dali to the heart of Texas.
Archway Gallery
Archway Gallery’s original location on Montrose clocked in at just 600 sq. ft. of art space, but it’s moved around quite a bit over the years.
Its current 4,000-sq. ft. home on Dunlavy is far more expansive, and the artist group behind the gallery is 34 people strong. They produce everything from mixed-media works to oil paintings to pottery. Archway is a showcase of local Houston talent for all to peruse, appreciate, and (hopefully) purchase within this gorgeous studio space.
Insomnia Gallery
Insomnia Gallery combines the best aspects of a record store and art gallery into one venue. The powers that be pride themselves on throwing art parties, not shows. The mission is clear with events like Punk Rock Garage Sale and Cheap Date: $25 Art Show on the docket.
This is one of the few art museums in Houston that prefers fewer restrictions on what can be shown and bought. Fresh-off-the-presses pop art and “low-brow” works take precedence, but there are multimedia exhibits—think walls covered in skateboards—too.
Thornwood Gallery
Thornwood Gallery is kind of like an art agency. The owners show off art at every turn, beginning in their own Gallery Row location. They also specialize in placing impressive works in high-profile corporate offices and hotels. Chosen artists are in line for long-term opportunities, like national and international residences and public art installations.
Visitors to this fine art gallery in Houston will see stellar examples of abstract art, realism, and impressionism. Photography and sculpture often adorn the walls and display stands as well. If there’s something you fall in love with, you can head to the gallery’s website and use their innovative Virtual Install tool to see how the piece would look in your own home or office.
John Palmer Art Gallery & Studio
At the center of the John Palmer Art Gallery & Studio is one person: John Palmer himself. Self-dubbed “The Hardest Working Man in the Art Business,” Palmer started his work as an artist following his father's death in 1998.
His pain inspired him, and fans say they can see the emotions and strike on every canvas. Each brushstroke conveys the healing process Palmer is eternally going through.
The gallery includes a colorful array of Escapism art created on everything from custom boxes and furniture to jewelry and neon. To see it all in person, you’ll need to call or text Palmer for an appointment or to set up a tour. Don't worry, though — it’s worth the work.
Palmer's bungalow home is a chance to peek behind the curtain and see how he works, enjoying art that is very much outside the “norm” and all the better for it.
Lawndale Art Center
Lawndale Art Center was founded in 1979 by artist James Surls. He sought to create a space where University of Houston graduate students could work without limits. The result? Lawndale Art Center.
Over time, Lawndale Art Center has become an independent non-profit entity with around 500 artists exhibiting their work each year. Events like Dia de los Muertos, The Big Show, and Design Fair focus on specific themes and artist groups. Furthermore, the Lawndale Artist Studio Program gives participants a nine-month, generously sponsored residency culminating in a spring show. Admission is free, but members can access a lending library featuring work by contemporary artists in Houston and beyond.
Gallery Sonja Roesch
Gallery Sonja Roesch takes a more global approach to sharing art. The gallery premiered in Germany before jumping the pond and landing in Houston in 1996. Much of the gallery features large sculpture work with a minimalist aesthetic, including pieces by Texas artist Mac Whitney and NYC creator John Clement. But the gallery’s programming isn’t limited to oversized creations. The walls are filled with contributions from artists who prefer mixed media, drawing, and painting.
The gallery has Monday through Friday open-door hours, but you can also visit by appointment. Temporary exhibits are plentiful and varied, so visit often to experience the full breadth of what Roesch has made possible.
Art Of The World Gallery
Art of the World is a gallery that seeks to bring art representing some of the world’s most influential artists to the people of Bayou City. The approach here is simple but outside the norm for a smaller spot. Instead of accepting one or two pieces from each artist, Art of the World Gallery develops meaningful relationships that result in the majority of an artist’s inventory being transferred from their studio or estate to the gallery’s Houston facility.
Some of the most renowned classic masters and innovative, modern-day artists have shown here, including Pablo Picasso, Wilfredo Lam, Fernando Botero, Marc Chagall, Javier Martin, Chun Kwang, Carole A. Feuerman, Mr. Brainwash, Park Eun Sun, Rufino Tamayo, and Robert Indiana. Some pieces are for display, while others are part of the gallery’s art acquisition program. Pieces you love today may well be hanging in an office or far-away exhibit tomorrow.
Redbud Arts Center
Redbud Arts Center is a multipurpose non-profit arts advisory agency that also specializes in fine art exhibitions, residencies, educational workshops, and even film and book development. Its main attraction is the gallery, an imaginative space where the art on display becomes one with its surroundings.
Painted, weather-worn planks stretch from floor to ceiling, separating the front of the gallery from its inner workings. An arched doorway sits covered in arranged flotsam and jetsam, driving home the gallery’s passion for creation the moment you step inside. It’s a brilliant use of a petite, 400-square-foot space, making your visit feel more immersive.
As a non-profit, Redbud provides its services at low or no cost, empowering aspiring artists who need to see firsthand what they can achieve.
Jumper Maybach - Fine Contemporary Abstract Art Studio
Jumper Maybach - Fine Contemporary Abstract Art Studio focused on the work of one individual, Jumper Maybach.
Every piece Maybach produces is vibrant and emotional. The color palate often changes, sweeping from stark monochromatic splashes to a purple so electrifying you can almost feel its buzz. The artist’s trauma and path toward healing are represented in pieces like Can’t Fix Stupid and The Cotton Candy Series.
The latter is an attempt to put spontaneity on canvas — it’s up to you whether it’s successful, but we’re definitely on board for another serving.
Nicole Longnecker Gallery
You’ll find a fascinating mix of local, national, and international artists exhibited at the Nicole Longnecker Gallery. All specialize in contemporary art, but there’s a lot of room for interpretation and imagination within that niche. Innovation and individuality are fully on display. Painting is definitely on the list, but so is drawing, printmaking, and sculpture.
Shows like Dream Dream Dream by Carlos Donjuan, Glitched, and Black Love Now tackle themes that resonate with artists and onlookers alike. The creators have a chance to be seen and, with any luck, sell a piece or six. Visitors get to experience some of the best artists in the game today without leaving the boundaries of Houston.
Allan Rodewald Gallery
Add the Allan Rodewald Gallery to the list of Houston art galleries that shout about talent deserving of worldwide applause. Rodewald is a contemporary abstract artist who combines painting with other mediums, including lightbox work, canvas, aluminum, graphite, acrylic, and plexiglass. The combination of fresh ideas and sophisticated technique is intoxicating — you can see it in for-sale works like Rodewald’s Dream Series, with pieces that look like artfully crumpled sheets hung next to reverse glass paintings bubbling with joy, exploration, and bold hues.
Allan is also a sought-after art consultant and takes commissions. You can see his work around the city, including a jaw-dropping 7’ x 70’ mural inside Houston’s historic City Hall.
Hiram Butler Gallery
The true Hiram Butler Gallery experience starts well before you walk through the front door. The building is not a warehouse or modern structure on Gallery Row but a lovingly restored 20th-century cottage ringed by lush gardens and towering trees that have probably been around longer than the cottage itself.
Inside, you’ll find watercolors and oils by Julie Bozzi, monotype branding on smoked paper by John Cage, shelves filled with found objects by Tony Feher, and multi-media masterpieces by Shana Hoehn. The artist list is long and diverse, and there’s a sense of always courting the unexpected, even within the confines of a very unassuming facade.
Sicardi Gallery
Sicardi Gallery is more than just a fine art gallery. It’s a chance to nurture cross-cultural connections through pieces created by some of the most avant-garde innovators in Latin America. Since 1994, partners Allison Armstrong Ayers and Carlos Bacino have worked tirelessly to build connections with artists as well as art historians and collectors, establishing a network that stimulates sales, intellectual debate, and esthetic exploration in equal measure.
Modernist masters, contemporary artists, and modern Latin-American creators are welcome in the gallery’s 5,900-square-foot, two-floor exhibition space (a research center and library on the premises). Look for work by Miguel Angel Rojas, Oscar Munoz, Jesus Rafael Soto, Leon Ferrari, and Alejandro Otero, amid a sea of other luminaries deserving of their time in the sun.
Spectacular Shows Nearby!
Elevate your Houston experience with breathtaking Cirque du Soleil performances.
Bisong Art Gallery
Bisong Art Gallery’s brick walls and arched windows are triumphs as is. But add in contemporary and African art by Zahra Ali, Craig (TheArtist) Carter, Corey Haynes, Mark Nesmith, Romeo Robinson, and Cassandra Bohne-L, among others, and the space really shines.
You can buy art during your visit or through the website. There are options for custom art, too, with a consultant to help you figure out what it is that your soul (or your living room) truly needs. And if you’re looking for a venue to rent, the gallery is up for grabs — everything from book signings to painting parties can benefit from the unique surroundings and creativity-boosting atmosphere.
McClain Gallery
Step right up and embrace the unexpected at Mclain Gallery, a modern space brimming with the latest exhibitions from today’s top artists. Part contemporary art museum, part store, this is the place to see and be seen while shopping for your favorite prints. Explore topics ranging from what it means to be a young, black queer artist to embracing nature to discovering the meaning of life as you browse works from dozens of creative geniuses.
The coolest part? You might just bump into one yourself; artists love to spend time here, and with new and improved works hitting the gallery’s walls regularly, there’s always a new exhibit to set your eyes on.
Anya Tish Gallery
The Anya Tish Gallery is a beautiful space that opens its doors to those with a passion for art in every form. It showcases contemporary works from both regional and international artists, so you’ll stay on the pulse of the latest trends in the creative realm. Top artists include Adela Andea, HJ Bott, Shannon Cannings, and William Cannings, among many others.
Routinely rotating exhibitions give visitors a chance to delve deeper into the works they love most. Cataplexy, the third solo exhibition by Texas’s own Shayne Murphy, features masterful works that tell the story of his battle with narcolepsy, along with mystified versions of animals and haunting backdrops that are not for the faint of heart.
Moody Gallery
Opened by Betty Moody in 1975, the namesake Moody Gallery is a Houston favorite. Only American artists are showcased here, with a strong focus on those living and working in Texas. It’s fresh art with a local flair, and the exhibitions always tell a story. Examples include Greek Mythologies and Birds with Animals, so if there’s a topic you’re interested in, chances are you’ll find it hanging as art for sale within the extensive collection. Moody also highlights emerging and mid-career artists, so you get a unique peek (and a steal of a deal) of the latest works to hit the market.
Contemporary Arts Museum
Founded in 1948, the Contemporary Art Museum is a staple for any Houston creative seeking rich culture. The extensive collection features works from a plethora of talented artists ranging from local newbies to international professionals. Nestled into the heart of the Houston museum district, squeezing a trip in is always easy.
The iconic stainless steel structure is a work in and of itself, so the artistic journey starts before you even enter. Within the building, discover two floors of gallery space with a variety of interesting exhibitions ranging from light and fun to deep and meaningful.
Koelsch Gallery
Koelsch Gallery presents works from local and international artists, so you’ll find some of everything here. Within its cheery space, you can browse the pieces, attend fashion shows, and check out art collection displays.
Koelsch Gallery is devoted to art and fashion, so there’s always something going on within its brightly lit walls. Its unique taste is revealed in the collections of art and fashion that are shown within. An international boutique gallery vibe within a uniquely Houston space? Count us in.
Exploring the Canvas of Creativity: A Brushstroke of Conclusion
Houston is an incredible, dynamic city that’s less a melting pot and more a meeting place of minds, hearts, and experiences. Houston art galleries reflect that patchwork quilt of innovation and creation, with spaces ranging from quaint and quirky to large and refined, all ready to show off work by the world’s best and brightest talents.
When you’re done gallery hopping for the day, keep inspiration alive by attending a show that’s as groundbreaking and poetic as the art you just perused. Snag tickets to one of our shows in Houston and become part of the provocative as you experience wonder through performance art and acrobatics.