Nestled within Texas’s vibrant Houston Museum District, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) emerges as an eminent cultural landmark. The culmination of an ambitious eight-year expansion endeavor was marked by the grand opening of the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building in 2020, propelling the MFAH to the forefront as the 12th largest museum in the world in gallery size. With a vast permanent exhibit that spans a tapestry of 6,000 years, the museum houses close to 70,000 pieces originating from six continents, presenting a wide-ranging spectrum of artistic expression. In the year 2023, the institution recorded a footfall of over 900,000 enthusiasts, reinforcing its status as the 20th most frequented art museum across the nation.
History of the Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), established as Texas’s first art museum in 1917, was an endeavor initiated by the Houston Public School Art League, which later evolved into the Houston Art League. This endeavor culminated in the unveiling of its inaugural building in 1924, designed by local architect William Ward Watkin in the Greek Neoclassical style, marking the birth of the first art museum in the state. Fast forward to today, MFAH boasts a complex of three main buildings – the Caroline Wiess Law, Audrey Jones Beck, and Nancy and Rich Kinder buildings – dedicated to showcasing its vast collections and temporary exhibits. The museum also includes two decorative arts house museums, The Glassell studio art school, a sculpture garden, conservation and storage facilities, and an administrative building housing the Glassell Junior School of Art.
Before its official establishment, the museum’s collection was kick-started by George M. Dickson’s bequest of significant American and European oil paintings. The 1930s and 1940s saw substantial contributions from Houstonians, including antiquities from Annette Finnigan and avant-garde European art from Ima Hogg, along with her collections of Southwest Native American art and works by Frederic Remington. The museum’s holdings were further enriched by a 1944 bequest from New York collectors Edith and Percy Straus, adding eighty-three Renaissance pieces to the museum’s collection. The subsequent two decades witnessed substantial donations focused on European art, contemporary works, and pieces from Africa, Oceania, and Pre-Columbian civilizations, significantly expanding the museum’s collection to 12,000 items by 1970.
The period from 1970 to 1989 saw the museum’s collection almost double, thanks to generous art donations, the establishment of accession endowment funding, and corporate support. Notably, John and Audrey Jones Beck’s long-term loan of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces in 1974, which permanently entered the museum’s collection in 1998, significantly bolstered its holdings. This era also marked the initiation of the photography collection, supported by Target Stores’ corporate grant in 1976. Now, the museum stands as the sixth-largest in the nation.
In 2001, MFAH launched the International Center for the Arts of the Americas (ICAA), a leading institute for the study and promotion of 20th-century Latin American and Latino art. The ICAA has played a pivotal role in broadening the understanding and appreciation of Latin American and Latinx art, with a focus on artists from a broad spectrum of backgrounds. The museum’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity extends to African American art, with a rich collection of works exploring themes of racial injustice, civil rights, and the African American experience. Exhibitions like “Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power” highlight the museum’s dedication to showcasing the profound contributions of black artists to the cultural landscape. Moreover, MFAH engages with the local African American community through off-site gallery exhibitions in neighborhoods with significant African American populations, furthering its mission to educate and inspire through art.
Plan a Visit
Opening Times:
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM;
- Thursday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM;
- Friday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM;
- Sunday: 12:30 PM to 6:00 PM;
- Closed on Mondays (with exceptions for certain holidays), Tuesdays, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Admission Details:
- Secure your ALL ACCESS pass to enjoy both Special Exhibitions and the MFAH Permanent Collections;
- Tickets are available online or at any admissions desk on-site.
Pricing:
- MFAH Members: Complimentary;
- ALL ACCESS (Adults aged 19 and over): $24;
- ALL ACCESS (Seniors aged 65 and over, with valid ID): $20;
- ALL ACCESS (Youths aged 13–18): $20;
- ALL ACCESS (Children 12 and under): Free;
- Thursdays offer free access to the MFAH Permanent Collections for all ages, courtesy of Shell USA, Inc;
- On Thursdays, ALL ACCESS tickets (for ages 13 and up) are discounted to $10, allowing entry to Special Exhibitions.
Please note, while Thursday grants free entry to the MFAH Permanent Collections for everyone, Special Exhibitions require a separate, discounted ALL ACCESS ticket.
Contact Information
- Phone: (713) 639-7300;
- Email: [email protected];
- Website: http://www.mfah.org/