With over 63,000 works of art on display in a series of buildings in the lower Museum District, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts is one of the biggest public collections in the United States. No matter what period of history you are interested in or what region of the world, within the sprawling galleries of the museum you will find something to capture your imagination.
Start your visit at the Audrey Jones Beck building, which was opened in 2000 and now serves as the main entrance. It plays host to a vast array of American and European Masterpieces, including one of Monet’s famed Waterlilies series and a range of works from Europe and America.
Head through the tunnel, lit by the gleaming blue neon of James Turrell’s installationThe Light Insideto get to the main group of buildings. Here you will be treated to some of the largest collections of South American, African and Asian art in existence. The galleries are packed with wonders, from carved stone sculptures to elaborate golden jewellery and beautifully illuminated copies of the Qur’an.
Take a trip outside for a breath of fresh air and make your way around the Cullen sculpture garden. It was designed by the Japanese-American architect Isamu Noguchi as a ‘sculpture for sculptures’, and displays pieces created by celebrated modern masters including Auguste Rodin and Pablo Picasso.
When you start to feel peckish, just pop in to the café for freshly prepared food and a comfortable place to sit. If you fancy something a little different, pay the Fine Art Food Trucks in the car park a visit. They serve all kinds of street food, from Filipino dumplings to Mac’n’Cheese eggrolls so there’s bound to be something to tingle your taste buds!
There is so much to see at the Museum that you could stay all day and still come back for more. Other galleries include the Rienzi House and the Bayou Bend Collection, both situated about 8 kilometres from the main buildings. Home to decorative art and paintings from Europe and America, they are well worth a visit if you have the time. As well as the enormous permanent collection, the Museum attracts loans from other renowned institutions such as the New York’s Guggenheim and the Prado in Madrid.
It is open from Tuesday to Sunday each week, but those with a nose for a bargain should head over on Thursdays when you can get in completely free of charge.
