Houston is a city filled with wonderful museums and other great attractions. Among the best is the Museum of Fine Art, Houston. Located in Houston's downtown Museum District, MFAH features a myriad of art collections and exhibits. A visit to MFAH is sure to be educational, entertaining, and enlightening.
The Museum of Fine Art, Houston houses one of the largest art collections in the United States. Currently, MFAH is home to more than 63,000 pieces of art. Art from numerous geographic regions, including Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, North America and the South Pacific is represented in the MFAH collection. Art contained within the collection ranges from ancient to modern times in origin.
Among the most popular collections at MFAH are the Glasswell Collections of African, Indonesian, and Pre-Columbian Gold. Collected - and donated - by Alfred C. Glasswell Jr, these collections of gold pieces range in age from 300 AD to the 19th century. A burial maks from Java, a gold staff from Ghana, and numerous pieces of jewelry and decoration compose the collections.
The Target Collection of American Photography is another collection that is popular among MFAH visitors. The collection was begun in 1976 and currently includes more than 22,000 pieces. Images capturing numerous important historical events are included in the collection, as are various creative and artistic photographs. Photographers featured include Paul Outerbridge, Robert Frank, Esther Parada, Catherine Wagner, Frederick Sommer, and numerous others. Another photographic collection contained within MFAH is the Allan Chasanhoff Photographic Collection. This collection of nearly 1,000 pieces includes works from Ansel Adams, Richard Avedon, Joel Peter Witkin, and many others.
Visitors who enjoy the European decorative arts will want to be sure to take in the Rienzi Collection. This collection of European decorative art houses pieces from the 17th through 19th centuries. A wide range of art is included. Pieces ranging from oil on canvas to soft-paste porcelain are represented in the collection.
American decorative arts are represented at MFAH as well. The Bayou Bend Collection features American paintings and decorative art pieces from pre-American Revolution through post-Civil War.
In addition to these and other permanent collections, MFAH houses a constant rotation of visiting exhibitions. Generally, there are four to six exhibitions on display at the MFAH at any given time.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston includes a handful of attractions beyond the main museum itself. All told, the MFAH complex includes two gallery buildings, a sculpture garden, visitors center, library, café, movie theater, two art schools, two house museums and two gift shops. The Cullen Sculpture Garden is located at the corner of Montrose Boulevard and Bissonnet Street. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is located at 6003 Memorial Drive at Westcott Street. It is close Mondays, open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Rienzi House Museum for European Decorative Arts is located at 1406 Kirby Drive. It is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston main location is 1001 Bissonnet. General admission is $7 for adults and $3.50 for youth and seniors. Group rates are available as well. Admission is free every Thursday. The MFAH is closed on Mondays. Operating hours for the rest of the week are: Tuesday and Wednesday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday - 12:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 713-639-7300 or visit the Museum of Fine Art, Houston website via the link below.
