Texans don’t have to travel far to enjoy works by some of history’s most renowned artists and view art collections that are the envy of the top museums in the nation. Galleries in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and elsewhere feature modern sculpture, Spanish art, Impressionist pieces and classical works from the ancients.

“Art collecting in Texas generally, and museums specifically, is tied in many respects to Texas’ unique history,” says Robb Wasielewski, San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) director of marketing. “A rich cultural identity exists here since Texas was at different points in history a part of France, Spain and Mexico.”

Since it is a relatively young state, Texas may have entered the art world later than other locations, but the state's cosmopolitan heritage combined with its historically abundant economic resources has allowed it to create an impressive and diverse collection of galleries and museums.

In fact, according to the book From the Private Collections of Texas: European Art, Ancient to Modern, "for post-World War II collecting in America, only New York and California surpass Texas in the range, scale, and quality of the private collections formed."

The historic castle-like buildings of the 1904 Lone Star Brewery in San Antonio are now home to the SAMA, which maintains a collection of more than 25,000 objects representing cultures from around the world and more than 5,000 years of history.

SAMA displays the largest and finest collection of Greco-Roman art in the South, one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of Asian art on view in the United States, and is home to the nation’s first center for the study and appreciation of Latin American art. SAMA’s contemporary collection includes an emphasis on pioneering abstract artists of the 20th century, figurative and narrative works, as well as sculpture based on everyday objects and digital art of the 21st century.

Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston Feature World-Class Collections

Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth pursues quality over quantity, with fewer than 350 pieces in its collection, yet treats visitors to exhibits of prehistoric Asian, pre-Columbian, European old masters, Impressionists and modern art. The Kimbell's reputation is not only for its collection, which includes works by masters such as Picasso, Matisse and Cezanne, but its stunning design by American-born architect Louis I. Kahn (1901–1974) that features innovative use of natural light and subtle articulation of space and materials, and makes the museum a work of art in its own right.The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is the second-largest museum in the nation dedicated to contemporary and modern art, and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art features a collection of paintings and sculpture by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell – the two greatest artists of the American West.

In Dallas, the Nasher Sculpture Center combines more than 300 sculptures with 20th-century paintings and drawings to create a serene urban art experience downtown. Pre-Columbian and tribal art are exhibited along with modern works by Matisse and Picasso. Pieces from the Nasher Collection have been shown around the world.

Houston’s Menil Collection is described by its director, Josef Helfenstein, as “a cultural oasis unlike anything else in America.” The Menil's diverse holdings represent many world cultures, from prehistoric times to the present day. Visitors see Surrealist, Cubist and School of Paris works along with Pop Art, Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism.

Brazosport, Canyon Have Top-Notch Facilities

Museums and galleries aren’t limited to Texas’ metropolitan areas. Brazosport’s Center for the Arts & Sciences has an art gallery, a natural history museum and two theaters for a variety of performing arts events. The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum  in Canyon is the largest history museum in Texas and includes comprehensive exhibits – many hands-on – highlighting the region’s history in petroleum, art, Western heritage and more.