Houston, Texas. Photo by Alisa Matthews.

Located in the nation’s largest arts district, the Dallas Museum of Art houses an expansive collection of art across a wide range of genres and holds exhibitions throughout the year. The Museum of the Big Bend, on Sul Ross State University campus in Alpine, Texas, houses collections like the Yana & Marty Davis Map Collection, one of the largest and most diversified selections of Texas maps in the state. The museum also houses the Retablos Collection, featuring small, personal devotional paintings on produced during the mid 1800s to early 1900s in Mexico, as well as the Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. McKee III Family Fred Darge Collection, featuring the paintings of Friedrich “Fred” Ernst Darge.

A view of the San Antonio River Walk. Photo by Weston M. 

Continue exploring the following pages for more art museums throughout Texas, as well as important galleries, auction houses and artists. 

Exterior view of the Briscoe Western Art Museum. Image courtesy of the Briscoe. Artwork: T.D. Kelsey, Camino de Galvez, 2014, bronze.

The Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas, is home to one of the nation’s premier Western art events, the Night of Artists Exhibition and Sale. Celebrating the spirit, history and beauty of the American West each spring, the sale features more than 270 works by over 85 of today’s leading Western artists, including Martin Grelle, John Coleman, Billy Schenck, Jeremy Lipking, Gladys Roldán-de-Moras, Bonnie Morris, Stefan Savides, Jeremy Winborg and Greg Beecham. Open through May 11, Night of Artists provides a unique opportunity for collectors and art enthusiasts to acquire exceptional pieces that highlight the artistry and storytelling of the American West. 

Briscoe Western Art Museum, Cheyenne Guardian, acrylic on linen, 24 x 16 in., by Martin Grelle. Available for purchase at the 2025 Night of Artists Exhibition and Sale.; Briscoe Western Art Museum, Winging It, oil on panel, 24 x 36 in., by Teresa Elliott. Available for purchase at the 2025 Night of Artists Exhibition and Sale.

Through painting, sculpture, photography and historical relics, the Briscoe’s permanent collection of Western art and artifacts reflect the region’s rich history and traditions. The museum spans 14 galleries and the McNutt Sculpture Garden, making it a must for anyone who appreciates the beauty and legacy of the West. In addition to Night of Artists, the museum’s 2025 exhibitions include Aloha Vaqueros, exploring the connection between Hawaiian paniolo and Mexican vaquero traditions; and Going to Texas: Five Centuries of Texas Maps, a look at the people and cultures that shaped the Lone Star State.

Clockwise from left: InSight Gallery, Lost Boys #2, mixed media, 48 x 36 in., by Duke Beardsley; InSight Gallery, Rugged Vistas, oil, 20 x 30 in., by Brian Grimm; InSight Gallery, Sunrise in the Hills, oil, 36 x 60 in., by Robert Pummill.

Western art is so multifaceted. Artists like Bruce Greene or John Fawcett present a modern-day but traditional working cowboy in their work, Robert Pummill and Michael Ome Untiedt portray tales of the historic Old West. Artists like Duke Beardsley and Billy Schenck, both personally connected to the Western lifestyle in their day to day lives, tale the subject matter and put a contemporary spin on their presentation. The widely diverse nature of Texas, in landscape, culture and population means that the art coming from Texas-based artists is as rich and varied as the state itself.

Museum of Western Art, Winter Thunder, oil, 16 x 20 in., by Peter Eades.

All 150 paintings and sculptures brought for the 2025 extravaganza will be available for purchase. The opening weekend will be April 25 to 27, and will feature an awards and recognition banquet on Friday evening; a Saturday evening reception, with dinner and box-draw sale; and Sunday Hand-and-Boot Print ceremony for the museum’s Cowboy Artists Garden for C. Michael Dudash, Todd Connor and Albin Veselka. 

Museum of Western Art, Stopped for Reflection, oil on linen, 30 x 24", by Jack Sorenson: Museum of Western Art, Watcher of the Canyon, oil on linen, 36 x 36 in., by C. Michael Dudash.

For additional information and tickets, visit museumofwesternart.com. The exhibition will run through June 7.

The National Ranching Heritage Center at Texas Tech University is a 27-acre indoor/outdoor museum and historical park in Lubbock, Texas, dedicated to preserving the legacy of ranching in North America.

The Summer Stampede Western Art and Gear Show, presented by Capital Farm Credit, is a premier annual event celebrating the artistry and craftsmanship of the American West. Hosted at the National Ranching Heritage Center at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, this showcase highlights fine Western art, gear and traditional craftsmanship. Renowned artists and master craftsmen from across the country present stunning works ranging from paintings and sculptures to handcrafted bits, spurs and leatherwork.

National Ranching Heritage Center, Evening Bell, acrylic on Baltic birch, 48 x 36 in., by Shannon Lawlor; National Ranching Heritage Center, Horse Play, oil on canvas, 14 x 18 in., by Herman Walker.

The evening unfolds on Saturday, June 7, from 6 to 11 p.m. This family-friendly event offers an evening of fine folks, a delicious dinner, and Western swing dancing to the music of Jake Hooker and the Outsiders. Guests can explore and purchase unique, original artworks while meeting the artists to learn about their inspiration and creative process.

Top: Southwest Art Gallery, Bluebonnet Hill, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 in., by George Kovach; Southwest Art Gallery, Man in Change, oil on canvas, 40 x 30 in., by John Cook. Bottom: Southwest Art Gallery, Golden Skies, acrylic on canvas, 20 x 40 in., by John Bye.

 Explore the gallery website to appreciate the exceptional artistry of John Bye, known for his unique Western realism and his precise attention to detail. Additionally, immerse yourself in the art of impatient realism, where John Cook skillfully portrays the modern cowboy in his portraits. Marvel at the stunning Texas Hill Country landscapes created by George Kovach, who beautifully depicts the serene charm of bluffs and streams in Central Texas. 

Clockwise from left: Vogt Auction Galleries, John Coffee Hays (Captain of the Texas Rangers), 2002, artist-cast bronze sculpture, ed. 16 of 16, by Jason Scull. SOLD $14,400. Interior view of Vogt Auction Galleries. Vogt Auction Galleries, Bluebonnet Landscape, oil on canvas, 18 x 24 in., by Porfirio Salinas (1910-1973). SOLD $31,200

Vogt annually hosts spring and fall Texas & Western Art auctions in San Antonio, Texas. Sales often feature artworks by iconic artists such as Julian Onderdonk, Porfirio Salinas, José Vives-Atsara, G. Harvey, Dawson Dawson-Watson, Jose Arpa, John Nieto, Mary Bonner, Robert Wood, and others. Notable auctions included personal estates of artists G. Harvey, José Vives-Atsara, Clay McGaughy, William “Bill” Wittliff and author Larry McMurtry.

Top:  Lone Star Art Auction, The Big Gather (Four Sixes), oil on board, 24 x 48 in., by Tom Ryan (1922-2011). SOLD: $168,000. Bottom: Lone Star Art Auction, Trail in the Bitterroots, oil on canvas, 40 x 48 in., by Howard Terpning. SOLD: $384,000. Lone Star Art Auction, Self-Portrait, oil on canvas, 14¾ x 11½ in., by Nicolai Fechin (1881-1955). SOLD: $348,000

“Texas is one of the largest fine art markets in the country and it deserves its own Texas-sized, Texas-based auction to satisfy collector demand,” says auction founder and owner Phil Berkebile Jr. “In its first three sales, the Lone Star Art Auction has generated a combined $14 million in total sales with an average sell-through rate of 94 percent, making it one of the fastest growing and most successful auctions of its kind in the country.”

Bosque Arts Center, Passing on Traditions, oil and acrylic, 26 x 26 in., by David Yorke. 2024 New Entrant Award winner; Bosque Arts Center, Goats in the Garden, bronze monument, 7 x 5½ x 4½ in., by Bruce Greene.

Bruce Greene of the Cowboy Artists of America will serve as judge. Greene is fresh off winning the gold medal in sculpture and silver in water solubles at the 2024 CAA show. Last year, Lee Alban and Eileen Nistler added their work to the BAC permanent collection, winning the $5,000 John Steven Jones Purchase Award and $1,000 Art Patrons Purchase Award, respectively.

Sherry Harrington, Little’s Pet, oil, 18 x 14 in.; Sherry Harrington, Little Ones, oil, 20 x 24 in.

“After many years of spending time with the families in the Four Corners area, I have been portraying the next generation of the Navajo family in the Chinle area of the Navajo Nation,” Harrington shares. “I admire the traditions they hold tight in preserving their culture and way of life with original language, traditional foods and celebrations—strong family connections to pass on to the next generation.”