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Reniors, Picassos and Monets were calling my name. My love for European art had my son and I walking in the doors of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. With our CityPASS we had a choice of visiting this museum or the Houston Children’s Museum (which I would recommend instead if you have young children.) My son, who does not share my love of art, was not as thrilled as I was but perked up once he saw the Pre-Columbian Gold exhibit. Browsing through the statutes, crowns and other pre-Columbian items, he told me, “This isn’t bad, Mom.” (That’s considered high praise from a reluctant teen in an art museum.)
Little did I know, but the Houston Museum of Fine Arts is actually two buildings. The first building, the Caroline Wiess Law Building, includes art collections from around the world, and explores regions such as Columbian art, Asian Art, featuring collections from Korea, India and China, Islamic Art, African Art and Native American Art. The special exhibits are also included in this building. The current special exhibit, James Turrell–The Light Inside , is free to browse with purchase of a ticket but does require a reserved time. It’s an interesting experience with one work of art that involves removing your shoes, climbing steps and standing in a large room of light.
By descending to the first floor, we walked through the Wilson Tunnel to the Audrey Jones Beck Building and found art that appealed to me. This building features the European Art, including the old masters dating from 1200 to 1940, the American Art collection from 1800 to 1970 and the Antiquities, with lots of Greek and Roman sculptures, vases and other art. I spent my time gleefully snapping photos of paintings by my favorite artists, admiring sculptures and generally boring my son with trivial facts.
Me: “Look, this painting is a perfect example of pointillism!”
Son: eye rolling, followed by dramatic sighs
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, houses more than 65,000 works of art created by cultures across the globe, from ancient times to today. They also offer special programs for people with disabilities, if reservations are made in advance. Here’s my favorite travel tips for exploring the museum:
- Purchase a CityPASS and bypass the line of people waiting to purchase a ticket.
- The museum is located in the museum district and is a short drive or walk from The Houston Museum of Natural Science or the Houston Zoo so it can be explored the same day, if desired. Allot several hours to be able to explore both buildings.
Do you enjoy visiting art museums? What is your favorite type of art?
This looks like a great place to visit, and I would love to take my daughter here she is a budding artist!
I love art museums, too. Can also feel your pain, my sons would be less than enthusiastic, but certainly they would enjoy it in the end. Looks like a lovely museum in Houston to visit, will have to put it on our travel wish list!
I love Monet! With our young kids we would have chosen the Children’s Museum, of course, but I’d love to check out the Art Museum myself!
I do enjoy it but my husband isn’t a big fan and my kids are so young they would not appreciate it and would probably act up out of boredom at this point! I’d love to expose them to this though when they are a little older.
Wow, I love museums, so do my kids this would be one to stop by and see with them all! Wonderful pictures too 🙂 Thanks for sharing them
I can see why your son loved the gold display! I will have to check out this museum if I ever get back to Houston.
These are some great pictures. It sounds like this was a great experience.
Awesome, I need a trip here!
I love visiting museums. History or science museums are my favorite. Thanks for sharing!
The Light Inside sounds like an interesting work to experience! I would enjoy visiting this museum.
I don’t think I’ve ever been to an art museum! Looks fun!
i just love looking at all art- well, maybe not super modern stuff but i love paintings and such. others’ talents amazes me
I just love museums. I have not been to one in a while. I guess I am waiting for my grandchildren to get a little older. Thanks for sharing.
Monet is my favorite artist. I need to make a trip here!
I hope to be able to take my girls to see things like this as they get older. Right now I’m not sure they would enjoy it as much as I would.
I love visiting fine art museums. I haven’t been to this one, but one of my faves is the Ringling Art Museum in Sarasota, FL. I’ll have to add this one in Houston to my list of places to visit.
I love looking at art and going to museums.. but am by far a total rookie…. lol! This sounds like an awesome museum to visit, hope to make it there someday soon!
I haven’t been to one if forever! Need to change that. Your pictures are great!!
I love going to museums not been to one for a while now though – yours looks lovely if I’m ever in the area I shall be sure to pop into one 🙂 x
I havent been to our museum yet this year. I wish they would update it because its the same since I was little! That looks like a nice one!
I love visiting art museums but only if I go with someone who knows a lot OR absolutely nothing about art. I am not knowledgeable about art so I like to just admire it with someone who’s just as obtuse about it unless I am with someone who can explain things to me and point out interesting features that only the trained eye can detect. Perhaps your son will someday appreciate your lessons!
i havent been to a museum in so long! this looks like a nice one to visit.
What a great place to visit… I love museums and loved reading about the one in Houston, your trip sure was packed full of amazing things..thanks for sharing them all with us, almost feels like you took us along… this is on my bucket list of things to do one day…. loved your pictures, thanks for sharing
I visit musuems when I get the chance. Living is a very small town, we have very few museums. I would be in Heaven if I were in Huston and able to visit this museum.
I have always loved visiting museums–The Metropolitan Museum in NYC being my favorite–if course the Natural History Museum (NYC) is a very close second!!