Martha’s Contemporary

Contemporary Art isn’t as synonymous with Texas as maybe bbq or football, but theres a strong argument that it should be. Houston is home to some of the best contemporary and modern art in the country. If you haven’t yet, check out The Menil Collection and the Rothko Chapel. The west Texas town of Marfa is basically mecca for conceptual art with the Chinati and Judd foundations. And while I think The Contemporary Austin can be a little hit or miss, Austins art scene shines just below the surface with its galleries. One of my favorite being Martha’s Contemporary. 

Started in a small studio on the east side in 2018 by Ricky Morales and Meredith Williams, the gallery has since moved and now occupies a 1,500 sqft space with a great back yard on Guadalupe St in the Hyde Park neighborhood. The gallery hosts everything from seasonal showcases, to community projects, to solo shows. Although the work they show spans all media, a majority of the artists are early in their career and many from Austin or Texas. Whether you’re a collector, enthusiast like me or just want to take in some great art, Martha’s Contemporary should be high on your list of places to see art in Texas.