a meeting with the queen

Meet the monarchy with this extremely rare British royal exhibit at the MFAH

Get ready, Houston, for art fit for a king — when the Museum of Fine Arts welcomes royalty to town in the new exhibition Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits from Holbein to Warhol.

The exhibition, spanning five centuries of royal portraiture, contains a treasure of painting, sculpture, and photography masterworks dating from the first monarch of the House of Tudor, Henry VII, all the way to Elizabeth II. When exploring this vast exhibition of 150 objects, visitors to the MFAH can expect a royal audience with the likenesses of King Henry VIII, King George I, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Prince William. Fresh off the Hamilton tour of his lost colonies, King George III will also make an appearance, or at least Allan Ramsay’s majestic King George III portrait will honor us with its presence.

For the rarest of royal treats, spare a bow for her majesty Queen Elizabeth I, the masterwork “Ditchley Portrait” by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, which has never crossed the pond to journey to the United States, until now.

Tudors to Windsors will give viewers a history tour not only of the great faces of British power and aristocracy, but also an overview of some the art world’s greatest portraitists, from Hans Holbein, Sir Peter Lely, and Sir Joshua Reynolds, to the modern masters like Cecil Beaton, Andy Warhol, and Annie Leibovitz.

The exhibition draws from the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London, which has never before allowed such a large number of its masterpieces to travel.

“It is a privilege to partner with the National Portrait Gallery in organizing this landmark exhibition,” commented Gary Tinterow, MFAH director, in a statement. “Their unique collection provides visitors an incomparable experience of Britain’s royal historical narrative and the opportunity to view these legendary personalities face-to-face.”

The MFAH has also secured additional loans for the exhibition from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Palazzo Barberini, Rome; the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid; as well as the Snowdon Archive and National Gallery, London.

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Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits from Holbein to Warhol will run October 7, 2018–January 27, 2019 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St.

Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, Queen Elizabeth I (“The Ditchley Portrait”), c.1592, oil on canvas, National Portrait Gallery, London.

MFAH Tudors to Windsors, Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, Queen Elizabeth I

National Portrait Gallery, London Courtesy Photo

Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, Queen Elizabeth I (“The Ditchley Portrait”), c.1592, oil on canvas, National Portrait Gallery, London.

museums

Pop Art

World-renowned interactive balloon art museum glides into Houston

Courtesy of the Balloon Museum.

See Hypercosmo at the Balloon Museum.

Houstonians who love a good psychedelic, interactive, and highly Instagrammable art experience are in luck, because the world-renowned Balloon Museum is opening its doors in Houston on November 15.

As the name indicates, the Balloon Museum focuses particularly on inflatable and air-based art. So balloons, yes, but also aerial installations, interactive lighting displays, and more.

Balloon Museums are located across the globe and have various exhibits. Houston's Balloon Museum will showcase the Pop Air – Art Is Inflatable exhibit, which explores "the intersection of art, air, and creativity," according to a press release. Created by Italy-based Lux Entertainment, the exhibit features large-scale installations, some of which span more than 65,000 square feet.

D.R.E.A.M.S. by Camilla Falsini is coming to the Balloon Museum.Photo courtesy of the Balloon Museum

"The all-encompassing experience stands out for its pop aesthetic, celebrating the power of play and human connection while inviting visitors of all ages to engage with contemporary art in new ways," says the press release.

More concretely, this exhibit will feature the following pieces, created by 14 artists from around the world:

Cyril Lancelin, with Crazy Love for Polygons, invites visitors to explore and build within a geometric dimension.
Italian creative studio Hyperstudio presents three works — Glowing Ballet, 10 Agosto, and Hypercosmo — exploring the balance between chaos and stillness.
Quiet Ensemble inspires wonder with Soft Hurricane and Hypercosmo
Australian studio ENESS introduces Spiritus Sonata, which evokes the magic of childhood through sound.
Karina Smigla-Bobinski creates a direct connection with the viewer through ADA
Silenius by Max Streicher is an ephemeral figure crafted from spinnaker nylon, a delicate and translucent material.
Digital art is represented by Ultravioletto’s VR experience and ARIA – The Breath Immersive Experience, an infinity room by Pepper’s Ghost.
The works of MOTOREFISICO, Pneuhaus & Bike Powered Events, Jimmy Kuehnle, and Rub Kandy encourage active participation, while Filthy Luker’s Goofs — gentle giants — silently observe visitors.

The Balloon Museum sees more than 7 million visitors annually, has been awarded multiple worldwide Best Event Awards in 2022 and 2023, and has even been featured in the Netflix series Emily in Paris. Austin's opening will mark the museum's first location in Texas.

Balloon Museum Spiritus Sonata by ENESS Spiritus Sonata by ENESS.Courtesy of the Balloon Museum

“The world’s largest event dedicated to air and inflatable installations is coming to Houston with monumental and interactive works,” Lux Entertainment founder Roberto Fantauzzi said in a statement. “In Pop Air, play becomes both a language and an intellectual experience — not just physical movement, but a journey inward. The project blends pop culture with conceptual research, engaging even those who don’t typically visit museums and offering them a truly memorable experience."

"Swing" by Motorefisico at Balloon Museum "Swing" by Motorefisico — part of a different international exhibition — shows scale as a child explores.Photo courtesy of the Balloon Museum

Houston's Balloon Museum will be located at 2501 Commerce St. from November 15 through April 19. 2026. Tickets range from $34 to $50, depending on guest's age and time of day, and are available online now.

Hours of operation vary by time and day. See the exhibit's website for details.

interactive exhibits immersive museums galleries international visual-art