Six months ago, Houston's Art Car Museum rolled out the news that it would shutter at the end of April. But now, plans are revving up to not only keep it open, but give it a brand new home - one where its delightful quirkiness will find a kindred spirit in strangeness.
A $1.25 million gift from the Harithas Family through the South Texas Charitable Foundation will give the recently closed museum a new home on the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art’s soon-to-be-redeveloped campus, located at the intersection of two of Houston’s most culturally significant neighborhoods, the Third Ward and the East End. The gift will ensure a permanent space celebrating art cars.
Visitors can expect rotating exhibitions of mobile masterpieces designed by local, national, and international artists, as well as the personal art car collection of Ann Harithas, who founded the Art Car Museum in 1998 with her husband, Jim. Ann passed away in 2021. Jim followed in 2023 and the beloved museum was left to their heirs, son Thomas Pascal “Will” Robinson and daughters Madeline Merrill, Molly Kemp, and Stephanie Loeffler.
Purple Reign cruising through downtown Houston for the Art Car Parade.
Courtesy Art Car Museum
Ann and Jim' Harithas' low-slung metal building on Heights Boulevard was nicknamed the "Garage Mahal," and gave visitors an up-close look at several art cars. Ann particularly enjoyed how art cars opened creative thinking to the masses and changed the way people thought about everyday objects.
The mobile masterpieces weren't the only things on display at the museum, however. Across its 26 years, the museum showcased artists of all mediums who were often refused representation from other arts institutions, from art cars to paintings, photography, and film, including Harithas’ own collage work.
The family says the Orange Show is a perfect place to carry on the art car legacy.
“The Orange Show was built on a foundation of supporting artists from all walks of life, and encouraging anyone to explore their personal creativity,” said Robinson, who sits on the Orange Show Center's board. “We couldn’t be happier to entrust the Orange Show with our mother’s legacy and continue allowing Houston and the world.”
The Orange Show will be the new home of the Art Car Museum.
Rendering courtesy of Rogers Partners
No opening date has been set, but it's likely to be years in the future. Back in 2021, the Orange Show announced a major expansion project, which included expanded exhibit space adjacent to the Orange Show Monument.
The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art has produced the annual Art Car Parade for decades, but otherwise was not a part of the museum showcasing them. This gift now ensures the two creative forces are together.
