Now through November
Texas Biennial embraces Houston's art fever: City supplants Austin as the No. 1 stop
The fifth Texas Biennial kicked off Friday, beginning more than two straight months of gallery shows, speaking engagements and performances from the Lone Star State's top working artists.
While past Biennial activities tended to gravitate towards the Austin area, organizers are making a push to spread the love across every corner of Texas, with 80 exhibit spaces from Lubbock to McAllen and El Paso to Lufkin.
With nearly 20 dedicated sites, the Houston area boasts the most participating organizations in this year's statewide celebration. Here are some must-see highlights opening this weekend and throughout September.
Lawndale Art Center (Aug. 23 to Sept. 28)
The Lawndale has the honor of hosting the 2013 Texas Biennial Invitational, which features fresh work from previous Biennial stars. Organized by Los Angeles art critic Michael Duncan and Biennial curator-at-Large Virginia Rutledge, the show looks at new pieces by San Antonio's Christie Blizard, Dallas' Tom Orr, Austin's Brad Tucker and Houston's own Marcelyn McNeil.
FotoFest / Houston Center for Photography (Sept. 20 to Dec. 7)
Cutated by Bayou City gallerist Kerry Inman, Moving/Still highlights work from 12 Texas photographers, including Houston-based artists Linarejos Moreno, Keliy Anderson-Staley and Miguel Amat.
Art Car Museum (Sept. 7 to Nov. 15)
The Texas Sculpture Group will take over the Art Car Museum, interspersing new pieces by TSG members among the fabled institution's usual tricked out rides.
Box 13 Artspace (Sept. 7 to Oct. 13)
The popular East End gallery will mount three simultaneous Biennial exhibits, featuring projects by Houston artists Regina Agu and Sapphire Williams.
Galveston Art Center (Aug. 24 to Nov. 24, dates vary)
Galveston Art Center curator Clint Willour — who joins Contemporary Arts Museum Houston director Bill Arning and artist Dario Robleto as the Biennial's Houston-area curators this year — has assembled new work from noted Bayou City artists Michael Bise, Emily Peacock and David Politzer as well as an intriguing set of recent drawings by Dallas' Lawrence Lee.
Click here for the full list of 2013 Texas Biennial events across the state.