The Contemporary Arts Museum presents some of the best in international, national and regional art exhibitions.The Museum was founded in 1948 by a group of Houston citizens keen to promote art in Houston. After a series of successful temporary exhibitions around the city a facility was built in 1950. Here artworks by Van Gogh, Calder, Ernst, and work from students from the then Texas Negro College (Texas Southern University) were displayed. Following the appointment of its first professional director in 1955 exhibitions by artists Rothko, Mondrian, the Surrealist painters and primitive artworks were on display.
By the end of the 1960s the Museum had outgrown its original home and a new location was sought. The stainless steel structure that now houses the Museum was designed by award-winning architect Gunnar Birketts and is an important local landmark. It opened in 1972 and in the decades that followed the Museum held many significantly exhibitions and installations featuring national and Texan artists.
In the 1990s the museum move towards concentrating on art from the past 40 years and featured art from all over the world. The Museum has recently undergone a major renovation program.
The Contemporary Arts Museum has a varied program of educational activities for children and adults. These include the Chronicle Family Days that provide tours and activities to accompany current exhibitions, and the 'Factivity Kit's for young children. The Museum hosts the Steel Lounge Underground — a monthly social event with music, art and cocktails. An elegant fundraising Gala is held annually, and the new Champagne and Ribs event is a popular newcomer to the Museum's calendar
