The Menil Collection

The Menil Collection is a world-renowned art museum founded by Houston philanthropists John and Dominique de Menil. The museum contains an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art, as well as Byzantine and medieval art.

History

The museum was founded in 1983, when John and Dominique de Menil donated their collection of modern art to the City of Houston. The couple had been collecting art since the 1940s, and their collection included works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko.

The de Menils also commissioned several buildings designed by renowned architects to house their art collection, including the Main Building (designed by Renzo Piano), the Cy Twombly Gallery (designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown), and the Byzantine Fresco Chapel (designed by Philip Johnson).

Exhibits

The Menil Collection's permanent collection includes over 17,000 works of art. The museum's current exhibits include "Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary, 1926-1938" and "Mark Rothko: Dark Palette."

Houston's acclaimed Menil Collection features an unparalleled assemblage of 20th century Modernist painting and sculpture, with heavy representation from the likes of Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Cy Twombly, and Yves Klein. But it doesn't stop there; the museum also has a world-renowned collection of Byzantine and Medieval art, as well as furniture,

Admission Fees and Working Hours

The Menil Collection is open Wednesday through Monday from 11am to 7pm. Admission is free for all visitors.

Why You Should Visit The Menil Collection

If you are a fan of modern and contemporary art, The Menil Collection is a must-see. The museum has one of the world's largest collections of art from this period, as well as several buildings designed by some of the most celebrated architects of our time. And if you're interested in other periods of art, the museum also has a large collection of Byzantine and Medieval art. Admission is free, so you have no excuse not to visit!

Information provided by Blue Hippo Restoration.