The Menil Collection
Art museum · Museum District ·
Free art campus featuring surrealist, modern & ancient works
Free art campus featuring surrealist, modern & ancient works
"I saw that The Menil Collection, founded by John and Dominique de Menil and housed in a Renzo Piano–designed building, is a free museum with more than 25,000 works ranging from Byzantine antiquities to Picassos and remains a cornerstone of Houston's cultural life." - Kayla S. Stewart, Matt Ortile
"Free to enter and far richer than its modest footprint suggests, this museum houses tens of thousands of works—from modern abstract sculptures to prehistoric relics—and its shady campus is perfect for lingering over a to-go lunch when the weather’s nice." - Lane Gillespie
"Surrounded by the most quintessential Montrose bungalows, The Menil Collection is one of our most beloved places in the neighborhood. The main building was designed by architect Renzo Piano in 1987, and distinctive ceiling louvers allow the space to be lit by natural light. It is a world class museum free of visual clutter and pretentiousness. Making art accessible and allowing visitors to have their own personal expericence with it was of the utmost importance to the museum's founders John and Dominique de Menil. In addition to providing our community with an incredible collection of art, the Menil has a conservation studio and research library, publishes books, and is an educator. Still growing, The Menil is truly a gift to our city." - Curiosity and Curiosities
"The always-free Menil Collection — a Renzo Piano-designed museum with works from Max Ernst, Andy Warhol, and Cy Twombly." - Dan Q. Dao
"The Menil Collection—so named because the worksonce belonged to philanthropists John and Dominique de Menil—is perhaps the most famous museum in Houston. The main collection alone features works by titans like Vincent van Gogh, Georges Seurat, Paul Klee, Joan Miró, René Magritte, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Odilon Redon, and Pablo Picasso. Also of note: the Cy Twombly Gallery, the Dan Flavin installation, and the Byzantine Fresco Chapel. There are also a variety of parks and outdoor sculptures located around the museum. The main building is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is free. Oh, and if you get hungry, Bistro Menil is a fantastic spot to grab a bite."
