Lawndale Art Center

Houston, United States

4.4

Open now

17 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 713-528-5858
Website:
www.lawndaleartcenter.org
Address:
4912 Main St, Houston, TX, 77002
Museum District
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.3 miWheeler Station (southbound)
0.3 miWheeler Station (northbound)
0.4 miMuseum District (southbound)
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
By Appointment Only
No

Today

Today 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Houston) 1:17 PM Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Business hours

Monday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Lawndale Art Center develops local contemporary artists and the audience for their art. Lawndale is dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art with an emphasis on work by Houston artists. Lawndale presents exhibitions, lectures and events, and offers an annual residency program to further the creative exchange of ideas among Houston’s diverse artistic, cultural and student communities.

Founded in 1979, Lawndale has owned its present location on Main Street in Houston’s Museum District since 1993. With four galleries in its locally significant Art Deco building, Lawndale includes close to 500 artists annually in changing exhibitions. Over twenty exhibitions, informal talks and special events are offered yearly including annual events such as Dia de los Muertos/​Day of the Dead, Design Fair (formerly the 20th Century Modern Market), and The Big Show. Register for our email newsletter at www​.lawn​daleart​cen​ter​.org

History

Established in 1979.

Lawndale Art Center was founded in 1979 by artist James Surls in an abandoned 100,000 square foot warehouse as part of the University of Houston, providing studio spaces for graduate students in painting and sculpture. Surls, then Professor of Art, created an exhibition area within Lawndale’s15,000 square feet of space and the exhibitions there soon expanded to include shows by other artists in the community. Lawndale Art Center became independent and received its own non-​profit status in 1989, and since 1993 has been located in a 1930’s Art Deco building located in Houston’s Museum District. In 2005, Lawndale completed a $ 1.2 million renovation of the building; a complete upgrade that meets City Code with full ADA compliance.

From the beginning, all programming has been artist driven. Lawndale Art Center became the première center for artists in Houston and the region to show work, experiment, perform and meet other artists.

Meet the Manager

Dennis N.

Manager

Dennis Nance joined the staff of Lawndale Art Center as Exhibitions and Programming Director in October 2007. Nance manages Lawndale’s exhibitions, programs, marketing, the Lawndale Artist Studio Program and serves on Lawndale’s Programming Committee. Nance is a native Houstonian and has extensive experience working with artists and exhibitions for Houston-​area arts organizations.

Lawndale Art Center also recommends

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Dennis N. says,

«Just across the street from Lawndale, don’t miss their rotating exhibitions and open studios while you’re in the neighborhood.»

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Dennis N. says,

«All your art supply needs right in Midtown, plus 20% off for Lawndale members!»

Tacos A Go-​Go

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Mexikansk mat

,

Tex-​Mex

Dennis N. says,

«We love Tacos A Go-​Go! Not only is their food great, they support non-​profits like Lawndale Art Center!»

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«Owned by former Lawndale studio resident Teresa O’Connor, Hello-​Lucky features products local artists and offers Lawndale members a 10% discount!»

Black Hole Coffee House

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Amerikansk mat (traditionell)

,

Kaffe & te

,

Frukost & Brunch

Dennis N. says,

«Great for a coffee before work or a beer after, this local coffee shop offers Lawndale members a 10% discount!»

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17 reviews of Lawndale Art Center

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Houston, TX
It’s a fun museum, that has funny pieces. I saw a box of cereal with a bowl full of bullets here. lol I also saw a wall with Lego (s), and also a white paper dog on the inside. There is also a picture of a minion with one big yellow eye hanging on the walls. It’s not big, but nice. Did I mention, it’s free! Yeah!
Place rating: 4
Orange County, CA
I came for the first time to Lawndale Art Center for the Big Show opening reception July 2014. I came pretty late but it was still packed! DJ was playing music; loads of people from all age groups roaming, mingling, and admiring the art; free beer, 2 buck Chuck wines, and Deep Eddy Vodka mixed drinks. The art was fantastic. I was astonished at how good the local artists are. I loved the variety of art. There were even animations, a crocheted cake, and sculptures! I can definitely see a lot of this art being museum worthy. Props to the artists in town for being selected to be part of the Big Show. The paintings were real inspiring. I will definitely return to look at the art again here and there. So I give a 4⁄5 star only because I’ve gone once and don’t want to overstate my experiences. Despite this rating, you should definitely come see this gallery at some point in your life. Plus, it’s free and only a 5 minute walk from the Museum of Fine Arts!
Place rating: 5
Houston, TX
I came here on a Saturday at 1:30pm. The area looked so abandoned because there was literally no cars on the trashed/​broken concrete parking lot. Saved for the graffiti mural on the side of the wall. I nervously went in noting that there was no one around. I was immediately impressed by their exhibit. The entrance had a colorful array of arts hanging around. I was a tad surprise that they were having fashion displayed. I was kind of expecting for them to have security people walking around to make sure you don’t steal artwork displays or touch them. It’s free admission and worth checking out if you’re not turned off by the abandoned looking parking lot.
Place rating: 5
Sugar Land, TX
One of my favorite art spaces in Houston. I try to go to every opening night. It’s a good time to people-​watch in addition to enjoying the art. On opening nights, there are sometimes food trucks, drinks/​refreshments, Saint Arnold’s… it varies. Fun to go with a date, a friend, or by yourself.
Always interesting and fresh. The instillation pieces are my favorite.
And it’s FREE! how could you go wrong?
Place rating: 4
Sacramento, CA
My favorite thing about this museum is the awesome pop art on the side of the building! The human hamster wheel is pretty cool too. It’s free and located next to the Contemporary Craft Museum so I would recommend checking that museum out as well if you visit.
Place rating: 4
Calgary, Canada
5 star for the huge mural on the outside wall of the building. It’s different than the photo shown here so I guess it changes? The current mural has so much detail and different themes, it’s wonderfully modern. Great for photos (portrait or just the mural by itself), if you are into photography I highly recommend it.
I’m always glad to see old buildings being utilized again, however I have to say a bit more attendance /​signage would be good, since we had no idea whether we were trespassing or not. There was very little explanation of what we were looking at, and the space doesn’t have a good flow from floor to floor.
Lots of potential, just need some loving care and marketing /​setup to make the place shine. But if you are in the neigbourhood it doesn’t hurt to stop by.
Place rating: 3
Sugar Land, TX
This is a small, three story building that is confusing. You walk in and wonder what’s going on since there is no one there and a variety of pamphlets. We were here on a Thursday afternoon and we were the only people in the place. There was a large teepee exhibit on the first floor. Some of the information was readily available about the exhibit, and other stuff you just had to wonder about. In the back part of the first floor was another exhibit with some interesting things with paper. There is also a second and third floor with significantly smaller spaces. On the third floor, there was one exhibit space. I walked up and saw the door open but the lights were out. I walked in and the lights came on by themselves. There was nothing and no one to tell me it was ok to go in, good thing I’m not scared to invade people’s space and found another exhibit in there. Overall, I wasn’t too impressed with the exhibits in the Lawndale Art Center.
The best thing I saw here was the huge graffiti piece on the north side of the building.
Daniel Anguilu, a street artist, has used the exterior wall as his canvas. The exhibit named «Famous Monsters» will be on view through June 2012. It’s really cool! Loved it but I would have totally missed it if I hadn’t gone over to the Center for Contemporary Craft and looked back.
If you go here before June 2012, make sure to take a look at the North side of the building.
Free Admission.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Went here on a whim bc of their Dia de los Muertos exhibit. Almost drove right past it it but thank god for Unilocal bc I saw the graffiti on the side wall and I instantly recognized it. The wall is more vibrant in person. So beautiful; great work! The exhibit was free! My friends and I were the only people there at the time. We entered from the back (bc we didn’t know) and there was a tiny hallway filled with stuff from various schools around the area ranging from elementary to high school kids. I loved it! Seeing the creatively from all ages. Then we entered the main hall and it was cool seeing ‘professional’ work. Then a high school (?) group came and it got crowded so we left. The place isn’t that big so we weren’t there that long. But it was a really nice exhibit. Really thorough and vast in creativity.
I’d def check this place out if they have any other exhibits!
Place rating: 5
Houston, TX
Lawndale Art Center never disappoints. They consistently bring the art and I always go away feeling that the world is a much more magical place after having been there. Whether it’s a room that looks like a party exploded in it, a giant quilted tent, or a stuffed anatomically correct giant Teddy bear, I’m always all smiles after I take a tour drink in hand through the rooms. I love the Big Show which they host every year.
Place rating: 5
Glasgow, United Kingdom
This place is free and open to the public-​just in case you were wondering. It also shows some excellent exhibitions with it’s maze like interior. I like that they have variety always and they change exhibitions rather quickly.
One of the definite stops for gallery spaces. It’s right next door to the Contemporary Craft and pretty near MFAH and the CAM. So you can pretty easily park and walk (Houstonians are laughing at me for even mentioning walking).
They are NOT open on Sundays
Place rating: 5
Houston, TX
Lawndale is probably my favorite Houston art space that the average Houstonian has never heard of (except, of course, for the Houston art space that the average Houstonian has never heard of that I worked for in college). There is ALWAYS something interesting going on in the myriad spaces in the building – and even outside it, in Lawndale’s sculpture garden.
Some of my favorite exhibitions over the past few years: buzzards made of Legos, a birthday party for a blood-​covered African lion (currently on display), and an installation on the second floor that totally shocked me when the elevator opened to a manmade crystal-​covered cave. The big annual shows here are the creatively-​titled summer Big Show and the Day of the Dead festivities in November.
It’s free, with ample parking, and just a few minutes from the well-​traveled MFAH and CAM. Go check it out!
Place rating: 3
Brooklyn, NY
I was lured in by an exhibition opening that featured all the regular free snacks and a performance by local musical artist. We arrived early (about 5 minutes after 6) but were informed that there was an artist talk going on at the time… But apparently they were just kidding. We showed up to a small awkward room of people but no artist talk.
I think the space downstairs is wonderful and has a lot of potential for exhibitions. The space on the third floor is not easily conducive to exhibition; the tight square rooms and low ceilings made me think I was in an office space not an art gallery. Although it’s a challenge to arrange works in those rooms, at least the staff makes the best of out all their space, including hallways and stairwells. But maybe, they can view this as a chance to edit some of the exhibitions.
I would definitely come back to check out another show, even if I wasn’t particularly intrigued by the current one.
The music was really awesome if somewhat detached from the space.
Place rating: 4
Houston, TX
I happened to stumble in here on a random Museum Crawl. When I walked in I was a bit confused, I’m not sure if they were installing pieces or what but nobody was around. I felt like I was breaking in but the door was open. There were a few exhibits already set up so I went ahead and looked around.
There is a lot of contemporary art inside. My favorite this day was a bottle cap exhibit. I believe they were setting up for the «big show» I will be back again on a time where I’m not questionably trespassing.
Place rating: 5
Houston, TX
A great gallery/​contemporary art space and a wonderful staff make Lawndale Art Center one of Houston’s true treasures. Stop by and say hello to Executive Director Christine or just say thanks to the Exhibitions/​Programming Director Dennis for putting together great shows for us to enjoy. Better yet, BECOME A MEMBER!
Place rating: 4
Houston, TX
Sadly, I usually only catch the Big Show here. Yes, that’s what it’s called the Big Show. It’s open call to Houston area artists that happens every year around summer time. If you are in the art scene you will here people damn it, but I think it’s one of the coolest things the art scene does here in town. Rejection is a killer though and that’s why it’s sometimes loathed.
About 700 – 800 pieces usually make it into the monster show (usually curated by an out of town juror). Always eclectic and exciting in my opinion! Other shows that I have seen here have been interesting. Lawndale is spacious – and a perfect and interesting place to showcase this city’s artwork.
Place rating: 4
Houston, TX
Three story gallery tucked away in the museum district with its own parking lot. Like Liz S. says, they seem to display more contemporary pop art stuff. I went for a friend’s work on display that just got taken down over the weekend. I’d helped in some of the painting process and was excited to see the final product, but sorry I had missed his opening reception due to travel.
Other stuff they were showing included crochet-​wrapped taxidermy, a collection of gay romance novels, and a collection of robot toys. Free parking, free admission – good way to spend an afternoon exploring culture away from the museum district biggies.
Place rating: 4
Houston, TX
This museum district gallery staple focuses on the works of Houston artists in its three galleries. The art tends to be more pop-​y/​disposable than I usually favor, but the openings are worth attending. The Big Show is their annual juried show, open to pretty much any local artist. The Lawndale also hosts parties from time to time that aren’t tied to openings, as well as meet-​the-​artist or make-​art-​with-​the-​artists events that can be fun and good for local networking. (Their website doesn’t currently work in Firefox, just FYI.)