Located on the campus of Rice University, the Rice Gallery is dedicated exclusively to site-specific installations. It is the only gallery in the country with this focus. Five times each year, the gallery invites a leading artists to create a new room-sized work to transform the gallery space. The gallery is part of the city's Museum District.

The Contemporary Arts Museum is one of the most interesting places to visit in the Museum District of Houston, Texas. As you might suspect, it focuses on more modern types of art. It is located on Montrose Blvd, in the heart of the District.

The location was founded in 1948. A group of seven prominent people from the city started the project, in order to give the Houston area a place to showcase the work of more modern artists. The museum has grown in size and stature throughout the years, and has had to be remodeled a couple of times. The last major renovation was in 1997. It is an award winning facility, which draws in exhibits from around the world. Many controversial styles of medium also end up being displayed here. It may very well challenge your understanding of what constitutes art.

The museum is free of charge, so this can be a real budget saver for families. The museum is open to the general public Wednesday and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. On Friday, the location stays open an extra 2 hours. The weekend hours are 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The Museum is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the hallmark institutions of the so called Museum District in Houston. It is also one of the physically largest museums of its kind in the U.S. The museum was started in 1900, so it is also one of the oldest museums in Houston.

The complex itself consists of two gallery style buildings, a garden that features sculpture, a visitor’s center, and two museums located inside houses. You can also see movies here, visit their library, and have a great meal at the café.

The art work displayed here ranged in age from the present to 6000 years ago. The permanent collection has over 63,000 pieces of art, and covers over 300,000 square feet. There are works here from six continents, so you can get a little of everything. 1.25 million people visit the museum each year. To see the entire collection, though, you would have to visit seven different facilities across the city. This is a definite must visit, and the task of visiting here could well keep you busy all day.

Lawndale Art Center is a non-profit alternative space for the exhibition of contemporary works in all media, and is unique in its focus on local artists. Founded in 1979, Lawndale has owned its present location on Main Street in the Museum District since 1993. Lawndale has four galleries in a recently remodeled and architecturally significant 1930s Art Deco building, designed by Joseph Finger. The galleries exhibit 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, the 20th Century Modern Market, and The Big Show. Exhibitions, special events, and benefits are carried out with the invaluable assistance of volunteers, interns, work-study personnel and in-kind contributors.

A part of the Menil Collection, the Cy Twombly Gallery is dedicated exclusively to the work of American artist Cy Twombly (b. 1928). The collection includes more than thirty paintings, sculptures, and other works by the artist. The building that houses the gallery is a piece of art in itself. Commissioned by Dominique de Menil and designed by Renzo Piano, it opened in 1995.

The Menil Collection is a museum in Houston that features the private art collection of John and Dominique de Menil. It is located in the Neartown area, very close to the University of St. Thomas. Dominique was very rich, having been the heir of the money from the Schlumberger Oil Company estate. Her husband was one of the executives of the company.

The facility opened to the public in 1987. The collection is mainly made up of pieces from the 20th Century. You can find sculptures, paints, photographs and the like from such famous artists as Max Ernst, Man Ray, Henri Matisse, and even Pablo Picasso. Beside this, the museum also has one of Houston’s best pop art collections. There are some antiquities and medieval style art here as well.

The Menil Collection is open to the general public from Wednesday to Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday, as well as on the major holidays of the year. One of the best things about this museum is that admission is free of charge. So, this can be a great money saver on a tight vacation to Houston.

Located on West Alabama Street, Houston Center for Photography aims to introduce its visitors to a new perspective on art, to educate and inform society about the artistic value of photography and, above all, to promote beauty and taste. The gallery supports emerging artists. Admission is free.