Exhibits

September 6, 2025 - January 8, 2026

Freedmen's Town Visitor Center and The Row House Galleries at the Gregory Campus

1204, 1206, and 1208 Victor Street

Where We Find Ourselves is a multi-disciplinary investigation into memory, place, and Black perception across generations, centering the historic neighborhood of Freedmen’s Town in Houston. Through photography, film, architectural modeling, and installation, artist Satchel Lee brings a forensic intimacy to the project, placing the South, and specifically Freedmen’s Town, under a microscope. Lee reveals the physical remnants of a once self-sustaining Black community founded by formerly enslaved people and the enduring brilliance embedded in its spatial and spiritual architecture.

About the Artist

Satchel Lee (b.1994, New York, NY) is a visual artist and filmmaker whose work explores memory, legacy, and Black interior life through photography film and installation. She reinterprets personal and collective histories through the architecture of memory, using built spaces to reveal deeper layers of identity and heritage. Lee had an MFA from School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Having exhibited her work both domestically and internationally and collaborated with Washington Post Magazine, Vogue Italia, and The New York Times. Where We Find Ourselves marks the artist’s first solo exhibition. 
 

Where We Find Ourselves is co-organized by Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy (HFTC) and Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) as part of the Rebirth in Action project. The exhibition is curated by Mich Stevenson, Project Manager—Partnerships.

Phase 2 of Rebirth in Action is generously supported by The Brown Foundation Inc., Houston Endowment, Kinder Foundation, Wagner Foundation, Workforce Solutions, and the Preservation Champions: Anonymous, Reginald and Paula DesRoches, Johanne and Joe Gatto, Kent Lucas, Karen and Ramon Manning, Christian Menefee, Eric and Annette Mullins, and Barron and Lisa Wallace. 

William (Bill) Condon, Houston Ship Channel (detail), 1958, oil on panel. Collection of Charles M. Peveto, Austin.

September 6, 2025 – January 10, 2026
The Julia Ideson Building | Exhibit Hall

This exhibition features over 100 paintings, sculptures, and objects created in Houston by more than 30 Houston artists from 1945 to 1961, a period of rapid growth that transformed the regional Magnolia City into the internationally known metropolis of Space City. Between the end of World War II in 1945 to the 1961 decision to locate the headquarters of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Houston, the city underwent radical social and economic changes. The influx of new people, fortunes, and influences impacted all aspects of the city, including the arts.

View works by David Adickes, Gertrude Levy Barnstone, Alan Bean, Forrest Bess, John Biggers, Jack Boynton, Nione Carlson, Gene Charlton, Emma Richardson Cherry, Lowell Daunt Collins, Pat Colville, William (Bill) Condon, Mildred Wood Dixon-Sherwood, Frank Dolejska, Margaret Webb Dreyer, Don Edelman, Frank Freed, Henri Gadbois, Dorothy Hood, Ruth Laird, Paul Maxwell, Leila McConnell, Herbert Richard Mears, Kermit Oliver, Charles Pebworth, Anna Belle Peck, Robert Ormerod Preusser, Stephen Rascoe, Edward (Buck) Muegge Schiwetz, Frances Skinner, Chester Snowden, Erik Sprohge, Richard Gordon Stout, Stella Sullivan, Robert Weimerskirch, MIgnon Weisinger, Dan Wingren, and Dick Wray.

Pick up a FREE copy of the accompanying 80-page art catalogue while supplies last!

CHECK OUT OUR CATALOG

• The Art of Found Objects: Interviews with Texas Artists by Robert Craig Bunch
• The Art of John Biggers: View from the Upper Room by Alvia Wardlaw
• Adickes: A Portfolio with Critique by David Adickes
• Alan Bean: Painting Apollo - First Artist on Another World by Alan Bean
• Buck Schiwetz' Memories by E. M. Schiwetz
• Forrest Bess: Seeing Things Invisible by Clare Elliott
• Midcentury Modern Art in Texas by Katie Robinson Edwards
• More than a Constructive Hobby: The Paintings of Frank Freed by William A. Camfield
• Remembering Frank Dolejska: A Memoir by Shirley Nelson
• Texas: 150 Works from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston by Alison de Lima Greene
• Texas Women: Interviews & Images by Patricia Lasher
• Till Freedom Cried out: Memories of Texas Slave Life edited by T. Lindsay Baker and Julie P. Baker
• Wildwood Friends by Royal Dixon

EXPLORE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

• Oral History: Gertrude Barnstone, August 6, 1974
• Oral History: John Biggers, September 15 and 19, 1975
• Oral History: Margaret Webb Dreyer, July 8, 1976
• Oral History: Richard Stout, December 4, 1975

Isabella Luke, 9th Grade, The Distraction of Painting

Besides Math is an exhibition dedicated to providing a platform for young, second-generation Asian American artists where they can express their concerns, issues, and voices. Sponsored and curated by the Asian American Art & Culture Initiative, this open call exhibit highlights the rich, multifaceted narratives that define the Asian American experience, pushing back against the narrow image of being solely academically inclined or good at math. 

The works reflect a diverse group of young artists through a variety of artistic expressions and addresses cultural identity, generational challenges, societal expectations and the personal struggles and triumphs of growing up as a second-generation immigrant. By giving voice to young artists, the hope is to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of the varied experiences within the community and celebrate the power of art to break down barriers and build connections.

About the Asian American Art & Culture Initiative

Established by Houston artist June Xu, the Asian American Art & Culture Initiative was created as a platform where Asian Americans could authentically showcase their artistic work and amplify their voices.  The Initiative exists to break down barriers, challenge misconceptions and provide opportunities for Asian American artists to express their identities, share their stories and contribute to a more inclusive and vibrant cultural dialogue.

For more information about Asian American Art & Culture Initiative, please visit www.aaartculture.org.

CHECK OUT OUR CATALOG

Library of Things

• Sumi-e Kit
• Electric Yarn Winder
• Wood Carving Kit
• Watercolor Markers
• Floral Rubbing Plates
• Abstract Rubbing Plates

Kid/Juvenile

• The ABCs of Asian American History by Renee Macalino Rutledge
• A Boy Named Isamu: A Story of Isamu Noguchi by James Yang
• The Dot by Peter Reynolds (Flip Kit)
• Excellence in the Arts by Virginia Loh-Hagan
• Girls to the Front: 40 Asian American Women Who Blazed a Trail by Nina Mata
• The Magic Paintbrush: The Guardian's Quest by Kat Zhang
• Made in Asian America: A History for Young People by Erika Lee
• Red is a Dragon: A Book of Colors by Roseanne Thong
• Roots and Wings: How Shahzia Sikander Became an Artist by Shahzia Sikander
• Wei Skates On by Nathan Chen

Teen/Young Adult

• Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min
• David Tung Can't Have a Girlfriend Until He Gets Into an Ivy League College by Ed Lin
• I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee
• I'm Not Here to Make Friends by Andrew Yang
• Not Your Average Jo by Grace Shim
• The Queens of New York by E. L. Shen

Adult

• Becoming Asian American: Second-Generation Chinese and Korean American Identities by Nazli Kibria
• Chinese Prodigal: A Memoir in Eight Arguments by David Shih
• Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl by Hyeseung Song
• Fresh Off the Boat: A Memoir by Eddie Huang
• An Inconvenient Minority: The Attack on Asian American Excellence and the Fight for Meritocracy by Kenny Xu
• The Making of Asian America: A History by Erika Lee
• Ordinary Disasters: How I Stopped Being a Model Minority by Anne Anlin Cheng
• They Called Us Exceptional: And Other Lies that Raised Us by Prachi Gupta
• Uncommon Measure: A Journey Through Music, Performance, and the Science of Time by Natalie Hodges
• The Verifiers by Jane Pek

Watch

• Good Americans
• Not Your Model Minority
• Pass or Fail in Cambodia Town

Images courtesy Raquel Natalicchio and Houston History Research Center

At the heart of Al Otro Lado/The Other Side lies the convergence of individual stories and geographical context. This exhibition features the work of photojournalist Raquel Natalicchio, focusing on her portraits and interviews of people who have migrated to the United States. Their personal narratives, highlighting their diverse experiences and journeys, are paired with historical maps highlighting regions along the U.S.-Mexico border, sourced from the Houston History Research Center. These maps not only chart physical landscapes but also document the history leading up the establishment of the border and the socio-political complexities surrounding immigration. 

About the Photojournalist

Raquel Natalicchio is a bilingual photojournalist originally from Los Angeles, now based in Houston as a staff photojournalist for the Houston Chronicle. Her work focuses on social issues, migration, political mobilization, and community-driven stories across the U.S.–Mexico border. Her long-term project Borderlands explores the cultural and human complexity of border life. A passionate educator, she has developed photography curricula for Las Fotos Project and the Houston Center for Photography, empowering youth through self-expression. Natalicchio has organized exhibitions and talks in Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and London. She is South Regional Chair of the National Press Photographers Association and founder of The Open Door Gallery, a roaming gallery dedicated to supporting artists and building community. 

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

• #JoinLaCharla: Crimmigration, Pol(ICE), and the Undocumented
• Saturday, November 15 at 1:00 PM | Julia Ideson Building - Meldrum Room

• #JoinLaCharla: Immigration, Representation, and the Power of Language
• Saturday, September 6  10:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Reflections from the Frontlines of Change 

CHECK OUT OUR CATALOG

• Border Land, Border Water: A History of Construction on the U.S.-Mexico Divide by C.J. Alvarez
• Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldúa
• Contours of Discovery: Printed Maps Delineating the Texas and Southwestern Chapters of Cartographic History of North Americaby James C. Martin and Robert Sidney Martin
• The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez: A Border Story by Aaron Bobrow-Strain
• Detained: A Boy’s Journal of Survival and Resilience by D. Esperanza
• Frontera: A Journey Across the US-Mexico Border by Sergio Chapa
• Going to Texas: Five Centuries of Texas Maps published by Texas Christian University, Center for Texas Studies
• Let’s Talk About Your Wall: Mexican Writers Respond to the Immigration Crisis edited by Carmen Boullosa and Alberto Quintero
• The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border by Francisco Cantú
• The Mapping of the Entradas into the Greater Southwest by Dennis Reinhartz
• Mapping Texas and the Gulf Coast: The Contributions of Saint-Denis, Oliván, and Le Maire
• Maps of Texas and the Southwest, 1513 – 1900 by James C. Martin and Robert Sidney Martin
• On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey by Paul Theroux
• Unaccompanied by Javier Zamora
• Undocumented: How Immigration Became Illegal by Aviva Chomsky

• Indocumentos: Cómo la inmigracion se volvió illegal por Aviva Chomsky
• La línea se convierte en río: Una crónic de la frontera por Francisco Cantú
• Te vas, o te quedas?: Historias para leer antes de cruzar la frontera por Claudia Palacios

Watch

• Birth on the Border
• Children in No Man’s Land
• The River and the Wall

This exhibition is generously supported by Houston Public Library, Houston Public Library Foundation, and City of Houston. 

Images courtesy iWrite

RELATED MEDIA

This exhibition is in partnership with the iWrite Organization and The Bryan Museum.

Brittany Ellis, Books of Flight (detail), 2025

Brittany Ellis's temporary installation, Books of Flight, was created to inspire children in her home community of Kashmere Gardens. The book-like forms, arranged as birds in flight, symbolize imagination taking flight through the power of reading. The piece complements her City of Houston-commissioned mini mural located at Rand Street and Lockwood Drive.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Brittany Ellis is a Houston-born mixed media artist whose work blends painting, embellishments, and sculptural relief to create celestrial, textural narratives. A graduate of the Academy of Art University (BFA, 2021), she uses unconventional materials to explore imagination, memory, clouds, and the expansiveness of space. Her artistic path was shaped by early encouragement from her grandparents and art teacher, Mary Lynn Grimes. Brittany's work has since been featured with West Elm (2019-2024), on The Today Show (2025), and on a Times Square billboard in collaboration with Visual Art Journal (2025). She has exhibited at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, the de Young Museum, and the Art Museum of South Texas. To find out more, please visit www.hollowdolls.com.

GET CRAFTY AT MCCRANE-KASHMERE GARDENS NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY

• Kids Craft Time at the Library! (Kids, Ages 5-10)

• Bad Art Club: Create Your Own Disaster-Piece Craft Event (Adults)

CHECK OUT OUR CATALOG

Library of Things

• Azul: A Game

• Hues and Clues: A Guessing Game of Colors and Cues

• Sumi-e Kit
• Electric Yarn Winder
• Wood Carving Kit
• Watercolor Markers
• Floral Rubbing Plates
• Abstract Rubbing Plates

Images courtesy Dr. Lindsay Gary

Dustin Rice, Moore County, TX | Morgan Page, Adobes, TX | Morgan Page, Shafter II, TX

Where once there were the sounds of children playing, now there are just the whispers of the wind. The only visitors now are the wind and rain, along with the sun and moon. The abandonment itself is the citizenry. Where once there was community, now there are the Bones of Texas.

Texas is ever evolving. The people of Texas came in waves that spread from the east and south. They then settled communities. A generation of settlers created towns based on the resources nearby: lumber, cattle, cotton. As the value of resources changed, those towns changed with them. As other resources were discovered the ways of life for townspeople were changed. This went on in every region of Texas.

Texas has a long history that is diverse in both conflict and culture. Texas has seen Native Americans and frontiersmen, settlers and Texas Rangers. A great many set out to become farmers and the land dictated they become ranchers instead. Ranchers became oil men upon its discovery on their land. Railroads and the politics of where they went changed another generation. Rangers defended them as towns popped up seemingly from nothing to suit the needs of one group and lasted a generation, then just as quickly disappeared when the railroad, or eventually the highways, passed them by. As a consequence, towns that were once booming went by the wayside and others prospered in their place.

Such has been the case in modern day Texas as well. Small town Texas has been slowly dying for several generations. As our big cities get bigger, our small towns get left behind. A population rapidly concentrating in the city has left many small towns to slowly decay on their own. In this decay there is great beauty. In this abandonment, this waste, there is a sense of the past, a shadow of those who came before us.

In this exhibit, photographers Morgan Page and Dustin Rice seek to capture the natural textures and patterns in Texas’ landscape, as well as the stark contrast in the dilapidation that these things left behind give to it. In the thousands of miles they have traveled documenting these locations, they have strived to tell independent stories from the same places. One artist attempting to show the vastness of Texas, the scale that one place may convey against its own landscape; the other artist weaving stories of personal emotion and forgotten presence and absence in and around the architecture remaining.

About the Artists

Morgan Page received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Digital Media from the University of Houston in Houston, TX. She received her Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. Dustin Rice received his Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Mass Communications from Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. Both Page and Rice share a keen interest in Texas history and an adventurous spirit in exploring Texas landscapes.

If you have any questions about this project, please visit https://www.bonesoftexas.com.

Image courtesy Tierney Malone

Images courtesy the African American History Research Center