Visiting CAMH Admission is free due to the generosity of our members and donors.
International, National, and Regional Art
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) is a non-collecting institution dedicated to presenting the best and most exciting international, national, and regional art of our time. Founded in 1948, the Museum prides itself on presenting new art and documenting its role in modern life through exhibitions, lectures, original publications, and a variety of educational programs and events.
CAMH occupies an iconic stainless steel building in the heart of the Houston Museum District.
Olivia Forque, Eye For An Eye, 2021. Oil pastels, acrylic paint, ink, and charcoal on cardboard. Installation view at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 2023. Photo by Victoria Nguyen.
This highly recognizable building was designed for the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston by the award-winning architect Gunnar Birkerts and opened in 1972. The building’s two floors of gallery space offer six to eight exhibitions each year. Exhibitions presented in The Brown Foundation Gallery feature work by leading internationally-recognized artists working at the vanguard of contemporary art, as well as thematic exhibitions organized around questions central to the nature of art and life today. While in the Nina and Michael Zilkha Gallery, the focus is on work by established artists as well as those who are emerging and early in their careers. In addition, the Museum Shop offers yet another art-centric experience for visitors through an array of curated merchandise—the purchase of which goes to support CAMH programs and operations.
Providing Opportunities for Connection Between Artists and Audiences
As we emerge from the era of social distancing, CAMH continues to provide opportunities for connection between artists and audiences, now with hybrid programming that can be experienced online or in the Museum.
CAMH will meet you at your comfort level however you choose to engage with contemporary art and artists, either through art-making activities for all ages, artist talks and performances, or exploring the art of the Museum from your classroom with a virtual tour.
CAMHLAB
An ongoing artist-in-residence initiative that offers critical and early-stage direct support for local artists
Launched in 2020 in response to the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on artists in Houston, particularly the loss of performance and rehearsal space. Through both short-term and long-term collaborations with artists, CAMHLAB aims to connect artists and audiences, and to support the realization of new and timely works.
Houston, Sie Haben Ein Problem! Installation view, 2022
Photo by Sean Fleming