MARFA, TEXAS GALLERIES
No town in the Big Bend region distinguishes itself quite like Marfa. With a population of just over 2000, Marfa’s eclectic energy far outweighs its size.
The Marfa mystique teases visitors before ever reaching the city limits. Marfa Mystery Lights Viewing Area, just under 10 miles east of town is a great pre-entry point. Stop here to take in the sweeping plateau that has inspired generations of residents, from vaqueros and artisans to architects, each offering a variation on the theme of minimalism that permeates the plains. Stick around long enough for your eyes to adjust to the inky nighttime skies, and you might see more than a million glimmering stars. Perhaps you’ll glimpse the mysterious flashing orbs that people have struggled to define for decades.
In the 1950s, the small ranching community was home to James Dean, Liz Taylor and Rock Hudson during filming of Giant, Hollywood’s epic movie about ranching and oil. The town gained even more national attention in the 1970s with the arrival of Donald Judd, a renowned contemporary minimalist artist who was drawn to the sparse enormity of the landscape. The Chinati Foundation, a contemporary art museum based on the work and ideas of Judd, opened in 1986. Judd’s established presence brought fellow art patrons and minimalist pilgrims flocking to Marfa from every corner of the earth. They pour into Marfa each October during Chinati Weekend.
Over the years, the town has developed a unique ability to bridge the space between incongruities. Here, the weathered exteriors of a 1950s ranching town contain the whitewashed interiors of fine contemporary art galleries. Here, a Texas-born-and-raised cattle herder and a runaway art student dine at adjacent tables in a restaurant that began in Manhattan. Cowboy hats and skinny jeans inhabit the same spaces. And somehow, out here, it makes sense.
Marfa offers a world-class collection of contemporary art galleries, quirky and delicious food, and a landscape that can change your life. Give in to the atmosphere, a mix of wind swept longing and isolation plus a dose of retrofitted futuristic inventiveness. For more information, go to VisitMarfa.com.
1 / ARBER & SON EDITIONS
128 E. El Paso St. / 432.729.3981 / 30x30cmproject.com
Tamarind Master Printer, Robert Arber has produced limited edition lithographs and woodcuts for numerous internationally known artists including Donald Judd, Bruce Nauman, John Baldessari, Ilya Kabakov, Richard Prince, Al Taylor and David Rabinowitch. Call for an appointment.
2 / AYN FOUNDATION (DAS MAXIMUM)
BRITE BLDG. / 107-109 N. Highland Ave. / 432.729.3315 / www.aynfoundation.com
Presenting “Last Supper” by Andy Warhol and “September Eleven” by Maria Zerres.
Open weekends.
3 / BALLROOM MARFA
108 E. San Antonio / 432.729.3600 /
ballroommarfa.org
Ballroom Marfa is a non-profit cultural space dedicated to presenting leading and
cutting-edge artists working in the visual arts, performance, film, and music. Ballroom Marfa seeks to commission extraordinary work that is both site-specific and site-inspired; to enable profound cultural happenings; and to share the creative landscape of the Big Bend with a diversity of musicians and artists. Open Thursday – Saturday Noon-6pm.
4/ BLACKWELL SCHOOL ALLIANCE
501 South Abbott Street /
theblackwellschool.org
Hours: Every Saturday 10AM to 4PM
A former segregated school that served Mexican-American children from 1889 to 1965 in Marfa. A dedicated group of former students turned the original school house into a museum.
5 / BROTHERS ART MARFA
208 W. Texas St. / 210.379.8743
christa@brothersartmarfa.com
BROTHERS ART MARFA is an artist run studio and gallery and is located in a century old adobe right in the center of Marfa. The gallery presents contemporary art work from international, national, and Marfa artists with an emphasis on supporting creative spirits and on providing a welcoming atmosphere.
6 / CHINATI FOUNDATION
1 Cavalry Row / 432.729.4362 / chinati.org
Chinati is an internationally known contemporary art museum founded by minimalist artist Donald Judd. It exhibits large scale installations by a limited number of artists on the grounds of Fort D.A. Russell and in buildings in the town of Marfa. Chinati features paintings, sculptures, poems, installations, drawings and other works by renowned artists Donald Judd, John Chamberlain, Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen, Dan Flavin, Ilya Kabakov, Roni Horn and many more. Self-guided tours open Thursday-Friday-Saturday. Reservations required.
7/ CODY BARBER
610 S. Mesa St
codybarber.work
Hours: Thu-Sun 12-6 PM or by appointment
8/ CRAIG VINCENT SCHOWENGERDT
108 E. El Paso Street / 917.757.0798 / cvschowengerdt@gmail.com
Sculpture art in Lewis Saul Building.
Instagram: @cvssculpture. Call to view.
9/ GRETCHEN LEE COLES
109 North Highland Avenue in the Brite Building behind Ayn Foundation and Andy Warhol Gallery. Best after dark. Studio window installation in the alley between Oak Street and Texas Street. Window installation viewable 24 hours a day.
10 / ETHERINGTON FINE ART
124 E. El Paso Street / 508.221.1053
Artists represented include minimalist and otherwise. Open Thursday to Sunday 12-3 pm and by appointment.
11 / EUGENE BINDER GALLERY
218 N. Highland Street / 432.729.3900 / eugenebinder@gmail.com / eugenebinder.com
Contemporary art gallery. Call for exhibition hours.
12 / EXHIBITIONS 2D
400 S. Highland Ave. Instagram: @exhibitions2d / www.exhibitions2d.com
Continuing, rotating exhibits of work by ten artists from across the U.S. with an emphasis on reductive and minimal drawing and sculpture. By advance appointment. To schedule please message on Instagram or email: x2dmarfa@gmail.com.
13 / FIELDWORK: MARFA
fieldworkmarfa.org / info@fieldworkmarfa.org
Fieldwork: Marfa is an international research program run by Les Beaux-Arts de Nantes / HEAD Genéve. Consult website for featured artist listings.
14 / GARZA MARFA
103 North Nevill Street / 432.729.1946 /
info@garzamarfa.com / @garzamarfa on Instagram; www.garzamarfa.com
Furniture, Textiles, Design. Open Friday & Saturday 1PM to 5PM and during festivals, holidays, and by appointment.
15 / GREASEWOOD GALLERY AT THE HOTEL PAISANO
207 North Highland / 432.729.4134 / www.hotelpaisano.com
Located in the historic Hotel Paisano, the gallery features regional artists in varied media. Multiple shows are hosted each year. Check the website for details. Open Monday-Saturday 8AM to 8PM and Sunday 8AM to 6PM.
16 / BUILDING 98 “HACIENDA DEL ARCON”
705 W. Bonnie St., Building 98 / 432.729.4826 / internationalwomansfoundation.org
Headquarters for the International Woman’s Foundation, Hacienda del Arcon is a premier training center for artistic development and healthful aging. The former Officers Club and BOQ of Fort D. A. Russell, Building 98, is a venue for artist presentations, showings and special events. Building 98 includes High Plateau and Marfa Collective. Murals painted by WWII German POWs depict scenes of the Chihuahuan Desert. Tours are by appointment only. Hours: Thursday – Saturday 1:30 to 5:30 PM.
17 / INDE/JACOBS GALLERY
208 E. San Antonio Street / 432.386.0044 /
vilisinde@yahoo.com / indejacobs.com
Focusing on art by Chinati Foundation-related artists and minimalist and reductive artists. Inventory includes prints by Donald Judd and Dan Flavin. Located on U.S. Highway 90 — 1-1/2 blocks east of Marfa’s 4-way stop. If you are interested in any artwork, please email. Open Wednesday-Saturday, 12-5pm and by appointment.
18 / JUDD FOUNDATION (OFFICE)
104 Highland St. / www.juddfoundation.org
Office open Monday – Saturday 9-5; Two guided visits available:
1) The Block, Judd’s residence with his libraries and studios, offered throughout the week.
2) The Studios, Judd’s downtown workspaces including The Architecture Studio, Cobb & Whyte House, and Art Studio. Visit juddfoundation.org to book tours in advance. Private tours are also available.
19/ MARFA AND PRESIDIO COUNTY MUSEUM
110 West San Antonio Street / 432.729-4140
Hours Mon-Sat 1-5 PM
20/ MARFA ART GALLERY
230 South Dean Street, next to the Get Go / maryshaffer.com / 432.386.5888 • Hours: Open By Appointment
21/ MARFA STUDIO OF THE ARTS
106 East San Antonio / 432.729.4616
22 / MARTIN MARIA STUDIO GALLERY
1308 W. San Antonio / 205.454.9278 / Tbarnesmarfa@gmail.com
Contemporary paintings by Tom Barnes and Uta-Maria Krapf. Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10am to 2pm.
23 / MIRTH
105 West Texas Street / 432.729.4448 / info@mirthmarfa.com / mirthmarfa.com
Mirth includes a thoughtfully curated collection of beautiful utilitarian objects for your home and merriment. Located in the heart of Marfa, TX, our store provides locals and tourists with specialty homewares from around the world, unique objects to remember one’s travels and admirably designed tools for everyday life. Open 11AM to 6PM Wednesday-Saturday and 12PM to 4PM Sunday.
24/ NEW STAR GROCERY ART MUSEUM
301 West Dallas St. / 432.729.4774
Museum owned by Lines Hooper Lorette. Hours: Thur-Sat 1-4 PM
25/ PURE JOY
303 El Paso Street / 917.365.7672
purejoymarfa.com. Open Fri – Sat. 12 – 5 + by appointment
26 / RULE GALLERY
204 E. San Antonio St. / 303.800.6776 / info@rulegallery.com /
rulegallery.com / IG @rulegallery
RULE Gallery, founded in 1991, has locations in Denver, CO and Marfa, TX. RULE represents emerging and mid-career contemporary artists and artist estates, with a focus on fostering investigative art practices while developing artists’ long-term careers.
Open Wednesday – Saturday 11 AM to 5 PM and by appointment.
27/ SPEED STUDIO
520 West Catherine Street, next door to Chinati Foundation / 432.729.3954 / juliespeed.com / juliespeed@gmail.com
The studio of contemporary artist Julie Speed. Open by appointment.
28 / THE WRONG STORE AND GALLERY
Gallery: 110 W. Dallas St. / Open by appointment
Store: 110 N. Highland / Open daily
29/ VELDT GALLERY / LEANA CLIFTON STUDIO
100 N. Highland Ave. / 432.897.2360
leanaclifton.com / LC@leanaclifton.com
Contemporary art and more.
30/ WERRICK GALLERY
100 East San Antonio / 512.563.9403 / werrick.armstrong@gmail.com
Two-dimensional and three -dimensional contemporary art by Werrick Armstrong. Open by appointment only to those in the art trade and art collectors with ten day’s minimum notice.
37/ MARFA HOLOCAUST & HISTORIC MODEL SHIP MUSEUM
901 East Oak Street / kimthornsburg@yahoo.com / 361.408.0106 / marfahistorytours.com
Specializing in Holocaust and Rare Ships. New to Marfa, the Museum’s significant collection of ships and WWII era artifacts, demonstrate superior artisanship and heart-felt tribute to lesser known historical incidents of the WWII era. The Model Shipwright’s collection blends compelling visual evidence to a rich historical narrative, producing a new understanding of these mostly buried accounts of WWII era events. By appointment