Lawndale Art Center
Encyclopedia
Lawndale Art Center is a non-profit alternative space for the exhibition of contemporary works in all media, based in Houston, Texas
, USA. It has a focus on Houston area artists.
Lawndale Art Center was founded in 1979 by the artist James Surls
in an abandoned 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) 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’s 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) 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 1930s Art Deco building designed by Joseph Finger
within Houston’s Museum District. 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, Design Fair, and The Big Show.
Lawndale is governed by a board of directors representing the community. At least one-third are artists. Exhibitions, special events and benefits are carried out with the invaluable assistance of volunteers, interns, work-study personnel and in-kind contributors.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA. It has a focus on Houston area artists.
Lawndale Art Center was founded in 1979 by the artist James Surls
James Surls
James Surls is an American modernist sculptor. He earned a BS from Sam Houston State University and an MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. In 1998, he moved from Splendora, Texas to Carbondale, Colorado....
in an abandoned 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) warehouse as part of the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, providing studio spaces for graduate students in painting and sculpture. Surls, then Professor of Art, created an exhibition area within Lawndale’s 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) 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 1930s Art Deco building designed by Joseph Finger
Joseph Finger
Joseph Finger was an Austrian-born architect most active in Texas in the 1930s and 1940s, responsible for a number of Houston Art Deco landmarks....
within Houston’s Museum District. 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, Design Fair, and The Big Show.
Lawndale is governed by a board of directors representing the community. At least one-third are artists. Exhibitions, special events and benefits are carried out with the invaluable assistance of volunteers, interns, work-study personnel and in-kind contributors.