Located in West Texas, El Paso is situated along the Rio Grande. You’ll find a variety of outdoor activities and natural attractions, but El Paso also has a lively art scene too. If you’re looking to explore the artistic side of El Paso, check out these local galleries and art museums.
El Paso Museum of Art
The El Paso Museum of Art was founded in 1959 to house a large collection of Renaissance and Baroque works. Over the years, the collection grew and now includes over 7,000 pieces. The museum has a permanent collection and hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year.
The museum’s art school, which is unique to the region, offers classes for both adults and kids. These classes combine art creation with the study of the museum’s displayed works.
Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with extended hours on Thursday nights until 9 p.m. Sunday hours are 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the museum is closed on Monday.
Hal Marcus Gallery
The Hal Marcus Gallery offers over 250 pieces of art on display, including a salon completely dedicated to early El Paso artists. Across the street from the gallery is Hal Marcus’ studio, where he creates new masterpieces. If you’re lucky, you might even snag an invite to see what he’s working on.
Marcus has been painting since 1970 and had the gallery since 1996. He has been voted “Best Artist” and “Best Gallery” numerous times. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and it stays open until 7 p.m. on Thursday nights.
International Museum of Art
Another museum to check out in El Paso is the International Museum of Art. The museum started back in 1925 with the purchase of a collection of items that were donated to the city with the condition they be displayed to the public.
The collection has since grown and has been housed in the historic Turney home since 1940. Mr. and Mrs. Turney were prominent local residents who were credited with helping grow the modern city. The house was designed by Henry Trost and donated by Mrs. Turney. The main and lower levels house the art collections, and they’ve taken every effort to keep the home in its original condition.
Hours are Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Galleries at the Memorial
There are three galleries at the Chamizal National Memorial which commemorates the settling of the Chamizal border dispute. The galleries — Borderland, Abrazos, and Los Paisanos — showcase the work of sculptors and local painters for the borderline region.
El Paso has a lively art scene with a number of galleries and museums that showcase both international and domestic artists. Be sure to pass by the El Paso Museum of History to see DIGIE, a public art installation that features an interactive 3D wall showcasing 400 years of history through video and images. If you’re an art lover, El Paso won’t disappoint.
Photo by Visit El Paso | Licensed by CC BY 2.0
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