The Menil Collection
The Menil Collection is one of the most important private art collections in the world, housed in a landmark building designed by Renzo Piano. Founded by John and Dominique de Menil, French-born Houston philanthropists, the museum opened in 1987 and has been free to the public ever since.
The collection of nearly 17,000 works includes exceptional holdings of Surrealist art (Magritte, Ernst, Man Ray), tribal art from Africa and Oceania, Byzantine and medieval works, and 20th-century masterpieces by Warhol, Rauschenberg, and Twombly. The Renzo Piano building itself is a masterwork — its signature 'leaves' filter natural light throughout the galleries.
The 30-acre Menil campus also includes the Rothko Chapel (a non-denominational chapel featuring 14 monumental paintings by Mark Rothko), the Cy Twombly Gallery, the Dan Flavin installation at Richmond Hall, and the Menil Drawing Institute. All are free.
Visitor Tips: Start at the main building, then walk the campus. The Rothko Chapel is a profound experience — sit in silence for at least 10 minutes. The surrounding Montrose neighborhood is perfect for a post-museum stroll with excellent restaurants and shops.
