On the Road

Tap into the avant garde at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

Got a thing for modern art? Then you'll be in heaven at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, which showcases sculptures, paintings, and more from the 1940s to the present.

Situated in the heart of Fort Worth's impressive Cultural District, the Modern stands out with its elegant concrete, glass, and steel building designed by the renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

In addition to the soaring, light-filled gallery space and landscaped grounds dotted with outdoor sculptures, the museum features a reflecting pond, theater, education center, gift shop, and cafe, creating a thriving hub for both locals and visitors alike.

Founded in 1892, the Modern is the oldest museum in Texas. Today, it connects audiences of all ages and backgrounds with the most compelling art and ideas of our time. Showcasing the work of historically significant, mid-career, and emerging artists, the Modern is known for its evolving collection, which is international in scope.

Throughout the Modern's grounds, you'll find such influential artists as Sol LeWitt, Jenny Holzer, Anselm Kiefer, Martin Puryear, Agnes Martin, Mark Bradford, Teresita Fernández, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, and Kehinde Wiley.

The museum has a long history of close relationships with the living artists, many of whom visit the museum regularly to give talks and lead workshops.  

The Modern is also a center of lifelong learning and exchange. Its programs include tours, lectures by leading figures in the art world, youth and adult classes, art camps, workshops, and a range of small-group studio and gallery programs led by the museum's educators, docents, and community artists.

You can also view critically acclaimed first-run films here, and the museum partners with local arts organizations to present music, dance, and theater experiences.

On view now through September 25 is the special exhibition "Women Painting Women," which features 46 female artists who choose women as subject matter in their works.

This presentation includes 60 evocative portraits that span the late 1960s to the present. "Women Painting Women" recognizes female perspectives that have been historically underrepresented in the history of art.

See paintings by early trailblazers like Alice Neel and Emma Amos to emerging artists such as Jordan Casteel and Apolonia Sokol. Some, such as Jenny Saville, work on large canvases producing images that dwarf the space around them, while others, including Somaya Critchlow, paint on a modest scale that invites close viewing.

But all place women — their bodies, gestures, and individuality — at the forefront.

While you're exploring the collections, take time to indulge at Cafe Modern, led by Wolfgang Puck-trained executive chef Jett Mora. The acclaimed restaurant provides creative cuisine and seasonal menus featuring comfort food with global influences and local ingredients. Texas spirits are also on the menu, if you feel like leading a toast.

Plan your next visit to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth here.

The Modern is known for its Tadao Ando-designed building.

The Modern features a number of large-scale sculptures, including "Conjoined" by Roxy Paine.

Photo courtesy of The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

The Modern is known for its Tadao Ando-designed building.

vacation museums promoted galleries texas

where to travel right now

Prepare for the State Fair and 10 more Texas travel tidbits for September

Photo by Marc Lee

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School might be back in session for the kids, but there's still plenty of fun to be had all across Texas in September. Can't decide where to take a quick vacation, road trip, or staycation? Here are 11 events, exhibits, special celebrations, and hotel happenings around the state to help plan a getaway for Labor Day or any September weekend excursion.

In North Texas

The State Fair of Texas begins its run in Dallas at the end of September, with 24 days of live music, carnival games, fried food creation competitions, and more. Luckily for CultureMap readers, here's a thorough guide to getting every possible discount at the fair this year. For example, visitors can get $10 admission on opening day for bringing two jars of peanut butter for the North Texas Food Bank. The State Fair runs September 29-October 22.

In a historic U.S. debut, almost all of the known surviving artworks by the legendary Mexican artist Abraham Ángel will be put on display at the Dallas Museum of Arton September 10, honoring the young artist's brief life and three-year career. Ángel's work embodied the ever-changing culture of his country in the early 20th century. Between Wonder and Seductionwill be on display until January 28, 2024. Admission to the museum is free, but special exhibition tickets are $15.

In East Texas

Cavalry Court, a retro-inspired boutique hotel in College Station, has all of the amenities for a perfect weekend mini-vacation to bring in the fall season: a resort-style pool with private cabanas, live music, its signature Canteen Bar and Grill, and an outdoor pavilion. The hotel is also situated less than 10 miles from the famed Messina Hof Estate Winery for any further exploration of the city. Rates begin at $149 per night.

If East Texas’ Piney Woods region is calling your name, this resort community is the place to be: High Hill boasts luxurious experiences with rental properties sprawling over 200 acres of land. Take your pick among a bungalow suite, private bungalow, or a multi-bedroom vacation home. Also available are on-site vineyards, a relaxing spa, and Côte, a high quality farm-to-table restaurant. Starting rates are $295 for a double queen room and $275 for a king room.

Along the Gulf Coast

A luxurious Port Aransas vacation community is providing a few special discounts just in time for Labor Day and beyond. For the long holiday weekend, Cinnamon Shore is offering reduced pricing for a three-night minimum stay, with four homes left for the weekend at various price points. Don’t forget to check their Labor Day Weekend Fun schedule highlighting special family-friendly events like movies under the stars and community cookouts, or live music and yoga classes for the adults. From September 5-October 4, guests can also enjoy 50 percent off their third night at one of the Cinnamon Shore rental properties after booking a minimum two-night stay using their code Fall2023. Rates for a one-bedroom home range from $940 to $1,600, and five to eight-bedroom homes range from $4,050 to $7,550.

For a more comprehensive look at all of the seaside options along the Texas coast for Labor Day weekend, from Galveston to South Padre Island (including Cinnamon Shore), check out these Gulf Coast getaways.

In West Texas

One of the best steakhouses in Texas is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a new historic art installation. The award-winning Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap, a small town about half an hour southwest of Abilene, will celebrate this landmark anniversary with a new outdoor exhibit that showcase the history of the town and the restaurant through photography, while also serving as a "love letter" to the American West. The collection will include several photos of Buffalo Gap from Lisa and Tom Perini's private collection. The exhibit, on display September 28-October 28, will be open to the public, and restaurant reservations can be made on their website.

In Austin

ThePecan Street Festival, a twice-yearly arts festival, is returning to downtown Austin on September 16-17. Over 300 local artisans and vendors will be selling their handmade art, crafts, clothing, and more in booths lined along 6th Street between Brazos Street and I-35 for the weekend. Live performances by local musicians are also scheduled throughout the weekend. The festival is free.

A fascinating new exhibition of beautifully aged books on display at The Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin is a bibliophile’s dream. The Long Lives of Very Old Books shares the histories of 15th through 17th century books through their physical attributes and treatment within the hands of time. Both prominent titles and esoteric finds are put under the spotlight. The exhibition is on display until December 30. Admission is free.

In the Hill Country

San Antonio’s Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa has a special Labor Day event lineup for families looking for a weekend escape. On Saturday, September 2, the resort will host a Texas-themed barbecue and country music. On Sunday, September 3, guests can enjoy a Fiesta-themed buffet with mariachi music. Besides excellent guest service and luxurious experiences, this newly renovated, award-winning resort has also prioritized its convenient location to several San Antonio attractions, such as SeaWorld and the downtown Riverwalk. Rates begin at $394 per night.

If bringing in the fall months with a glass of wine in hand is your preference, consider visiting Pedernales Cellars in Stonewall, a winery less than half an hour from Fredericksburg. Three special events will help patrons embrace the month of September: a six-winery tasting tour, dubbed The Heroic Hye Wine Hunt, on September 2; and the release of a 2020 GSM Mélange wine on September 8. Plus, visitors can celebrate International Port Wine Day with a tasting of the Texas Ruby port-style dessert wine on September 10. Tickets for the wine hunt are $30, and reservations for tastings can be made via Tock or by emailing tastingroom@pedernalescellars.com.

For six weekends beginning September 23 until October 29, the family-friendly Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival is returning to its home grounds at the Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead for its third and final year before moving to a new location. Each weekend has its own festive theme and special events, and costume-wearing is encouraged. Of course, no pumpkin fest is complete without its signature pumpkin patch. Tickets are $15, and admission is free for children under 3 years old and for seniors aged 65 and up.

Abraham Ángel Exhibit Cinnamon Shore Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival Gulf Coast Getaways High Hill Resort State Fair of Texas austin dallas fort worth houston san antonio texas travel vacations