Houston Art Heatwave

Beat the heat with Houston’s best gallery and studio shows this August.
As summer blockbuster exhibitions begin to wrap up to make way for the fall art season, now is the perfect time to escape the scorching days and catch up on the city’s vibrant art scene. August also offers a great opportunity to explore Houston’s wealth of galleries and artist studios. From bold personal expressions to large-scale group exhibitions, here are some standout shows not to miss this month.

"The Art of Life" at Sawyer Yards
Now through August 30
Artist Julie Pickett presents a deeply personal collection celebrating resilience, feminine strength, and the beauty found in imperfection. Her bold, expressive works reflect a journey of self-discovery, healing, and liberation. With vibrant colors, intentional patterns, and fluid forms, Pickett explores identity and divine creativity, offering a visually striking and emotionally resonant experience.

"Cookie's Art Odyssey" at Sawyer Yards
Now through August 30
This eclectic exhibition from local artist Cookie Ashton features work across a range of mediums, including large-scale abstract paintings, watercolors, and printmaking. Drawing from her life and experiences in Venezuela, Mexico, England, France, and the U.S., Ashton showcases a diverse body of work, much of it never before seen, that moves fluidly between realism and abstraction.

Student and Instructor Summer Exhibitions at Art League Houston
Now through August 31
A summer staple, this annual showcase presents fresh work from both instructors and students of the Art League School. Exhibiting a wide variety of media—jewelry, drawing, ceramics, mixed-media, printmaking, and painting—the show highlights both established and emerging talent. A special highlight is “Catharsis”, a curated show of work from teen artists in the summer intensive program, focusing on themes like climate change, mass consumption, global conflict, and artificial intelligence.

“Drawn From Life 2” at Archway Gallery
Now through September 4
Back by popular demand, this group exhibition brings together contemporary local artists who specialize in figurative work. Inspired by or created during Archway’s weekly figure drawing sessions, the pieces celebrate the enduring practice of life drawing. On August 17, the gallery will host a figure drawing marathon with sessions open to various age groups.

"Of Tunnels, Time and Tumult" at Sawyer Yards
Now through September 13
Artist and mixed martial arts pioneer John Perretti unveils more than 50 works in this expansive, multidisciplinary show. From large-scale paintings and drawings to sculpture, the exhibition fuses classical draftsmanship with raw expressionism. Drawing on Perretti’s life experiences—from underwater hunting to the solitude of the studio—each work invites viewers into the "tunnels" of time he’s traveled through.

“Celebrating Joseph Glasco” at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Now through October 12
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Joseph Glasco’s birth, this focused exhibition showcases four of his paintings from the MFAH’s collection, spanning the 1970s to 1990s. A key figure in Modernism with ties to icons like Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, Glasco’s later years were spent in Texas, where his bold, inventive work continued to evolve.

"Roots and Rhymes: The Cultural Ties Between Traditional African Cultures and Hip-Hop" at Reeves Art + Design
August 14–26
Houston-based artist Jaymes Earl uses the unique medium of string to explore the connections between traditional African cultures and hip-hop. Each piece is intricately woven with vibrant threads, forming visual narratives that echo rhythms, colors, and stories from both cultures. Earl’s work transforms structure and motion into a tapestry of identity, where every knot and thread tells a story.

“Jim Hatchett, Gerardo Rosales, and Curtis Gannon” at Andrew Durham Gallery
August 16–September 27
This group show brings together three distinct artistic voices exploring themes ranging from nature and myth to pop culture and social issues. Jim Hatchett’s abstract works reflect the vastness of West Texas landscapes, Gerardo Rosales’ vibrant paintings tackle identity and societal concerns, while Curtis Gannon creates abstract collages and installations that borrow from the language of American comic books.

“Passages: 20 Years of Winter Street Studios” at Sawyer Yards
August 23–November 8
Marking two decades since Winter Street Studios opened as one of Houston’s first major creative hubs, this milestone exhibition reflects on its journey—from growth and reinvention to survival through a devastating fire in 2022. Featuring work from resident artists, the show celebrates moments that define the creative life: triumphs, turning points, and the quiet evolution of ideas over time.