Five Impressive Art Galleries In Montrose

While you already know just how easy it is to experience culture in the Montrose District, here’s your chance to purchase it. Yes, money can buy happiness if art is something you value; if only for the moments of joy experienced when gazing upon your very new canvas of original artwork that adorns your living room wall (or sculpture or collage or pottery, etc.). Whether you’re window shopping or down to invest in some art of your own, here are five galleries in the district where you can find a piece (or pieces) for purchase.

Archway Gallery / 2305 Dunlavy St.
Spanning nearly 40 years, Archway Gallery has been a fixture in Houston’s art community; expanding, relocating and eventually landing at its current location at 2305 Dunlavy St. The gallery is owned by the artists who exhibit and sell their work here, with 30 member artists at this time. In addition to art that covers many genres and mediums, the gallery hosts public readings for writers on the third Thursday of each month (though dates can change based on holidays and special events) as well as rotating exhibits and figure drawing sessions twice a month. The gallery’s current exhibition features wooden sculpture work from Paula Haymond and paintings from LeeAnn Gorman.

The Brandon / 1709 Westheimer Rd.
Contemporary art and hip happenings are just a few things going on at The Brandon, which in contrast to Archway, is a newcomer to the Montrose art scene. Recently winning a Sammy Award (from Free Press) for Best New Gallery, The Brandon is officially one of the city’s hottest places to see, watch, taste and experience art. Recent events have included screenings of independent films, multiple exhibitions and even an underground supper club. Currently viewable is their “Questionable Judgement” exhibit featuring what the gallery calls “large-scale wall drawings” in an “immersive painting installation” from artist Maximilian Toth through the middle of October.

Sicardi Gallery / 1506 W. Alabama St.
The art and artists featured here are connected by the thread of Latin America; they’re all connected to the region in some way. Also weaving throughout each work from the Sicardi Gallery is its contemporary and modern nature, though the art itself spans a wide spectrum including sculpture, paintings, prints, photography, collage, drawings and more. On top of their sleek Montrose gallery, Sicardi represents its artists in fairs across the globe, able to place their works internationally to both private collectors as well as museums. Open through October 25 is the “Stories About Place” exhibit featuring the works of Gustavo Bonevardi, Dias & Riedweg, Cesar González, Liliana Porter and Melanie Smith.

BLUEorange Gallery / 1208 W. Gray St.
Artistic sensibilities run in the family for the Spacek family, where brother and sister duo Megan and Jacob are the founders of BLUEorange Gallery. The siblings took over the former space once inhabited by the Betz Gallery (which has since moved) and haven’t looked back since, exhibiting contemporary works and according to their mission statement, “foster[ing] a supportive community of artists, much like a family.” “Rising Fog Becomes Cloud” is their current exhibition with dream-like paintings from Tae Lee, an international artist with a focus on the intersections of the material and immaterial worlds of humanity. The exhibit closes October 18.

La Colombe d’Or / 3410 Montrose Blvd.
You might be aware that La Colombe d’Or is a tiny boutique hotel (five rooms total), you might be aware that Restaurant Cinq is one of the city’s finest places to grab lunch or dinner, but you may not have known it’s also a fine art gallery. Many of the works are paintings on canvas representing eras of Impressionism and Abstraction, though there are also sculptures thrown into the mix. Perhaps the most recognizable artists in the collection are Pablo Picasso — whose works were printed posthumously from a notebook inherited by Picasso’s granddaughter Marina Picasso — Dali, Man Ray and Lapicque with works on paper. The best part? Perusing world class art and then sitting down for a world class meal in Restaurant Cinq afterwards.