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Glasstire's 25th Anniversary Archives Highlight Texas Museum Pillars

publication · 2026-07-02

Glasstire marks its 25th anniversary by publishing a curated archive of articles on Texas museums and institutions. The series includes profiles of the McNay Art Museum's retiring curator René Paul Barilleaux, the $20 million renovation of the Ellen Noël Art Museum in Odessa, the Old Jail Art Center's collection in Albany, El Paso's city-run museums refocusing on local communities, the Amon Carter Museum's Carter Community Artists program, and the Menil Collection. Also featured are stories on Alfred Walker's 43-year career at the Amon Carter and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's reopening during COVID-19.

Key facts

  • Glasstire is celebrating its 25th anniversary with monthly thematic content.
  • The theme for June 2026 is 'Cultural Pillars: Museums & Institutions'.
  • René Paul Barilleaux retired after 20 years as curator at the McNay Art Museum.
  • The Ellen Noël Art Museum underwent a $20 million renovation adding 8,000 square feet.
  • The Old Jail Art Center in Albany, Texas, holds 2,400 works including Ancient Americas objects and French Impressionist paintings.
  • El Paso's history, art, and archaeology museums are led by Hispanic/Latinx directors focusing on local communities.
  • Alfred Walker worked 43 years at the Amon Carter Museum and runs Lighting By Design.
  • The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston was the first major U.S. art museum to reopen after COVID-19 shutdowns in May 2020.
  • The Amon Carter Museum launched the Carter Community Artists program in 2018 with Christopher Blay, Lauren Cross, Diane Durant, and Arnoldo Hurtado.
  • The Menil Collection was profiled in 2005 as part of a series on Texas museum collections.

Entities

Artists

  • René Paul Barilleaux
  • Nicholas Frank
  • Patrick Kelly
  • Jessica Fuentes
  • Brandon Zech
  • Paula Newton
  • Jennifer Jankauskas
  • Alfred Walker
  • Tina Walker
  • Christopher Blay
  • Lauren Cross
  • Diane Durant
  • Arnoldo Hurtado
  • Bill Bomar
  • Reilly Nail
  • Erica Marin

Institutions

Locations

  • Texas
  • San Antonio
  • Odessa
  • Albany
  • El Paso
  • Fort Worth
  • New York City
  • Ranchos de Taos
  • New Mexico
  • Houston
  • Dallas
  • New York

Sources