Houston Gallery Honors John Cleary with Thirty Years Exhibition
The Catherine Couturier Gallery in Houston is hosting "Thirty Years: The Legacy of John Cleary Gallery," a tribute to the late photography dealer John Cleary, who established the gallery in 1996. Launched in June, the exhibition will be on view until September 4, 2026, featuring works by photographers supported by Cleary, such as Robert Doisneau and Henri Cartier-Bresson. Among the highlights is Doisneau's "Le Manège de Monsieur Barré" (1955), which was Cleary's inaugural print. Cleary, born in Findlay, Ohio, in 1937, relocated to Houston in the late 1940s, had a diverse career, and passed away from pancreatic cancer in January 2008. Couturier, the current owner, curated the exhibition from her collection.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Thirty Years: The Legacy of John Cleary Gallery' runs through September 4, 2026, at Catherine Couturier Gallery.
- John Cleary founded John Cleary Gallery in 1996 on Colquitt Street in Houston.
- Catherine Couturier worked as gallery manager from 1999 and took over after Cleary's death in 2008.
- The show features works by Robert Doisneau, André Kertész, Willy Ronis, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Brassaï.
- The first print Cleary purchased was Robert Doisneau's 'Le Manège de Monsieur Barré' (1955).
- Cleary was born October 13, 1937, in Findlay, Ohio, and died February 1, 2008.
- Cleary was a founding member of the Houston Center for Photography, which named its library the John Cleary Library.
- Cleary's 'Kid Collection' of 1,200 photographs of children was sold separately after his death.
Entities
Artists
- John Cleary
- Catherine Couturier
- Robert Doisneau
- André Kertész
- Willy Ronis
- Henri Cartier-Bresson
- Brassaï
- Anne Tucker
- Geoff Winningham
- Barry Singer
- Patricia Covo Johnson
- Russell Andrews
Institutions
- Catherine Couturier Gallery
- John Cleary Gallery
- Rice University
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH)
- Association of International Photography Art Dealers
- MFAH Photo Forum
- FotoFest
- Houston Center for Photography
- Houston Art Dealers Association (HADA)
- Houston Chronicle
- Glasstire
Locations
- Houston
- United States
- Colquitt Street
- Findlay
- Ohio
- Upper Kirby
- Texas