Menil Collection to Open Repurposed Fresco Building in 2027 with Teresita Fernández Installation

The Menil Collection in Houston is planning to revamp its Fresco Building, formerly known as the Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, into a venue for contemporary art commissions. This building, which debuted in 1997 and was designed by architect Francois de Menil to display two restored 13th-century frescoes from the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus, will reopen in late 2027, just in time for the museum’s 40th anniversary. Brooklyn artist Teresita Fernández has been chosen for the first installation, which will run for five years. The Fresco Building closed in 2018 after showcasing exhibitions like The Infinity Machine (2015) and The Fabiola Project (2016) and returned its frescoes to the Church of Cyprus in 2012. According to Menil Director Rebecca Rabinow, Fernández's artwork will delve into spirituality and human experience, resonating with the building's legacy.