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The Houston Museum of African American Culture invites you to The Present Is The Past
The idea that the present is the past can be understood as the way current artistic expressions are deeply influenced by, and often reflections of, past forms, ideas, and techniques. Art doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it's always a product of its time, but it’s also a response to past eras. Present works are thus grounded in past experiences, whether they acknowledge it directly or not. In many works, the boundary between past and present is blurred.
When we view artworks, especially historical ones, we engage in a kind of time travel. The present becomes the past as we experience the worldviews, techniques, and materials of another era through an artist's work.
In essence, the present is the past in art because every new creation is a cumulative result of historical layers—building on, reacting to, and transforming what came before. The "present" in art, therefore, is always colored by the artistic and cultural memory that artists carry forward. In this exhibition, we explore the memories of a few artists whose work has been displayed at the Houston Museum of African American Culture.
The Houston Museum of African American Culture presents: Women's Empowerment Center: Inside and Out
This exhibition showcases the works of women from the Harris County Women’s Empowerment Center, created during Arts in Corrections Classes comprised of ten one-hour sessions. A pilot class created through the joint efforts of The California Lawyers for the Arts, HMAAC and Inprint began in July of 2023. Ongoing sessions continue today with efforts to expand the programs reach to participants inside and outside the facility.
These vibrant pieces are not just expressions of creativity; they embody resilience, community, and the transformative power of art.
Each artwork represents the unique voices and experiences of the participants. The women have explored themes of empowerment, healing, and hope, reflecting their journeys both inside and out.
We invite you to engage with these creations, celebrating the strength and creativity of those who often go unheard. This show is a testament to the importance of art in fostering connection, personal growth, and the reclamation of identity.
schedule a curator-led tour of current exhibitions. to schedule, click below.
Visit the Culture Shoppe at HMAAC for all your local artists and vendors merchandise!
exhibition archive
Visit our most recent exhibitions via our virtual 3D portal. Click anywhere to begin. For more of our other exhibitions, please scroll below.
Latinx Museum of Art in Houston?, curated by Benito Huerta. A glimpse of what a gallery exhibition in a Latinx museum might look like when accompanied by programs defined completely by Latinx voices.
Permanent Exhibitions
The Houston Museum of African American Culture dedicated its Stairwell of Memory on February 19, 2022 with the addition of the portrait of Houstonian Robbie Tolan, “The Survivor.” On December 11, 2021, HMAAC dedicated a portrait of Tolan by artist Cedric Ingram that was added to the ones of Bland and Floyd. The three of them represent our area’s most prominent symbols of police brutality. America is indeed lucky and blessed that one of them survived; a living reminder that justice for black victims of police brutality is so rare as to essentially be non-existent, and that good citizens of all races must be diligent to change our current culture to one of fairness and equity.
The Jazz Church of Houston
“The Jazz Church of Houston is an endeavor by artist Tierney Malone to create a temporary institution dedicated to collecting and sharing the story of Houston's musical tribe. While there are museums in Texas dedicated to music, a space does not exist that chronicles the jazz history of Houston. The name “Jazz Church” drew its inspiration from the Church of John Coltrane in San Francisco. Established in 1970, the church uses John Coltrane’s music as an expression of worship. The Jazz Church of Houston is a secular temple that will serve as a communal gathering place for like-minded people to listen, learn and celebrate jazz music and culture in Houston.
The Jazz Church of Houston’s patron saint is Texas tenor legend, Arnett Cobb. He is the standard bearer for all those who came after him. He made Houston his base of operation instead of New York or LA, as many of his contemporaries have done. He mentored the next generation of jazz musicians who followed in his footsteps to New York. He is the model of rugged individualism that often characterizes Texans. He survived many physical challenges to pursue his passion of making music. He was hospitalized for a year from a car accident, and used crutches for the rest of his life. He never let his physical challenges prevent him from playing for audiences around the world.”-Tierney Malone, via jazzchurchhouston.org
Open Your Eyes
Houston Museum of African American Culture
OUR MISSION
The mission of HMAAC is to collect, conserve, explore, interpret, and exhibit the material and intellectual culture of Africans and African Americans in Houston, the state of Texas, the southwest and the African Diaspora for current and future generations. In fulfilling its mission, HMAAC seeks to invite and engage visitors of every race and background and to inspire children of all ages through discovery-driven learning. HMAAC is to be a museum for all people.
OUR VISION
HMAAC seeks to be a cultural portal through which people share and converge histories and contemporary experiences that acknowledge and expand the African American experience, and from such interactions come together to build a common future.
