What’s Hanging in Houston: 7 Art Exhibitions Worth Your Time This May

By Léonie

As a French photographer living in Houston, I sometimes miss the quiet gravity of European museums — the limestone façades, the whispers in galleries, the soft filtered light. But here, in the land of heat and boldness, the art scene has its own kind of electricity.

This month, I wandered from West U to Montrose with my notebook and iced matcha in hand, in search of beauty that lingers. And it did. Here’s my curated selection of must-see exhibitions in Houston (and a bit beyond) for May 2025, all carefully chosen for a reader who loves layered stories, artistic soul, and a little bit of air-conditioning.

“Floating World” by A.A. Murakami

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH)

Through September 1, 2025

📍 5601 Main St, Houston, TX 77005

🔗 mfah.org

Fog, glass, reflection, stillness.

I left this show feeling… quiet. Not speechless, just slowed down. A.A. Murakami create ephemeral experiences with vapor, scent, and suspended light that made me think of both tea ceremonies and cloud chambers. It’s delicate and strange, and worth the detour — especially if you arrive early and let yourself drift without expectation.

Léonie tip: Go alone, wear something comfortable, and take the elevator to the rooftop garden afterward.

“Tamara de Lempicka: Queen of Art Deco”

MFAH – Beck Building

Through May 26, 2025

There’s a certain pleasure in standing before a Lempicka painting and realizing how radical it still feels. I went on a weekday morning — nearly alone in the room — and her cool, steel-skinned women seemed to stare right through me. It’s rare to find a retrospective this complete outside of Europe.

Léonie tip: Take your time with the lesser-known works, especially the late portraits. And peek into the museum bookstore — their curation of design and art books is excellent.

“Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within”

MFAH

Through May 18, 2025

I didn’t expect to be moved by ceramics. And yet, here I was, writing notes in the corner like I’d just heard a poem. Takaezu’s large, meditative vessels aren’t just objects — they feel like people: quiet, dignified, full of breath.

Bring someone calm. Or don’t. But do take it in slowly.

“Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice”

Moody Center for the Arts (Rice University)

Through May 10, 2025

This exhibition is politically charged, yes, but it’s also incredibly human. The works by Tiffany Chung in particular felt very tactile — mapping memory through delicate materials and broken cartographies. I didn’t expect to stay long. I stayed over an hour.

Léonie tip: Walk through the Rice campus afterward — it’s surprisingly lush, and quiet enough to process what you’ve seen.

“Joe Overstreet: Taking Flight”

The Menil Collection

Through July 13, 2025

Overstreet’s suspended canvases made me feel like I was stepping into a ritual. There’s rhythm in this work — not the soft kind, but a steady, urgent pulse. The Menil never disappoints, and this show adds beautifully to its legacy of politically engaged abstraction.

“Viva Frida”

MECA East End

Through May 20, 2025

📍 333 S Jensen Dr, Houston, TX 77003

🔗 meca-houston.org

This show felt like a block party and a love letter rolled into one. Not an academic retrospective — but something more grassroots, colorful, and community-rooted. Texas-based artists interpreting Frida Kahlo with everything from glitter to ceramics.

Léonie tip: Don’t miss the courtyard murals — and check the event calendar. Sometimes there’s live music or poetry slams.

Also worth checking out this month

:

• “UH School of Art Annual Student Exhibition”
  Blaffer Art Museum, June 7 and onward – a great place to spot tomorrow’s voices.
• First Saturday Arts Market
  May 3, 540 W. 19th St, Heights – relaxed, festive, a nice way to meet local artists over a cold drink.
• “My Beloved City, Gaza Habibti” at MATCH
  (May 15–24) – documentary-style works that deserve attention and care. Come ready to listen.

Where to next?

Houston’s art scene is quietly thriving — layered, textured, and full of unexpected moments.

From cloud rooms to ceramic sanctuaries, it’s all there. You just need to know where to look.

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