Untitled Art, one of the world’s leading contemporary art fairs, planted new roots in Houston this September. Known for its flagship fair on the sands of Miami Beach, Untitled expanded to Texas for the first time with a boutique edition at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The move carried more than just spectacle. It signaled Houston’s growing weight in the global art market.
The inaugural Houston fair brought together 88 exhibitors from 22 countries, including 20 galleries from Texas and 12 based in Houston. That balance was deliberate, said Executive Director Clara Andrade Pereira, who emphasized the importance of both showcasing international voices and grounding the fair in the city’s cultural fabric.
“For us, it was very important to blend local with international,” she explained. “Out of 88 exhibitors, we have 20 galleries from Texas, 12 from Houston, and 22 countries represented. The idea is engaging with the community, supporting the community, and doing it with the community, but also bringing international galleries, many of whom are here for the first time.”
The reception was immediate and measurable. Early sales included a Carlos Cruz Diaz work placed by Sicardi Ayers Bacino for 415,000 dollars, a John Alexander canvas sold by McClain Gallery for 125,000 dollars, and multiple works by Dorothy Hood for 75,000 dollars each. Mid-tier galleries reported brisk movement in the five-figure range, while younger spaces saw accessible works placed with new collectors.
“We invited a lot of international press, advisors, and institutions to Houston,” Pereira said. “But it is also about education, making sure younger generations understand the cultural and economic value of art. That is critical not just for collectors but for the development of the city itself.”
Pereira also spoke about the importance of making the fair accessible to guests who may never have attended an art show before. “Ask questions, talk to the galleries, learn who the artists are,” she said. “Everything is for sale, but this is not just about buying. It is about starting to learn and develop your eye. You might come in with no background at all and leave with a deeper understanding of what you like, who these artists are, and why their work matters.” By encouraging newcomers to see themselves as part of the experience, she positioned the fair as both a marketplace and an open door into the art world.
The fair not only included art but also programming like podcasts and panel discussions covering various social needs.
Photo by Casey Kelbaugh
Programming stretched beyond the convention center floor. The week included panel discussions on Black and Latino artists shaping Houston culture, podcast recordings with local curators, and even a Spanish language panel moderated by Pereira to engage the city’s Latino community. Attendance at the podcast lounge reached more than 80 people, evidence of the hunger for dialogue alongside collecting.
“This is not a one time thing,” Pereira stressed. “We are committed to the city. We are looking at keeping it in September every year. Our intention is to stay and to grow the fair with Houston.”
For local gallerists, the fair’s presence was a marker of validation. Janice Bond, owner of Art is Bond and Bond Contemporary, saw it as proof that the international art market recognizes Houston’s potential. “This is not just an art party,” she said. “This is one of the key components of the commercial art business. When an international fair says they are willing to bank on resources and partnerships here, what they are saying is that they see a level of viability in Houston as a place for expansion and growth.”
For international galleries, the fair provided direct access to collectors. Christian Gundin Garcia, director of El Apartamento with locations in Havana, Madrid, and Miami, said the engagement was immediate. “We reached a lot of local collectors here,” he noted. “We have made good sales, and the reception has been really strong. Collectors are thoughtful. They take their time, they come back, they ask questions. That is what we are here for.”
Artists, Gallery Owners, and Guides spent the weekend leading guests through exhibits.
Photo by Casey Kelbaugh
Untitled Art’s arrival in Houston represents more than another weekend on the calendar. It is a public declaration that the city’s artists, galleries, and institutions are ready to be part of the global conversation. With six figure sales already moving, hundreds of out of town visitors circulating, and plans to return each September, the fair has the potential to reshape Houston’s art economy and elevate its cultural profile worldwide.
Just as important, it has the power to reshape who feels welcome inside that economy. Pereira’s invitation to curious first timers showed that the fair was not designed only for seasoned collectors or insiders. It was also designed for Houstonians from every walk of life who may never have set foot in a gallery before. In a city defined by diversity and growth, Untitled Art arrived as both a marketplace and a meeting place, opening the doors wider for Houston to see itself as an international art capital. The fair continues at the George R. Brown Convention Center through Sunday.