Houston art institutions and organizations love a good holiday tradition. This month they’re welcoming back some favorite yearly art shows across the city \u2014 and even beneath it. From annual art sales at the Glassell and HCCC to immersive art experiences at Artechouse and the Cistern to another French connection at the MFAH, there\u2019s plenty of holiday art celebrations to help us close an amazing creative year.<\/p>\n
\u201cLouvre Couture\u201d at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston<\/a> (now through March 15) In this Houston version of the historic show, the MFAH will present works by historic and contemporary fashion houses alongside masterworks from the its own collections. Much of the museum\u2019s campus becomes a runway and salon, as \u201cLouvre Couture\u201d features 36 ensembles and accessories from 23 fashion houses across two buildings. Look for fashion as artworks from both heritage houses like Balenciaga, Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Versace, Louis Vuitton, and Vivienne Westwood, as well as from star 21st century designers, including Thom Browne, Erdem, Jacquemus, and Iris van Herpen. The exhibition also includes several rare and important loans from the Louvre Museum\u2019s own historic decorative arts holdings.<\/p>\n \u201cCITE\u201d at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft<\/a> (now through February 28) After a walk in the garden, don\u2019t forget to stop by \u201cAsher: Holiday by Hand,” for unique arts and crafts gifts for loved ones. The handmade and one-of-a-kind jewelry, home goods, ceramics, paper goods, clothing, and accessories by local and national artists featured in this special sale were selected by invitation for their exceptional work in craft and thoughtfully curated.<\/p>\n \u201cCistern Illuminated\u201d at Buffalo Bayou Park<\/a> (now through January 18) On select evenings, \u201cCistern Illuminated\u201d will be the setting for live performances by Ars Lyrica<\/a>, presenting the work \u201cRing in the Peace.\u201d This multicultural musical composition takes inspiration from music from the ninth century and onward and is curated by Mexican-born mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte and Spanish-born percussionist Jes\u00fas Pacheco. They hope this experiential piece will encourage audience reflection and a sense of unity with one another and with the local and global community.<\/p>\n \u201cWear It Out!\u201d at Hooks-Epstein Galleries<\/a> (now through December 20) \u201cSecond Annual Holiday Special\u201d at Artechouse <\/a>(December 10-January 4) “Photography from The Menil Collection: Curated by Wendy Watriss,\u201d at Menil Collection<\/a> (December 11-May 31) \u201cThis is an unconventional exhibition. It was done by three sets of eyes: my own and what I know about the vision of the two remarkable people who collected these photographs, John and Dominique de Menil. Being invited by the Menil to create a show from the museum\u2019s photography collection, and the images that John and Dominique began to collect more than 50 years ago, has been a very special gift. It has given me the opportunity to reconnect with their vision and their remarkable way of interacting with art and the world,\u201d describes Wendy Watriss, award-winning photojournalist, FotoFest co-founder and the exhibition\u2019s curator.<\/p>\n “Inside The Yards: Merry and Bright\u201d at Sawyer Yards<\/a> (December 11-14) \u201c2025 Studio School Student Art Sale\u201d at MFAH\u2019s Glassell School of Art<\/a> (December 11-14)
<\/strong>It\u2019s getting to be a holiday tradition for the MFAH to gift us a bit of French culture each winter. Last year, we took a virtual tour of Paris\u2019 great cathedral with \u201cNotre-Dame Immersive Experience<\/a>.\u201d This December the MFAH imports some inspiration from one of the greatest art museums in Europe, with an adaptation of the first fashion exhibition organized by the Louvre. <\/p>\n
<\/strong>This sixth annual exhibition of Ceramics in the Environment (CITE), features site specific work of ceramic sculpture created by students from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston\u2019s Glassell School of Art for HCCC\u2019s Craft Garden. Look for succulent and cacti varietals rendered in clay, intimate domestic scenes such as picnic and breakfast table settings, and contemplative pieces that respond to seasonal transitions. <\/p>\n
<\/strong>Continuing its great holiday art tradition, the park brings back this multidisciplinary work by artist\/engineer Kelly O\u2019Brien. \u201cCistern Illuminated\u201d uses lighting instruments controlled by customized software to cast colored light throughout the space. The special angle of these lights create fathomless reflections on the Cistern\u2019s ceiling and reflective water below. Adding to the otherworldliness, an ethereal soundscape builds upon the unique acoustic and reflective qualities of the cavernous space.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>After the sensation of their first show of contemporary jewelry, it looks like Hooks-Epstein will be making this a biennial event. For 2025, the exhibition showcases nine contemporary jewelry artists, each recognized for their distinct approach to wearable art, ranging from refined metal smithing and found object assemblage to sculptural and conceptual adornment. This selected group of jewelry artists create pieces that can be viewed as personal artifact and artistic gesture. Featured artists include Victor Beckmann, Martha Ferguson, Tarina Frank, Heidi Gerstacker, Jessica Jacobi, Edward Lane McCartney, Via Vandi, Dongyi Wu, and Sandie Zilker. Together, these works explore the way wearable objects function as vessels for narrative, identity, and artistic intent. And yes, attendees may adorn themselves and wear these pieces out, as they are meant to be lived with, carried, and seen in motion.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Once again, the immersive art wonderland presents some very special holiday inspired exhibitions and installations, including the stunning \u201cSpectacular Factory: The Holiday Multiverse.\u201d Shown within their state-of-the-art, 270-degree Immersion Gallery, \u201cSpectacular Factory\u201d becomes a surreal holiday landscape that surrounds visitors with ever-changing winter and celebratory scenes, including \u201cNutcracker Party,\u201d \u201cInfinite Crystal Reflections,\u201d \u201cTinsel Storm,\u201d and \u201cCandy Land Carousel.\u201d Along with these stars of the \u201cSpectacular\u201d show, look for additional interactive exhibits that let visitors contribute to the video and sound art making by shaping animated ornaments, composing festive melodies, and doing a little dance to trigger falling digital snow.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>This new exhibition gives a remarkable snapshot of the Menil\u2019s photography collection and especially of documentary-style photographs. Exploring how photography can give people rare glimpses into lives and social realities different from their own, while finding universal human connections, the exhibition features work by Larry Burrows, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Bruce Davidson, Danny Lyon, and Charles Moore, among others. While using varied approaches to their work, the majority of the photography artists featured in the show had an eye and vision for capturing unusual moments of life, from the mundane to the monumental.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>The artists of Sawyer Yard invite the whole Houston community to this four-day holiday celebration, featuring the work of local artists, festive installations, live entertainment, and creative workshops. Free activations include a 10,000-square-foot light installation, Santa meet and greet, photo booth, balloon artist, caricature artist, face painting, DIY tote bag screen printing, popcorn, cotton candy, and more. Artists and teachers will be offering some makers and DIY workshops for those donating to the Houston Food Bank, including felted icicle, glass Christmas ornaments, holiday bracelets, and linocut workshops.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Give yourself and your loved ones an artful gift created by some of Houston’s local up-and-coming Glassell student artists, some of whom also exhibit professionally in galleries and studios around town. Browse a huge selection of jewelry, ceramics, paintings, sculpture, prints, photographs, and more. Many of the artists also staff the sale and so are there to answer questions and give buyers insight into their work and process.<\/p>\n