Russell Hill Rogers Texas Art Gallery

The Witte Museum’s renowned Texas Art Collection has been shaped by the visionary leadership of curators such as Eleanor Onderdonk, Martha Utterback, and Cecilia Steinfeldt. Each curator helped define Texas Art for the museum, the state, and the nation. In honor of the Witte Museum’s 90th anniversary and the legacy created by Alfred Witte and the Witte Picture Fund, this exhibition explores how these remarkable women shaped the collection through strategic purchases.

Learn more about the Witte Museum’s renowned Texas Art Collection as you explore works from 19th and 20th century painters, folk artists and native artists that have been purchased for the permanent collection. Together these works provide a cross-section of the Texas Art Collection and also represent the powerful choices that continue to shape the collection today.

Laura and Sam Dawson Gallery

Journey into Rudolf Staffel’s world in the Laura and Sam Dawson Gallery with Rudolf Staffel: Gathering Light and experience a special debut of selected works by Staffel that the Witte acquired in 2014.
Staffel began his artistic career in San Antonio and took classes under artist José Arpa and Xavier Gonzalez, Arpa’s nephew. In 1944 Staffel studied with abstract artist Hans Hoffman where he learned a new way of contracting and expanding planes with the “push-pull” effect. His exploration of the push-pull, light and dark, would influence his work for the rest of his life. Discover his paintings, drawings and pottery in this amazing exhibition.