Texas Finds Its Muscle In The Art World

“Until the last quarter of the 20th century, Texas hardly existed on the cultural map of America. Virtually every one of the state’s major museums was built in the past 35 years. And, during the last decade or so, a new museum seems to open every year, inevitably designed by a leading international architect. Art follows money, and Texas money comes not only from oil but also from cattle, land development, banking, and insurance. You only have to set foot in a Texas museum to realise how generous wealthy Texans can be. But they are also sophisticated collectors who have filled their museums with works of art of the highest quality.”