Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

"Always Fresh, Always Free: CAMH The CAMH, whose exhibits are always compelling and sometimes disturbing, fun, interesting, or emotional, is the only Texas museum dedicated solely to exhibiting and interpreting contemporary art. And the gift shop has the coolest toys, bags, jewelry, and other random gifts."

"A museum without a permanent collection that hosts exhibitions of major contemporary artists, contributing to Houston's vibrant art scene." - Michael Agresta Michael Agresta Michael Agresta is an Austin-based journalist who regularly writes on art, culture, and technology for Texas Monthly. His bylines have also appeared in The Atlantic, Slate, The Wall Street Journal, Wired, an

"The stainless steel Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) is prominently situated in the Houston Museum District and is always free, making it popular with just about everyone, from visitors doing a quick loop of the rotating exhibitions to more experienced art enthusiasts. This is a non-collecting museum, so its two floors house rotating exhibitions that showcase a mix of international artists and regional works. Unlike other behemoths in the Museum District, the scope here is more narrow and approachable—and perfect to absorb in a single visit." - Charu Suri

"What's the big picture?The stainless steel Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) is prominently situated in the Houston Museum District and is always free, making it popular with just about everyone, from visitors doing a quick loop of the rotating exhibitions to more experienced art enthusiasts. Is there a permanent collection?This is a non-collecting museum, so its two floors house rotating exhibitions that showcase a mix of international artists and regional works. Unlike other behemoths in the Museum District, the scope here is narrower and more approachable—and perfect to absorb in a single visit. So what can expect to see here?In two well-lit open galleries, media ranging from paintings to video installations touches upon subjects like textiles and fashion, design, music, and more. Who's coming here for a visit?The crowd skews hip and millennial, though Saturdays draw a mix of Museum District passers-by. Families with kids in tow tend to keep their visits brief. On the practical tip, how were the facilities?The galleries here are intentionally sparse and benches, while not plentiful, are well-placed. This is an easy-to-navigate museum; its size and number of works aren't overwhelming. What's the gift shop situation?A better-than-average gift shop has unusual gifts, great books, and funky jewelry. Anything else we should know?The entire museum is doable in 60 to 90 minutes." - Allison Bagley