The museum was originally established in 1961 through the generosity of Amon G. Carter Sr. (1879–1955), to house his collection of paintings and sculpture by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. The museum continues to collect and exhibit masterworks of American art.
The collection is housed in a landmark international style building designed by New York architect Philip Johnson, blending modern materials with classical design. Johnson created a simple, elegant building that combines the warmth and richness of bronze with the creamy, intricately patterned surface of native Texas shellstone. His design was inspired by the Renaissance-style loggia---a covered, open gallery that looks out over an open court. Johnson has been involved in each subsequent expansion.
Please check the museum website for updated exhibition information. Scheduling may have been modified as a result of the temporary museum closure.
Shin creates a site-specific work on the Carter grounds
Sound sculptures of bird species that are endangered or are extinct
Site-specific sculptural installation
19th-century photographs document Colorado’s history
50+ defining midcentury sculptures and works on paper by Nevelson
Prosek investigates the allure of Texas’s grasslands
Multimedia examination of Karl Struss' influence on American filmmaking during Hollywood’s Golden Age
Video and sound installations portray life on Earth to extraterrestrials
Collection rotation with a selection of works acquired during the founder's lifetime
70+/- cutting-edge contemporary work by artists representing Asian American, Latino, and Indigenous perspectives