MUSED HOUSTON ART EVENTS | January 7

THIS WEEK IN HOUSTON

January 7–11, 2026

Dear Friends of MUSED Houston,

As we ease into this art-filled year, consider this week an invitation to move at a thoughtful pace — choosing connection, curiosity, and inspiration over overwhelm (but hey, things light up starting Friday night!). I’ve gathered a rich lineup of exhibitions, talks, and openings to help you start 2026 feeling engaged but not rushed.

SAVE THE DATE! I’m excited to share that I’ll be hosting my next MUSED Houston Salon on Sunday, January 25, from 3–5 PM. Space will be limited, and current MUSED Houston supporters will receive early access to RSVP. This gathering is generously supported by the Houston Arts Alliance, and I can’t wait to spend an afternoon in conversation with this community. Details to follow.

A few important updates as we move into the new year:

Over the next few weeks, I’m transitioning my MUSED Houston online calendar and stories to the domain of musedhouston.com. Both will continue to exist, but melissarichardsonbanks.com will become a central hub connecting all of my projects and clients. During this transition, this newsletter will continue to be your primary source for arts events.
Now and when the new website goes live, all event submissions must include a working URL with additional details in order to be considered for inclusion in the newsletter.

In the meantime, discover my Top Five Picks on my MUSED Houston Substack. Now’s the perfect time to subscribe and stay connected.

Melissa Richardson Banks

Founder, Publisher & Editor

MUSED HOUSTON

www.musedhouston.com

👉 PRINT & SAVE THIS EMAIL: As I'm now focusing more on curated listings in this newsletter (rather than maintaining a comprehensive online calendar), this email serves as your primary weekly arts guide. Please save or print this issue (or bookmark the "Read this newsletter in your browser" link above for easy reference this week.

👉 SUPPORT THIS NEWSLETTER: If my work has helped you discover exhibitions, plan gallery crawls, promote your events, or elevated your own creative work, I invite you to support MUSED Houston and help sustain this independent visual arts platform. Learn more HERE.

WEDNESDAY 01.07.2025

7–10 PM FILM SCREENING Ghost in the Shell at Asia Society Texas Center – free with registration, and if it's full, contact me as I have two additional tickets!

THURSDAY 01.08.2026

4–7 PM CLOSING RECEPTION Where We Find Ourselves at Houston Freedmen’s Town Visitor Center

6:30–8 PM OPENING RECEPTION Vessels: Chris Alexander and Deborah Ellington at Silver Street Studios (West Gallery)

FRIDAY 01.09.2026

6–8 PM ART EVENT John Ross Palmer: The Face of Innovation at Braemar Gallery in the Heights - RSVP required at (713) 392-6882

6–8 PM OPENING RECEPTION Marcelyn McNeil: Afterglow at David Shelton Gallery

6–8:30 PM OPENING RECEPTION Andrea Bianocni: Zipping Zap at Barbara Davis Gallery – performance at 7 PM

6–9 PM OPENING RECEPTION Winter 2026 Exhibitions: Anything but Nothing: AnTIC | 21st Century Follies: Alexander Squier | Seven: Tay Butler | Don’t you want to Play Pretend? Sara Lam at BOX 13 ArtSpace

6–9 PM CLOSING RECEPTION Scrap n’ Yap Exhibition at OP Gallery

7–8:45 PM FILM SCREENING Chantal Akerman’s Golden Eighties at MFAH (Brown Auditorium Theater) – get discounted $6 tickets from DACAMERA Houston using code F26PAR

7:30-9 PM CONCERT Mercury Chamber Orchestra presents Dual Strings, Global Voices: Cello Duo at Our Texas Cultural Center

7–11 PM ART SHOW Insomnia Gallery presents Sketch 'Em All: A Pokémon Art Show at Hardy & Nance Studios

SATURDAY 01.10.2026

10:30–11:30 AM HEALING ARTS Sound Bath with Tay Mayberry at Winter Street Studios #B135 - bring a mat to this donation-based event

12–3 PM CLOSING RECEPTION Nostalgia Nouveau: KOKO The Artist at Winter Street Studios #C215

12–5 PM OPENING RECEPTION The Uncanny In-Between at Blaffer Art Museum

3–5 PM ARTIST TALK Yvette Grutter: Paper Works at The Silos at Sawyer Yards (Bay 200 Gallery)

3–5 PM OPENING RECEPTION Michael Kennaugh: Broken Bridge at Moody Gallery – artist talk at 4 PM

5–8 PM UNVEILING RECEPTION Street Seen Vol. II–Rachel Gardner’s Whispers of the Wild: Shadows and Light at Foltz Fine Art

5–8 PM OPENING RECEPTION Claire Cusack: Timeless Stories at Koelsch Gallery

6–8 PM OPENING RECEPTION Gabriel de la Mora: Subject/Object at Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino

6–9 PM OPENING RECEPTION norMAL and unreMARKable: Heather L. Johnson & Henry G. Sanchez at Throughline Collective

6–10 PM ART EVENT ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! Lizbeth Ortiz and Alex Barber at MECA TBH Center (East End)

SUNDAY 01.11.2026

4:15–5:50 PM FILM SCREENING Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964): Directed by Stanley Kubrick, this BAFTA Award–winning political satire skewers Cold War paranoia as military and political blunders push the world toward nuclear catastrophe. Featuring unforgettable performances by Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, and Sterling Hayden, the film remains chillingly relevant. – also on Tuesday, January 13 at 5 PM

MORE EVENTS ON MY ONLINE CALENDAR

NOTE: Event details may change without notice. Confirm with the venue or event organizer before attending. Missed an opening? Visit exhibits during public hours.

SUPPORT THIS NEWSLETTER

Since launching MUSED Houston on July 20, 2023, I’ve featured 2,500+ events at nearly 400 local venues presented by over 400 organizers — highlighting the incredible work of Houston’s artists, curators, galleries, alternative art venues, and museums.

If my MUSED Houston newsletter has helped you discover new art, connect with the scene, support your business, make new friends, or grow your audience, please consider making a gift.

Every dollar — $10, $25, $50, or more — helps keep it going. Thank you to all who’ve already given. Your support means the world.

🔹 Submit Your Events Online (FREE!)

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🔹 Partner with Me to reach Houston’s art lovers.

🔹 Support My Work: Help me help artists.

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HOUSTON SEEN/SCENE IS HERE! Follow @musedhouston on Instagram for my weekend wrap-up with photos of the art happenings I've attended.

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