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THIS WEEK IN HOUSTON

March 18–22, 2026


Mid-March brings a busy stretch for Houston’s arts scene, with film, gallery openings, photography exhibitions, performances, and concerts happening across the city. The Houston Latino Film Festival launches midweek at MATCH with the opening night screening of American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez, followed by a conversation with Cheech Marin and Daniel Valdez.


Around town, galleries are rolling out new exhibitions—from contemporary painting and photography to installations exploring landscape, history, and memory—while artist talks, film screenings, and live performances carry the momentum through the weekend. A major choral concert and outdoor music round out the lineup.


If you’ve been waiting for a good week to get out and see what’s happening around the city, this is a great one. Here are a few highlights. 


Melissa Richardson Banks

Founder, Publisher & Editor

MUSED HOUSTON

www.musedhouston.com


PRINT & SAVE THIS EMAIL: During my website transition, this newsletter is your primary weekly arts guide. Bookmark the “Read in browser” link above. I’ll repost selections to the site as the transition continues.


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 👉 Check out this full list of participating spaces for this year's FotoFest.

WEDNESDAY 03.18.2026

12–5 PM INSTALLATION VIEWING + 6:30–8:30 PM LIVE PERFORMANCE: DiverseWorks presents The Past Does Not Need You, But It Borrows Your Mouth at MATCH


5:30–8:15 PM OPENING RECEPTION The Open Door Gallery presents B.T.S. Behind-The-Scenes for Houston Latino Film Festival at MATCH – photography, video installations, set-life environments, historical cinema archives, props, and production artifacts that reveal the creative labor and unseen moments that bring cinema to life.


6:30–8 PM ARTIST TALK Jamie Robertson: soft heat at Houston Center for Photography – his exhibition is a photographic study of wetlands in the Southern United States through black and white infrared film photography and is a continuation of his exploration of swamps and the space they hold in American society

THURSDAY 03.19.2026

5–7 PM OPENING RECEPTION Pixels + Silver: Photographs & Memories at Cloister Gallery at Christ Church Cathedral


5–8 PM OPENING RECEPTION NIZIE l Flor de Agua by Luvia Lazo at Serrano Gallery at Silver Street Studios (2000 Edwards St., 77007)


6–8 PM ART EVENT Let's Go Rodeo: Resident Artist Exhibit at Rozi Turnbull Gallery (Sawyer Yards) – featured artist Nancy Bryant and live music by Jorge Rivas


6–8 PM OPENING RECEPTION Donald Sultan: New Mimosa Paintings at McClain Gallery


6–9 PM OPENING RECEPTION Garden Party: Hunt Slonem at Laura Rathe Fine Art (River Oaks District)

FRIDAY 03.20.2026

5–7 PM OPENING RECEPTION Mary Baxter: Random Moments from South County and E. Dan Klepper | Wayfinder: Navigating the Natural Order at Foltz Fine Art


6–8 PM RECEPTION Osamu James Nakagawa: Witness Trees + Indelible Structures at ELLIO Fine Art


6:30–8:30 PM OPENING RECEPTION This is America at Hardy & Nance Studios – large-scale installation of photocopied photos from photographers around the world; also open on Saturday, March 21, 5–10 PM and Sunday, March 22 | 1–4 PM


6–9 PM FILM SCREENING Elis (Brazil, 2016) as part of Our Music, More Than a Language | Nuestra música, más que una lengua by East End Movie Nights at Dreamers Books + Culture – true story of Elis Regina, undoubtedly the greatest Brazilian singer of all time, is told with all the energetic and pulsating rhythm of her music. Free admission and popcorn, too!


7:30–9:30 PM CONCERT A Musical Evening with Maestro Hans Graf & Mercury Chamber Orchestra at Our Texas Cultural Center – part of the Lilia Khakimova and C. Robert Bunch Concert Series; tickets $30

SATURDAY 03.21.2026

12–5 PM ART EVENT Archivists of the Houston Area present Old, Weird Houston: Local History Fair & Archives Bazaar at Orange Show Center for Visionary Art (2334 Gulf Terminal Dr., 77023) – regional archives and collections (private and public) offer speakers and displays of offbeat and rarely seen materials in a fair-style setting with food trucks and vendors specializing in Houston-proud books, crafts, library information science, and apparel.


3–5 PM CONCERT Bach Society Houston presents Bach's Mass in B minor, BWV 232 at Christ the King Lutheran Church – Celebrate Bach's 341st birthday! Tickets $35–$50 (students $10)


3–5 PM OPENING RECEPTION Lorena Morales: That Which We Want to Remember/Aquello que Queremos Recordar at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft


5–7 PM CURATOR TALK + POETRY + COCKTAILS Holly Josey: The Day The Wind Drew at Monterroso Gallery at Crimson (2220 Westcreek Ln, Houston 77027)


7–9 PM CONCERT Music at the Meeting House: Pianist Yvonne Chen at First Congregational Church of Houston – free

SUNDAY 03.22.2026

5–7 PM CONCERT Jazzy Sundays in the Park: Mathias Lattin with Unusual Musicians Collective Band at Discovery Green – free


6–8 PM MUSIC PERFORMANCE Bob Henschen Jazz Quartet featuring Warren Sneed at Archway Gallery

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

Since launching MUSED Houston on July 20, 2023, I’ve featured 3,000+ 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. 


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