You may not have realized it, but Dallas has been climbing the lists of Top Art Cities in America. In addition to its booming Arts District, new, design-driven hotels and restaurants are making downtown a destination again. Uh oh, suddenly feeling like you’re out of the loop? Check out our five places to up your art game this Spring.
- Feeling Fancy: The French Room Salon in The Adolphus Hotel
Grab a Gibson from The French Room Bar and enjoy the 42-piece art collection in the most luxe lounge in town. The rich wood paneling, opulent textiles and recently rediscovered original marble floor steep the contemporary collection in the history of this iconic Dallas hotel. The twin stone fireplaces are so cozy and the staff so hospitable you’ll fantasize this is your forever home and those two enviable Richard Serras are yours (a gal can dream!).
- Battle of the Bid: Dallas Auction Gallery Fine Art Auction
Every day in Dallas you are commuting, shopping and even bar-hopping with some of the world’s most important art collectors. Dallas’s public and private art collections rival the biggest cities in the world, and there is no easier (or fun!) way to count yourself among them than attending the Fine Art Auction May 16th at Dallas Auction Gallery. The current collection boasts a wide array of contemporary and classics alike, including a stunning Picasso mural from turn-of-the-century creative haute spot, La Mimoseraie villa. Inspired? Park your Prada and paddle in the front row and let the hunt begin!
- Sip and See: Third Thursdays with the Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas
Take your Thirsty Thursday routine up a notch on Dallas’s monthly Third Thursday, when local contemporary galleries open their doors to the public. Sip your glass of buttery/oaky with gallery owners, artists, and collectors and take in the latest exhibitions. Dress code: effortless chic, we’ve seen everything from drop-crotch and distressed to an orchid boutonniere and debonair boater. Meet us later at Daniel Arsham’s ‘Moving Figure’ for a late dinner at Sassetta!
- Creative Kiddos: The Great Create: By Artists. For Kids at the Nasher Sculpture Center
Held in support of the Nasher Sculpture Center’s youth education programs April 29th The Great Create offers hands-on art activities for your future little Koons or Kusama and is a wonderful way to enjoy an afternoon on the Nasher’s idyllic lawn. When your little one’s work goes for millions 20 years from now, your retirement account will thank you.
- Unexpected Oasis: The Valley House Gallery
Nestled on a 4.5-acre lot in North Dallas, this hidden gem is not only a tranquil sculpture garden but one of the oldest galleries in Dallas. If you need a break from the crowds, admission fees and sheer scale of the downtown Arts District you will love the personal touch this family-owned space brings to the artists they represent. We recommend bringing a picnic lunch to enjoy in the garden, don’t forget a bottle of your favorite art appreciation aperitif!
