Discover Dallas’s Vibrant Asian Art Scene: Museums, Exhibits & Free Admission
Dallas buzzes with cultural diversity, offering endless experiences this fall.
Crow Collection of Asian Art
Step back in time at the Crow Collection of Asian Art, a jewel in Dallas’s Arts District. Since acquiring its first Asian piece in the mid‑1960s, the museum has curated an expansive range spanning from antiquity to contemporary works. It now serves as a premier destination for visitors and offers wellness programs, workshops, and lectures that deepen community engagement.
The large‑scale sculpture Hidden Nature by Sopheap Pich, on view until Jan. 7 2018, showcases nature sculpted with precision and abstract elegance.
Dallas Museum of Art
Just a street away is the Dallas Museum of Art, home to a 5,000‑year‑old collection that includes jewelry, vases, and a permanent Asian gallery dating back to 2,000 BCE. The DMA continually offers a variety of Asian‑focused activities and rotating exhibits.
From Nov. 15‑18, join the family‑friendly Islamic Art Festival featuring the museum’s Keir Collection of Islamic Art. Savor inspired cuisine, explore the nightly Late Nights program, and enjoy the museum’s extended hours—open until midnight on the third Friday of each month.
Enter the Infinity Mirror Room to witness Yayoi Kusama’s All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins. The installation, on display until Feb. 25 2018, features vividly painted gourds and reflective surfaces that create a luminous spectacle.
The Silk Road facilitated not only the exchange of goods but also rich cultural interactions. The DMA invites you to explore vibrant garments and ornaments from China, Japan, and India in the Asian Textiles: Art and Trade Along the Silk Road exhibition, running from Dec. 16 2017 to Dec. 9 2018, highlighting the luxury trade of that era.
The Samurai Collection
For a relaxed patio experience with bites and cocktails, visit Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar, housed in a 1920s historic school. On the second floor, the Ann & Gabriel Barbier‑Mueller Museum hosts the Samurai Collection—a free, intimate gallery featuring over 900 artifacts. Marvel at exquisitely preserved suits of armor that chronicle the fierce samurai and their unwavering loyalty.
Note: The Crow Collection, DMA and Samurai Collection are all FREE admission.
Header photo credit: Yayoi Kusama, All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins, 2016, Wood, mirror, plastic, acrylic, LED, Courtesy Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo / Singapore and Victoria Miro, London © Yayoi Kusama
