Anya Tish Gallery takes great pride in announcing End of an Era, a commemorative exhibition opening Friday, October 24, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. The group show will bring together artists who have shaped and defined the gallery’s program, presenting an expansive range of works including figurative and abstract paintings, sculptures in various mediums, video art, light installations, animations, photography, and drawings. Beyond the artworks themselves, the exhibition honors the vision, artistry, and lasting relationships that have guided the gallery through the years. On view for one month, the exhibition celebrates decades of creativity, collaboration, and community while marking the beginning of the gallery’s final chapter. Following the show, Anya Tish Gallery will remain open by appointment only through December 31, 2025.
After thirty years of sharing contemporary art with Houston, Anya Tish Gallery will be closing its doors on December 31, 2025. Since its founding, the gallery has been more than an exhibition space – it has been a gathering place for ideas, dialogue, and discovery. By introducing Houston audiences to cutting-edge, innovative artists from across the globe, the gallery has played a vital role in shaping the city’s cultural landscape and supporting generations of artists.

Founder Anya Tish, who passed away last year, once reflected on her vision for the gallery in a 2019 Art Houston Magazine interview:

“It is my firm conviction that an important responsibility of a contemporary art gallery is to provide a venue for unknown talent. Representing emerging artists brings fresh exciting ideas and challenging perspectives to the art community, which can only vitalize and enhance art’s cultural relevance. … art must be encountered in person to be fully appreciated. The art gallery provides the community with this opportunity, to directly experience a work of art, whether it be a painting or installation. And in so doing the gallery becomes a conduit for something that truly nurtures the human spirit. … The art gallery has a strong connection to its community. It is a place where people can come together to engage in a discourse initiated by the art, a discourse that often serves as a catalyst for addressing social concerns. Thus the art gallery, by enabling art to become an integral part of the individual’s life, fulfills an essential part of the fabric of a healthy society.”

This philosophy guided the gallery for three decades, shaping its program and inspiring a community of artists, collectors, and viewers. Over the years, Anya Tish Gallery presented dozens of memorable exhibitions that championed both Texas-based and international artists, including works by HJ Bott, William Cannings, Adela Andea, Katja Loher, Bumin Kim, Maxim Wakultschik, Dmitri Koustov, Paweł Dutkiewicz, and many many others. It has successfully participated in various art fairs, and has placed outstanding works in museums, art institutions, and public spaces. Through its programming, it brought local and global ideas together, giving Houston audiences a chance to experience bold, revolutionary artwork they would not see anywhere else in the city.

Anya Tish Gallery extends heartfelt gratitude to the artists, collectors, and friends who have walked alongside this journey. We hope the relationships formed and the conversations sparked here will remain an enduring part of Houston’s art story.

Director’s Note:

As Anya Tish Gallery prepares to close, I feel deeply grateful for what a true privilege and honor it has been to be part of this remarkable story. Collaborating with Anya throughout the years has been an invaluable privilege and a defining part of my career and life. Her passion for the artists and her fearless dedication to contemporary art shaped not only the gallery, but the Houston art community at large. As I reflect on this chapter, I can say that the most meaningful part of this work has always been the relationships – with artists, with collectors, and with the countless people who walked through our doors and left changed by what they experienced.

The conversations, friendships, and moments of wonder that unfolded here will stay with me long after the lights are turned off. To every artist who trusted us with their vision, and to every visitor who made the gallery a part of their lives, I thank you.

It has truly been an honor.
All the Best,
Dawn Ohmer, Director of Anya Tish Gallery