As some prepare for a jingoistic semiquincentennial, San Antonio’s Briscoe Western Art Museum is taking a broader approach to what it means to be an American. In celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the downtown museum will open Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story on July 24, a blockbuster exhibit tracing almost 400 years of Tejano culture’s influence on the American West. The exhibit will later travel to Austin's Bullock Texas State History Museum.
After San Antonio, Tejano Legacy will head to Scottsdale's Western Spirit Museum of the West from March to September 2027, then it'll be in Austin from October 2027 through February 2028.
The bilingual show, curated by Gabriela Gámez, gathers more than 100 rare artworks, artifacts, and immersive storytelling pieces at 210 W. Market Street. Briscoe curators culled the pieces from private collections, its own holdings, and institutions across the United States and Mexico. Several key objects of Mexico’s cultural and historical heritage will be shown in the U.S. for the first time.
This lavishly embroidered saddle belonged to a Spanish viceroy.Photo courtesy of the Briscoe Western Art Museum
The collection examines a large swath of Tejano culture, from the 16th century to the present, covering everything from ranching traditions to military service, showing how age-old traditions continue to shape Southwestern life. The themes are reinforced in a scholarly catalog featuring essays from historians and cultural leaders.
"Tejano history is American history, and there is no better place to tell this story than San Antonio," said Liz Jackson, President and CEO of the Briscoe, in a release.
Ernesto Icaza Sanchez's "Lasando Una Res" will be among the works on display. Photo courtesy of the Briscoe Western Art Museum
Although many of the objects — from an 18th-century santo to allegorical paintings — are centered on faith, a companion exhibit takes a more secular approach, albeit with a subject that inspires no small amount of devotion. Selena Forever/Siempre Selena, a showing of local photographer John Dyer’s early images of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, runs June 4 through January 4, 2027.
“Selena’s story is deeply connected to the cultural pride and artistic expression that define Tejano identity,” explained Jackson. “Her influence transcends music and continues to inspire audiences across generations, making her an important part of this broader cultural conversation."
Neither the press release nor the website gives a closing date for Tejano Legacy in San Antonio. However, if Austinites want to see it in its originating museum, we suggest seeing it during the museum’s National Day of the Cowboy celebration on July 25, when admission will be free.
The Briscoe Western Art Museum is located at 210 W. Market St. in San Antonio.
The Library Foundation supports events such as APL After Dark at the Austin Central Library. Photo courtesy of Austin Public Library