Upcoming Special Exhibitions

  • Phulkari Head Cover (Bagh) (detail), Punjab, Pakistan, 19th century, cotton embroidered with floss silk threads

    Phulkari Head Cover (Bagh) (detail), Punjab, Pakistan, 19th century, cotton embroidered with floss silk threads, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Banoo and Jeevak Parpia Collection, gift of Banoo and Jeevak Parpia.

    From India to the World: Textiles from the Parpia Collection
    June 22–September 14, 2025

    Showcasing the Museum’s recent acquisition of Indian textiles from the holdings of Banoo and Jeevak Parpia, this exhibition celebrates artistic mastery and cultural exchange.

  • Anicka Yi (portrait) © 2025

    Anicka Yi, photography by Jae An Lee.
    © 2025 Anicka Yi / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / Courtesy of the artist and Gladstone Gallery

    Anicka Yi
    June 29–September 7, 2025

    In this transcendent exhibition, two distinct components probe the divide between biological and technological: illuminated Radiolaria sculptures and the video Each Branch Of Coral Holds Up The Light Of The Moon.

  • Dorothea Prühl, Migratory Birds (Zugvögel), 2025, titanium and gold

    Dorothea Prühl, Migratory Birds (Zugvögel), 2025, titanium and gold, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, promised gift of the Rotasa Collection Trust. © Dorothea Prühl / photo: Matthias Ritzmann

    The Jewelry of Dorothea Prühl
    September 6, 2025–January 3, 2027

    The first U.S. exhibition dedicated to German artist Dorothea Prühl, this presentation features a series of necklaces and brooches that exemplify her visionary approach to contemporary jewelry.

  • Statue of Trajan, 2nd century, marble

    Statue of Trajan, Minturno, Italy, 2nd century, marble, National Archaeological Museum, Naples.

    Art and Life in Imperial Rome: Trajan and His Times
    November 2, 2025–January 25, 2026

    Featuring unprecedented loans from Italian museums, Art and Life in Imperial Rome is the first major exhibition in the United States dedicated to the extraordinary reign of Trajan, who ruled the Roman Empire at its height.

  • Nickolas Muray, Frida with Her Pet Eagle, Coyoacán, 1939

    Nickolas Muray, Frida with Her Pet Eagle, Coyoacán, 1939, printed 2024, inkjet print, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, gift of Nickolas Muray Photo Archives. © Nickolas Muray Photo Archives

    Frida: The Making of an Icon
    January 18–May 17, 2026

    Making its debut at the MFAH, this monumental exhibition is devoted to the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo. The fascinating presentation features works of art not only by the legendary Mexican artist but also by artists she inspired.