Briscoe Western Art Museum Unveils Landmark Tejano Legacy Exhibition Opening July 24
SAN ANTONIO – The Briscoe Western Art Museum is preparing to debut the most ambitious exhibition in its history with “Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story,” a sweeping bilingual exhibition exploring nearly 400 years of Tejano history, culture and identity through art, artifacts and immersive experiences.
Opening July 24 and running through Jan. 18, 2027, the exhibition brings together more than 100 rare works of art and historical objects from museums and private collections across the United States and Mexico, offering visitors a fresh perspective on the people and traditions that helped shape Texas and the American West.
Created in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Tejano Legacy challenges traditional narratives of the American West by highlighting the generations of Tejanos whose influence continues to be reflected in ranching, horsemanship, language, music, food and everyday life throughout Texas.
“This exhibition is more than an exhibition. It is an invitation to experience a richer, more complete understanding of the American West,” said Liz Jackson, president and CEO of the Briscoe Western Art Museum. “For generations, the contributions of Tejanos have been woven into the fabric of Texas and our nation, yet many of those stories are not widely known.”
The exhibition is the largest ever developed by the Briscoe since opening in 2013 and includes paintings, sculptures, saddles, maps, weapons and historical artifacts, with several pieces considered part of Mexico’s cultural heritage making their first appearance in the United States.
Among the highlights are an 18th-century Viceroy saddle that illustrates the evolution of the vaquero tradition, rarely exhibited casta paintings from New Spain, portraits of Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlota, historic maps documenting the settlement of Texas and works depicting ranching, military history and life along the Texas-Mexico border.
The museum has also produced a 207-page bilingual exhibition catalog featuring essays by leading historians and scholars, ensuring the exhibition’s research remains an educational resource long after it closes.
Visitors will also experience “Tejano Legacy: Generations in Step,” an original documentary created exclusively for the Briscoe by National Geographic filmmaker Jeremy Zipple. The film follows artists, musicians, ranchers, historians and community leaders whose lives reflect the enduring influence of Tejano culture through music, dance, faith, food and family traditions.
Interactive elements throughout the exhibition are designed to engage visitors of all ages. Features include a digital timeline tracing centuries of Tejano history, hands-on touch stations with materials connected to early Texas life, a custom lotería activity, magnetic Western art scenes for children and a visitor map where guests can mark their hometowns.
Opening Events and Programs
The exhibition officially opens following a Preview Party on Thursday, July 23, from 6 to 8 p.m., where guests can enjoy an exclusive first look at the exhibition along with light bites and drinks.
Opening weekend continues with the Briscoe’s annual National Day of the Cowboy celebration on Saturday, July 25, reimagined this year as Día Nacional del Vaquero. The free event will feature charro demonstrations, folklórico performances, chuck wagon cooking demonstrations, Western artists, historical reenactors and family-friendly activities celebrating the vaquero’s influence on cowboy culture.
Throughout the exhibition’s run, visitors can participate in curator-led gallery tours, genealogy workshops, historical lectures, concerts celebrating Tejano music and hands-on family programming during the museum’s monthly Locals Days.
Selena Companion Exhibition
Presented alongside Tejano Legacy is “Selena Forever / Siempre Selena,” featuring acclaimed San Antonio photographer John Dyer’s iconic photographs of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez captured between 1992 and 1994. The companion exhibition showcases large-scale portraits, magazine covers and never-before-seen images celebrating one of Tejano music’s most influential figures.
The museum will also host a Siempre Tejano Summer Film Series, including screenings of Selena (1997) on July 19 and Take It Away: The Rise and Fall of Tejano Hollywood on Aug. 16.
Following its San Antonio debut, Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story will travel to museums in Arizona and Austin, extending its reach to audiences across the country and continuing the conversation about the lasting contributions of Tejanos to American history and culture.
