Dedicated on March 13, 1973, the new museum immediately became a vital force in the presentation and promotion of the visual arts in Houston.

Blaffer Gallery and the Art Museum of the University of Houston's mission is to promote a spirit of investigation, collaboration, and dialogue that extends far beyond the museum walls to present art that is intellectually stimulating and relevant. As a contemporary art museum, Blaffer Gallery embraces experimentation and creative acts of daring originality and vision, and promotes a spirit of investigation and discovery in the field of visual art and culture.

Blaffer exhibited world-renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque (1976), Edvard Munch (1976), Willem De Kooning (1977), and Frida Kahlo (1978).

One of the most glamorous—and heavily guarded—exhibitions ever to be hosted at Blaffer was French Royal Jewels from the Smithsonian in January 1975. During the one-week viewing, Houston audiences were stunned by a pair of dazzling 36-carat diamond earrings that belonged to Marie Antoinette and a tiara and necklace given by Napoleon to his second wife, Marie Louise.

In collaboration with TFAA:

Jean-Luc Mylayne, September 8-November 10, 2007