THE MENIL COLLECTION

Begun in France in 1931, through the marriage of a banker, Jean de Menil (1904-1973) and a wealthy oil heiress, Dominique Schlumberger (1908-1997), the Menil Collection is one of Houston's proudest achievements. Housed in a magnificent building designed by architect Renzo Piano, the collection spans many periods and geographical areas. On view are works by Marcel Duchamp and René Magritte, several canvases by Mark Rothko, Polynesian art and Egyptian antiquities. It's a collection of rare quality, where you're not overwhelmed by the sheer number of works on display, but rather by the relevance of the selection. All this in a light, airy space where Renzo Piano has had the good idea of combining sober interiors with outdoor patios teeming with extravagant flora.

When visiting Houston, it may seem strange to see such a wealth of culture, yet the city seems so different from major art capitals such as New York or Paris. This is where it's important to understand that Houston's cultural wealth, such as the Menil Collection, is intimately linked to the city's oil history. Texas, a notoriously conservative state, and Houston, a city where any building over 20 years old is demolished, are despite appearances world-renowned centers for the art world. Who could have predicted that some of the world's greatest artists would find themselves exhibited in cowboy country?