The Beer Can House actualmente está abierto los sábados y domingos de 12 a 5 p. m.
The Beer Can House actualmente está abierto los sábados y domingos de 12 a 5 p. m.
Visionary art—created by self-taught artists urged by imagination and personal vision—offers a powerful reminder that creativity belongs to everyone.
At the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, we are driven by the belief that creativity connects us all. Our mission is simple but powerful: to celebrate the artist in everyone.
Our education programs engage students, artists, and communities across Houston through hands-on projects that celebrate imagination, collaboration, and the power of self-expression.
From the legendary Art Car Parade to our university and K-12 school-based partnerships, we’re shaping a generation of creative thinkers who see the world differently—and make it better.
Education in Action
a living laboratory for learning
In partnership with the University of Houston, the Orange Show hosts a Conservation in Visionary Art Spaces course. The first of its kind, it is a hands-on college course exploring the intersection of art, preservation, and cultural heritage. Led by Orange Show conservator Shane Winter, students learn to balance conservation and artistic evolution. They gain real-world experience preserving Houston’s visionary landmarks—the Orange Show, Beer Can House, and Hyde Park Miniature Museum—while engaging with experts at MFAH, the Menil, and Public Art UHS.
Art Cars in Schools
Building Confidence, One Art Car at a Time
When you give to Art Cars in Schools, you’re not just helping students build cars—you’re helping them build confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging. You’re opening doors to future careers in architecture, animation, engineering, fashion, film, design, and more. Alumni like sculptor Julian Luna and electronics designer Matt Fries credit their professional success to the spark they found creating art cars. With your generosity, this program will continue to grow—and so will the next generation of artists, makers, and dreamers who make Houston shine.
“I love when students come back and tell us how working on an art car shaped who they are.”
— Rickey Polidore, Jr. HISD Visual Arts Curriculum Specialist
50 Schools
10 School Districts
6300 Students
Visionary Voices
Innovation, Inclusion & Imagination
Neurodiverse artists have long been integral to the visionary art world. Their work expands how we understand creativity itself—offering perspectives that are bold, unconventional, and deeply original. Yet too often, these artists face barriers to education, workspace, and the supportive community they need to thrive. Most major cities have a program to provide access to creativity for this population.
That’s why the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art is launching a groundbreaking initiative: the Neurodiverse Art Studio, a program designed to nurture the creative expression of artists whose ways of learning and communicating differ from the perceived norm, including individuals with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other developmental or intellectual differences. In partnership with Houston Community College’s award-winning VAST Academy—one of the nation’s first college programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities—we’ve begun a pilot phase that lays the foundation for this transformative program.
This program is more than an art class—it’s a movement toward inclusion, empowerment, and dignity. By supporting neurodiverse artists, you enrich the cultural fabric of our city and deepen our collective understanding of human creativity.
ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE
The Orange Show’s Artists in Residence are nationally recognized artists who work, teach, and create alongside our community. Each year, a visiting artist immerses themselves in Houston’s vibrant creative spirit—sharing their craft and igniting imagination in others.
When renowned visionary artist Lonnie Holley joined us, he didn’t just teach the art of sculpture—he inspired young artists to see themselves as creators with something powerful to say. That spark of confidence and creativity is what the Orange Show exists to nurture.
These experiences change lives. They connect
people through art, empower new voices, and strengthen the creative heartbeat of our city.
Creativity in Every Corner
Across our campus, learning happens in studios, parks, and classrooms—where art becomes a shared experience that inspires all ages.
Our classes and workshops invite participants to explore new materials, techniques, and ways of thinking:
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Circuit-Bending & LED Workshops fuse technology and art, empowering students to transform everyday electronics into glowing, interactive works of creativity.
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MIG Welding introduces participants to the artistry of metalwork, teaching safe and versatile techniques for shaping repurposed materials into something entirely new.
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Senior Art Classes at the Magnolia Multi-Service Center offer older adults fresh ways to express their creativity while connecting with others in a vibrant, social setting.
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At Smither Park, mosaic art takes center stage. Each Saturday, visitors can watch artists transform blank walls into dazzling surfaces of color and texture—and even try their hand at mosaic-making. Guided by veteran artists such as Jesse Sifuentes, Mary Ann and Charles Fried, and Mark Toth, participants learn the fundamentals of mosaic design and craft their own one-of-a-kind piece to take home.
Orange Show in Schools
Education at the heart of everything we do
For five years, in partnership with the Houston Parks Board, the Art Bike Parade & Festival makes the joy of creation accessible to everyone. In our HISD program, we’ve developed a curriculum so younger students can turn ordinary bicycles into dazzling kinetic sculptures. The event—open to all—is a celebration of imagination on two wheels, promoting health and wellness, and community building.
Houston-area high school students reimagine everyday materials into powerful Found Object Sculptures. Works are exhibited at the Orange Show World HQ, giving some young artists their first public showcase and recognition for their creativity. Scholarships are awarded thanks to generous support from donors like you.
