Briscoe Museum Announces Selena Forever/Siempre Selena and Tejano Legacy
Briscoe Museum to Debut Landmark Exhibition TEJANO LEGACY
Expansive Bilingual Exhibition Exploring Nearly 400 Years of Tejano History, Heritage and Culture Opens July 2026 to Mark America’s 250th
Companion Exhibition Selena Forever / Siempre Selena opens June 4
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Briscoe Western Art Museum will present Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story, a landmark bilingual exhibition exploring nearly 400 years of Tejano history, culture and identity and the enduring influence of Tejanos on Texas and the American West.
Opening to the public July 24, the exhibition is the most ambitious in the Briscoe’s history and will feature more than 100 rare artworks, artifacts and immersive storytelling drawn from extraordinary private collections, the Briscoe’s permanent collection and institutional lenders from across the United States and Mexico. Several works loaned from Mexican institutions, considered part of the country’s cultural and historical heritage, will be seen in the United States for the first time, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience objects and artworks that deepen and broaden the understanding of Tejano identity and its connection to the story of the American West.
Spanning from the 16th century to modern times, Tejano Legacy traces the evolution of Tejano identity through art, ranching traditions, military service, music, faith and community. Through paintings, sculpture, saddles, textiles, historic objects and contemporary works, the exhibition highlights the resilience, innovation and cultural influence that continue to shape South Texas, San Antonio and the Southwest today.
“Tejano history is American history, and there is no better place to tell this story than San Antonio,” said Liz Jackson. “This exhibition reflects generations of culture, artistry and resilience that helped define Texas and the American West. As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, the Briscoe is proud to honor the people, traditions and stories that continue to shape and influence our communities today.”
Presented bilingually in English and Spanish, the exhibition aligns with the Briscoe’s mission to preserve and present the art, history and culture of the American West while expanding the lens through which those stories are interpreted and shared. Lending institutions include Bandera Natural History and Art Museum, Hunter Museum of American Art, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, Museo de Historia Mexicana, Museo Nacional de Historia Castillo de Chapultepec, Museo Nacional del Virreinato, Museo Regional de Querétaro and the San Antonio Museum of Art. Gabriela Gámez serves as the exhibition curator.
Exhibition Catalog to Accompany Landmark Exhibition
Tejano Legacy will be accompanied by a major bilingual exhibition catalog featuring scholarly essays, historic research, photography and exhibition highlights that further explore the themes and stories presented throughout the exhibition. Published in both English and Spanish, the catalog is designed to serve as both a lasting educational resource and an important contribution to the broader understanding of Tejano history and culture.
The publication features contributions from historians, scholars and cultural leaders and extends the exhibition’s impact beyond the gallery walls as the exhibition travels nationally.
Selena Forever/Siempre Selena Opens June 4
Complementing Tejano Legacy, the Briscoe will also present Selena Forever/Siempre Selena, a special exhibition celebrating the enduring legacy of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez through the lens of acclaimed San Antonio photographer John Dyer.
Opening June 4, 2026, and remaining on display through January 4, 2027, the exhibition features intimate and striking photographs captured during Selena’s rise to international stardom in the early 1990s. The exhibition offers an intimate look at an artist whose talent, charisma and determination transformed Tejano music and helped redefine representation for Mexican American women in popular culture. The featured images have never been displayed together, giving new context to Dyer’s work with Selena.
More than a music icon, Selena was a groundbreaking Tejana whose story reflected the spirit of the American West itself: bold, resilient, entrepreneurial and deeply connected to culture and community. Like generations of Tejanos who helped shape Texas through perseverance, innovation and cultural pride, Selena forged her own path while carrying the traditions of her community forward. Her legacy continues to inspire new generations, embodying the pioneering spirit, creativity and determination that remain central to the story of the West.
“Selena’s story is deeply connected to the cultural pride and artistic expression that define Tejano identity,” said Jackson. “Her influence transcends music and continues to inspire audiences across generations, making her an important part of this broader cultural conversation. The exhibition shares an icon who demonstrates the lasting influence of Tejanos – and Tejanas – in Texas and beyond.”
National Day of the Cowboy/ Día Nacional del Vaquero to Spotlight Vaqueros and Tejano Influence
The Briscoe’s annual National Day of the Cowboy celebration on July 25 will further honor the exhibition’s themes by spotlighting the role vaqueros played in shaping the traditions, skills and culture of the American West. The day will also serve as a celebration of Tejano Legacy, with free admission to the museum and the celebration.
Filled with family-friendly activities, music, demonstrations and Western traditions, the annual celebration fills the museum with family-friendly activities and all things cowboy and vaquero. The free event highlights the skills, heritage and cultural contributions of the vaqueros whose horsemanship, ranching traditions and way of life helped shape cowboy culture across the West.
By connecting visitors to the living traditions of Tejano and vaquero culture, the event reinforces the exhibition’s central message: that the story of the American West cannot be fully told without recognizing the generations of Tejanos and vaqueros who helped define it.
Tejano Legacy Set for National Tour
Following its presentation in San Antonio, Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story will embark on a national tour, further expanding the reach and impact of the exhibition. Tour dates include:
- March 4 – September 5, 2027 — Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
- October 30, 2027 – February 13, 2028 — Bullock Texas State History Museum
The national tour will introduce audiences across the country to the rich and enduring story of Tejano identity and its foundational role in shaping Texas and the American West.
National Recognition and Transformational Support
Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, whose support represents a significant milestone for the Briscoe. The museum received a prestigious 2025 IMLS Museums for America award – the fourth-largest Museums for America grant awarded in the country and one of only two awarded to museums in Texas – underscoring the exhibition’s national significance and cultural impact.
The highly competitive grant supports exhibition development, educational programming, interpretation and the creation of the exhibition’s bilingual catalog, helping ensure the stories, traditions and contributions explored in Tejano Legacy reach audiences in San Antonio and beyond through the exhibition’s multi-city tour.
The Briscoe also extends its deepest gratitude to the foundations, organizations and individuals whose generosity and support provided the essential resources that brought Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story and its accompanying bilingual catalog to life. In addition to the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant, the Henry Luce Foundation, the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture, the Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation, the Elizabeth Huth Coates Charitable Foundation, Humanities Texas, the Kate Marmion Charitable Foundation, the Summerlee Foundation and the Texas Commission on the Arts are supporting the exhibition. Private supporters include Becky and Che Guerra, the Lydia & Enrique Guerra Family, Mr. and Mrs. McLean Bowman, Jan McCaleb Elliott and Jessica Elliott Middleton.
Additional exhibition programming, educational initiatives and admission information is available online.
A Summer Filled with Western Art and Culture
Located on the River Walk near La Villita in downtown San Antonio, the Briscoe preserves and presents the art, history and culture of the American West through exhibitions and programming exploring Wildlife and the Land; Native People of the Americas; Tejanos, Vaqueros and Spanish heritage; and Cowboys and the American Frontier.
The museum’s campus includes the McNutt Sculpture Garden and features 35 sculptures portraying various aspects of Western life in the garden and around the museum’s beautifully restored historic building that once housed the San Antonio Public Library. The museum is open Thursday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday through Monday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The Briscoe is located on the south end of the River Walk, near the Arneson River Theatre and La Villita, with convenient parking at the Riverbend Garage directly adjacent to the museum or one of many downtown surface lots. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online.
About The Briscoe Western Art Museum: Preserving and presenting the art, history and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions, educational programs and public events reflective of the region’s rich traditions and shared heritage, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is located on the San Antonio River Walk at 210 W. Market Street in the beautifully restored 1930s former San Antonio Public Library building. Named in honor of the late Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. and his wife, Janey Slaughter Briscoe, the museum includes the three-story Jack Guenther Pavilion, used for event rentals and programs, and the outdoor McNutt Sculpture Garden. Follow the Briscoe on social media, @NBriscoeMuseum.
About The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
