Show Preview | Night of Artists

The title Night of Artists is somewhat misleading, as this Texas-sized annual event includes a weekend’s worth of activities plus an art exhibition running for six weeks at San Antonio’s Briscoe Western Art Museum. The museum’s largest fundraiser, this year’s 24th annual event—with opening festivities March 28 and 29—includes several new aspects. For one, the show welcomes 13 new artists to the mix of 84 participating in the exhibition and sale.

The fresh talent owes, in part, to another new development: For the first time with Night of Artists, the museum has hired an outside curator, Tim Newton. Liz Jackson, president and CEO of the Briscoe, says, “What makes Tim such an appealing choice is his strong network of relationships with artists and collectors. Bringing him on is exciting, and we are introducing new names and seeing more diverse collectors roll in, so we will have a very different show.”

Newton says one of the biggest changes to the show is offering small works. “The inclusion of an all-new small works sale featuring works by our participating artists will allow collectors a special price-point opportunity,” he says. “The small works enable you to start or grow your collection in a different way. The quality is equal to the works featured in the larger sale—it’s just the size that differs.”

Jackson adds, “Over and over, our longtime collectors say they have no more wall space, but everybody has space for a little gem from one of our highly sought-after artists. The small works also allow new collectors to purchase a first piece of art or break into the collector market at a much lower price point. This will be a fun, fast sale, and the small works will be wrapped up so people can walk out the door with their purchases.”

Newton calls the list of participating painters and sculptors a “Who’s Who?” of contemporary Western art. “With Night of Artists 2025, we continue to include more of the finest and most sought-after artists in the Western art world,” he says. “Our 15 new artists this year include Grant Redden, Dean Mitchell, T. Allen Lawson, Thomas Blackshear II, Josh Elliott, Scott L. Christensen, Vic Payne and Daniel Sprick—each of whom is a premier artist in his own right. 2025 promises to be one of the strongest shows we’ve ever had.”

For Jackson, a primary appeal of Night of Artists is the location of the Briscoe, housed in a stately former public library. The museum sits on the banks of the San Antonio River where historic cattle drives passed, Jackson says. “It’s a short walk to the Alamo. San Antonio is a crossroads of culture, a very rich tapestry,” Jackson notes. “This is one of the most beautiful and entertaining cities to come to, and we’re so fortunate to have so much to do beyond our show. The way we present Night of Artists is as a gala event. We make a big deal of it, and it’s upscale and exciting and beautiful, but not black tie. We want it fun and welcoming—not stuffy.”

The public exhibition runs March 30 to May 11. —Colleen Smith

contact informationbriscoemuseum.org/noa2025

This story appeared in the February/March 2025 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Subscribe today to read every issue in its entirety.

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