The San Antonio museum’s new exhibition explores more than 400 years of Tejano culture and its lasting influence on Texas and the American West. 

Unveiled in July, the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio launched their latest exhibit titled “Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story.” The exhibit showcases the enduring impact of Tejano culture and its influence on Texas and the American West. Featuring unique items and historical artifacts, it is a true gem for Texans and visitors alike and will run through January 18, 2027. Coinciding with the “Tejano Legacy” showcase is the “Selena Forever/Siempre Selena” exhibit featuring photos by photographer John Dyer whose images of Selena depict her during the height of her career.

Briscoe President and CEO Liz Jackson offered some insight on the exhibit. “One of my big initiatives with Briscoe is really firming out the vision for our museum,” she said. “We’re a very young museum at only 13 years old, but we have a lot of good and solid financial support behind us. Regarding the Tejano Legacy exhibit, we started working on this five years ago, and it was really part of a much larger theme for us. So much of our history here in the state of Texas is intertwined with the legacy of Spanish heritage. And if you think about it, the Tejanos and Vaqueros really helped shape the American West, so this is a super ambitious exhibition with lots of research.”

In preparation for the exhibit, which showcases over 400 years of history and culture, the museum worked with many academics and scholars who helped research the historical facts and narratives. Inspired by the four pillars of Western Art, Jackson reiterates the authenticity and importance of the exhibit. 

“It starts with the wildlife and the land. So there’s your number one pillar. And then the next one is the Native people of the Americas. The third one would be the Tejanos, Vaqueros, and Spanish Heritage. And then wrapping up would be the Cowboys and the American Frontier. So for us, it was really being able to drill down into that third pillar of the Tejanos and Vaqueros and Spanish Heritage with a dedicated exhibition. In fact, we’re pretty much dedicating the entire year to this subject matter. That’s why we’re showcasing Selena Forever/Siempre Selena which again reflects another really strong Tejana who was definitely a trailblazer in her time. And I think that San Antonio is the ideal place for this exhibition because of our deep connection to Tejano history and identity.” 

Visitors to the museum can expect some standout artifacts, including a mid-18th century Viceroy saddle and a set of nine casta paintings by José de Alcibar which is on loan from the Museo de Historia Mexicana in Monterey. Also on display are never-before-seen artifacts from Mexico, rare artworks, and other items from various private collections. The exhibition will cover a variety of aspects of Tejano culture through storytelling, music, ranching traditions, military service, and more. 

“Also part of our permanent collection is a gorgeous painting called ‘Fandango’ which is from a  mid-19th century unknown artist from Mexico. It shows a lively traditional community celebration with music, dance, and food. There’s so much movement in it, and it’s absolutely beautiful.” 

During the exhibit’s debut in July, over 300 people showed up for the event and were in awe of the exhibit’s aesthetic. “On opening night, and then on community day later that week, we literally had locals that hadn’t been to our museum before, and they were just in tears telling us this was the first time they felt their culture was truly honored in this elevated way,” Jackson said. 

The museum also hosts an annual free community day that honors National Day of the Cowboy, and this year they celebrated the National Day of the Vaquero. Pertaining to the story of Mexican American influence in Texas, Jackson believes there is much more to learn. “I feel like it’s an undertold story. When you look at the demographic of our country and the demographic of Texas in particular, there has always been this Mexican influence in Texas that’s been around forever. And now the demographic is growing more throughout the United States,” she said. 

“I think this exhibit really helps people understand the history. I feel like we’re answering a lot of questions about the importance of this rich cultural heritage that exists but may get overlooked in a western art museum. I also think the biggest thing is for people to know that we are committed to telling the full story of the American West, and this was a huge step for us in telling the full story. We hadn’t really tackled the subject before, so now is definitely the time to visit the Briscoe.”

The exhibit is open until January 18, 2027, and then it will travel to Scottsdale, Arizona.

Visit the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s Official Webpage here.

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 Cover Photo Courtesy of Briscoe Western Art Museum

Originally from San Antonio, Jenny Castro has a passion for writing, travel, and discovering new topics. She loves Tex-Mex food, Tejano music and George Strait. Check her out on Instagram to keep up with her work and latest adventures.