10 must-see DFW art exhibitions in August have lessons to teach us all

With school now in session for the kiddos, learning new things is front and center for teachers, students, and parents. Art lovers can find some lessons too in eye-opening August art shows and exhibitions. In shows this month, artists bring history to life, change our perspective on history as accepted fact, and open our eyes to new lessons from life and art.

Last month’s Barbie in a Blender show at Daum gallery has been extended, and free tickets for gallery viewings every Saturday in August are available on Eventbrite. If you missed it, you’ll want to add that to this list of 10 must-see art exhibitions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this month.

Texas Artists Coalition (TAC) 17th Annual Juried Exhibition
Marlene and Spencer Hays Gallery at Arts Fort Worth, through August 26
Juror (and co-founder of Tayf Collective) Saria Almidani says she found references to “home, memory, intimacy, and our post-pandemic state” in the works of the 27 Texas artists selected for this show. “What’s incredible about this exhibition is that there is a unified theme among a variety of mediums; figurative, realism, abstract, textile, photography, sculpture, video installations, and more,” Almidani says.

Antonio Lechuga: "Structures of Softness"
Oak Cliff Cultural Center, through September 2
For much of his art career, East Dallas resident and artist Antonio Lechuga has been exploring borders, walls, and fences, creating representations that invite deeper thought about separations and the intentions behind them. Lechuga assembles foam structures covered in cojibas - fleece-like blankets made in Mexico - for Structures in Softness, his largest work to-date. Originally scheduled for August 2022, the show was postponed when Lechuga was shot while jogging on the Santa Fe Trail. His experiences while recovering from a life-threatening injury further inform an already stirring perspective.

Jammie Holmes: “Make the Revolution Irresistible”
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, through November 26
In his first solo museum exhibition, Jammie Holmes brings to life stories of Black families and communities in tableau and portrait paintings. Fifteen paintings - a survey from his earliest to his most recent work - explore themes of masculinity, mourning, childhood, and race. With a style that’s neither traditionally realistic nor pure abstraction, Holmes provides a new vision while addressing long-time social structures such as poverty and racism. Adult admission, which includes entrance to permanent collection exhibitions and all special and traveling exhibitions, is $16 Tuesdays through Thursdays, $8 on Sundays, and free on Fridays.

Haley Cook: Ain’t a Daddy’s Girl
500X Gallery, through August 27
Mixed media artist Haley Cook illustrates their perspective on gender confusion through an art piece constructed of fabrics that once might have been used for a baby girl's clothing and layette. Cook explores their own queer identity in a playful way as a balm to the tumult and conflict often experienced in understanding and living gender nonconformity.

Chocolate And Art Show Dallas
Lofty Spaces, August 17-18
This annual feast for the senses brings together emerging artists, photographers, and creators with live face painting and body painting, live music, and a very live vibe. Complimentary chocolate treats are also part of the festive event. Tickets are available for Thursday and Friday night, starting at $15 if purchased early.

David Collins: “Beyond These Days”
Valley House Gallery, through September 23
David Collins shares his personal history and his personal iconography on canvas. Collins uses acrylic paint, charcoal, ink, and graphite to illustrate shifting geometric planes that incorporate architectural elements and aviation motifs. This show, his fourth solo show at Dallas’ hidden gem art gallery Valley House, opens Saturday, August 19. Before the show opening, join Collins for an artist talk at 5:30 pm and a reception from 6-8 pm. Both events and the gallery exhibit are free to the public.

Mônica Lóss: “Offerings”
Cluley Projects, August 26 - September 30
The textile constructions of artist Mônica Loss incorporate repurposed fabric and clothing as well as found items to imbue a sense of permanence to things that may have once been treasures. Her exploration of the relationships between feminine and the domestic things created a sensory canvas for all to discover.

Madelyn Sneed-Grays: "BLACK JOY"
Erin Cluley Gallery, August 26-September 30
Denton-based painter Madelyn Sneed-Grays seeks to bring awareness to the beauty of the Black community through her representational style. Her work has been shown in juried shows and solo exhibitions in Texas and throughout the United States since her graduation from University of North Texas in 2014 with a B.F.A in Studio Art.

Paul Winker & Jan van der Ploeg
Cris Worley Fine Arts, August 26-September 30
Dallas artist Paul Winker first collaborated with Dutch painter at last year’s Dallas Art Fair. The two explore a vision for renewal and discovery in this show, which seems destined to spark conversation about the link between the everyday and the extraordinary. Visit the gallery for a conversation between the artists on Saturday, August 26 at 4pm with a reception following from 5 to 8 pm. The event is free and open to the public.

"Come to Colorado"
Amon Carter Museum of American Art, August 27-January 7, 2024
In this exhibit, rarely-shown 19th-century photographs document Colorado’s settlement, mining industry, and promotion as a place for outdoors enthusiasts. Photographs by W. J. Carpenter, Joseph M. Collier, and William Henry Jackson are featured in the collection. Admission to the museum is free. Member preview days are Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26.