Texas Legend

Literary giant Larry McMurtry's personal estate set for auction at Texas gallery

The partial estate of one of the Lone Star State's most esteemed and prolific writers, Larry McMurtry, is about to go to auction — and fans will be able to get a first glimpse online.

Taking place at San Antonio-based Vogt Auction Galleries on May 29, "The Estate of Larry McMurtry" auction will include items from the author's home in Archer City, Texas, including his writing desk, typewriters, artwork, and much more.

McMurtry wrote some of Texas' most enduring stories and shaped the history of modern American storytelling, both on the page and on the screen. His Pulitzer-Prize winning Lonesome Dove was adapted into a television miniseries that earned 18 Emmy Award nominations and seven wins. Several of his other novels were adapted for the big screen, including The Last Picture Show, Terms of Endearment, and Brokeback Mountain, which earned McMurtry an Oscar for best adapted screenplay.

In total, the author's adapted works received 34 nominations and 13 Oscar wins throughout his career.

The celebrated author passed away in March 2021 at the age of 84.

The auction will feature a wide range of treasures, from personal copies of the author's books to memorabilia from his Hollywood productions, home furnishings, firearms, and boots.

Presented by Vogt Auction Galleries, the auction will take place on Monday, May 29, beginning at 1 pm.

A full catalog will be published on May 5 at TexasAuction.com, and bids will be accepted in by in person, by telephone, live online, or by absentee bid. Head to vogtauction.com for more details and to stay up to date.

Courtesy Vogt Gallery

Personal copies of McMurtry's books will be part of the auction.

Brokeback Mountain Larry McMurtry Lonesome Dove Memorabilia The Last Picture Show texas author larry mcmurtry celebrities

Gallery News

PDNB Gallery leaves Dallas Design District for new location

Bill Owens

Livermore, California, 1972, Suburbia series by Bill Owens

An iconic Dallas Design District gallery is leaving the Design District after 30 years: Photographs Do Not Bend, aka PDNB Gallery, is leaving its location at 150 Manufacturing St. and relocating to Denton.

The gallery is moving to downtown Denton on the historic County Courthouse Square. The new location is at 101 S. Locust St., #B07, inside the Wells Fargo Bank Building, in the basement suite.

The move to Denton represents a return of sorts: In the early 1990’s, PDNB owners Burt & Missy Finger were private art and antique watch dealers, based in an office building on the Square. In 1995 they opened their photo-based art gallery in Dallas, the big city with a strong museum presence and a thriving art community.

For 30 years PDNB flourished in the local, regional, national, and international art community. But the owners were still living in Denton.

PDNB Gallery owners Burt and Missy Finger packing up. PDNB

The Wells Fargo building is a 9-floor structure, a modest tan rectangle that was built in 1960. The building started out as First State Bank of Texas, which was based in Denton. Wells Fargo acquired the company in 2001. It was originally three stories tall, but five more floors were added in 1971. It currently has apartments and an event space on the 8th floor.

According to a release, the new location will not only be more convenient for the couple's commute, it acknowledges that Denton has grown in recent years, with restaurants, wine bars, food trucks, music concerts, and art events.

Denton is also home to two major universities — Texas Woman's University and the University of North Texas — which both have strong Fine Arts schools. During the tenure of Dean Robert Milnes, the couple opened a satellite art gallery on the Square, which continues to operate in their new location a block off of the Square.

Denton also has the Greater Denton Arts Council’s Center for Visual Art, now the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center. PDNB looks forward to collaborating with all these institutions, as well as meeting local artists and art collectors.

PDNB Gallery will host a group exhibition at the new space in June, followed by a special opening celebrating its 30th anniversary in September. Gallery hours will be announced once the move has completed.

galleries openings