This fascinating book provides the first assessment of the artists who have shaped the rich history of art in Texas, from its 19th-century origins to the diversity of the present scene. Published to accompany an exhibition of selected works from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, this lavishly illustrated volume reveals the complexity of America's most fabled state as seen through the eyes of its leading artists.

The artists highlighted here include figures of national prominence like Robert Wilson; emerging artists such as Helen Altman and Jesse Amado; and artists who have made a significant impact on the evolution of American art, from the Texas-born Robert Rauschenberg to artists who have worked in Texas for extended periods like Rackstraw Downes and Donald Judd. Exploring and exploding the cliches that have defined the Lone Star state and its art, this is an important contribution both to regional history and contemporary art.