Rauschenberg's Menil Moment: Rare Look at Artist's Textile Creations

Personal memories of the late Port Arthur artist during his Houston exhibition

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

One of the touchstones of The Menil Collection, Robert Rauschenberg is being highlighted at the Houston museum in a rare look at his rediscovered textile creations dubbed 'Robert Rauschenberg: Fabric Works of the 1970s'. Aligned with this exhibition and the occasion of what would have been the artist's 100th birthday, several art experts reflect upon the late Port Arthur-born artist and his impact.

Why it matters

Rauschenberg was a pioneering American artist known for his innovative use of everyday materials and collaborations across disciplines. This exhibition at the Menil provides a unique opportunity to rediscover his lesser-known textile works and gain insights into his creative process and enduring influence.

The details

The exhibition 'Robert Rauschenberg: Fabric Works of the 1970s' is showing at The Menil Collection in Houston through March 1, 2026. It features Rauschenberg's rediscovered textile creations from the 1970s, a lesser-known aspect of his prolific and boundary-pushing artistic practice. Several art experts, including curators, historians, and those who worked closely with Rauschenberg, share personal memories and reflections on the artist's impact and legacy.

  • The exhibition opened on February 4, 2026.
  • It is scheduled to run through March 1, 2026.
  • Rauschenberg's 100th birthday would have been in 2026.

The players

Robert Rauschenberg

A pioneering American artist known for his innovative use of everyday materials and collaborations across disciplines, including dance, music, and theater.

Susan Davidson

An art historian and curator who co-curated a major international Rauschenberg retrospective in 1997-1999 organized by the Guggenheim.

Neal Manne

A partner at the law firm Susman Godfrey LLP who represented Rauschenberg in a lawsuit in 1998.

Christopher Rauschenberg

The artist's son and a photographer who co-founded the Blue Sky, Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts.

Matt Magee

An artist who worked as a studio assistant for Rauschenberg for 18 years.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It was a perfect February day in Houston (in 1998) — cold and breezy, but full of sunshine. The city's annual trail ride had paraded down Memorial Drive the day before, signaling the start of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and coincidentally the debut of a four-venue art exhibition featuring Robert Rauschenberg.”

— Susan Davidson, Art historian, curator (Menil, Guggenheim); co-curator, 1997-1999 international Rauschenberg retrospective organized by the Guggenheim (papercitymag.com)

“I represented Mr. Rauschenberg in a lawsuit in 1998. The first thing I did was get a judge to order that numerous of his most important paintings be returned to a retrospective at the Menil, from which they had been hauled away in a horse trailer by some overzealous constable deputies who had seized them because there was a default judgment against Mr. Rauschenberg in the lawsuit.”

— Neal Manne, Partner, Susman Godfrey LLP (papercitymag.com)

“My father always lived in loft-type spaces, where the whole space was one big room. In his loft on lower Broadway before he bought his orphanage building, I learned to roller skate using his studio as a rink. This is the studio where he painted the 32-foot-long painting called Barge, so you can imagine that was plenty of room to learn to skate.”

— Christopher Rauschenberg, Photographer; the artist's son; co-founder, Blue Sky, Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts (papercitymag.com)

What’s next

The judge in the 1998 lawsuit case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn, the man accused of repeatedly vandalizing Waymo autonomous vehicles, to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This exhibition at the Menil highlights Rauschenberg's innovative and multidisciplinary approach to art, showcasing his lesser-known textile works and providing a rare glimpse into the creative mind of one of America's most influential 20th-century artists.