A new acquisition at University of Houston Libraries Special Collections features exhibition announcements, posters, photographs, 35mm slides, artist correspondence, ephemera, and video documenting exhibitions and programs presented by the Lawndale Art and Performance Center.

Lawndale Art and Performance Center Records

From its beginning as a gallery space for UH Department of Art graduate students, Lawndale Art Center’s long history of supporting national and local visual and performance artists is represented by nearly 50 linear feet of archives. The collection covers Lawndale from the 1970s to present day, revealing the dynamism of the Houston contemporary and experimental art scene.

Executive director Stephanie Mitchell and assistant director Lauren Lohman were inspired to donate the Lawndale Art Center records to UH Special Collections. “Lawndale had its beginning with the University of Houston, so there is already a special and historic connection between the organizations,” they said. “As the archive has grown we recognize that UH is in a much better position than Lawndale to assure that the archives will be properly preserved, maintained, and made accessible to researchers. We believe that this collaboration will benefit both Lawndale and the community.” 

“The list of artists, exhibitions, and performances in the inventory of the Lawndale Art and Performance Center Records is a testament to the decades of impact that Lawndale has had on Houston’s arts community,” said Christian Kelleher, head of UH Special Collections and curator of visual arts collections. “We are so pleased to help make this great resource available for students, scholars, and the public.”

The collection is currently being processed at UH Special Collections. For questions about materials in this collection or to request access, contact Christian Kelleher.