Fall Exhibitions at the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts

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This fall, the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts is pleased to present four new exhibitions in its galleries. The Main Gallery will feature bronze sculptures and paintings of the American West, as well as aerial photographs of East Texas. Two additional exhibitions serve as memorial tributes to Houston artists Howard Finkel and Les McDonald, Jr. Main Gallery: In the Main Gallery this fall, the Pearl will present "The New American West: By Brush and By Bronze." This exhibition features vibrant, pattern-rich oil paintings by Kathleen Frank, alongside figurative and wildlife bronze sculptures by Mark Yale Harris. Also in the Main Gallery is "From the Air: A Different Perspective of East Texas." Photographer Bill Walterman captures East Texas from a unique point of view, using a drone to explore small towns and the landscape. "When drones became available, I decided to try one—and now I have a camera with wings," says Walterman. "I've found the viewpoint, perspective, and detail rendered from the altitude of 100 to 300 feet adds a new dimension to my photography." Cole Gallery: The Cole Gallery will feature "Once in a Lifetime: The Life and Art of Howard Finkel. Howard Finkel (1942 – 2018) spent 32 years as a Houston orthopedic surgeon known for his compassion as much as his skill. In retirement, he discovered bronze sculpture and trained at the Glassell Studio School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Through his art, Dr. Finkel shaped quiet, personal moments with his family into lasting form. This exhibition celebrates the work he leaves behind. Hillery Community Gallery: "The Art of Les McDonald" will be on exhibition in the Hillery Community Gallery, celebrating a body of work rooted in a lifelong love of the outdoors. The watercolors of Les McDonald, Jr. (1943 – 2025) capture the wildlife, landscapes, and sporting scenes of his native Texas gulf coast with remarkable precision. A commercial artist turned full-time painter in 1986, Les McDonald built a career on his ability to render nature with both sweeping scope and exacting detail. Exhibition Dates: All four exhibitions open October 3, 2026 and continue through January 2, 2027. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free. About the Pearl: The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts exists to provide direct, first-hand access to original works of art, and to offer outstanding educational and public programming. As the only Fine Arts museum in Harris County outside the city center of Houston, the Pearl operates completely through the generous donations of individuals, businesses and foundations from the greater Houston community, and is free to all.