SAN ANTONIO, TX.- Flowers bloom, fruit ripens and shadows linger beneath the surface in “Garden Party: Nature on Paper.” On view May 7-Aug. 9 at the McNay Art Museum, the exhibition explores how humans live with and shape the natural world.

Featuring prints, drawings, photographs, paintings and sculpture from the McNay’s permanent collection, the exhibition includes works by artists including René Magritte, Rufino Tamayo, Kara Walker, Luis Jiménez and Honoré Daumier.


Winslow Homer, “Girl on a Garden Seat,” 1878. Watercolor on paper. Mary and Sylvan Lang Collection, 1975.34

Organized by Elizabeth Kathleen Mitchell, Ph.D., head of curatorial affairs and curator of prints and drawings, “Garden Party” unfolds in two distinct yet intertwined narratives. One celebrates what nature offers: lush gardens, flowers and abundance. The other examines what humans take, featuring imagery of hunting and extraction. Together, these perspectives create a layered portrait of nature as both a source of wonder and a site of tension.

The exhibition marks Mitchell’s first since being appointed head of curatorial affairs in February, a dual role that reflects her scholarly expertise and institution-wide leadership. “Garden Party” offers an early expression of her thoughtful curatorial vision, attuned to the complex relationship between art, history and nature.


John Woodhouse Audubon, “Nine-Banded Armadillo from Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America,” 1845-48. Lithograph with watercolor. Gift of Mrs. Charles L. Bybee, 1990.67

“From lush gardens to more complex and challenging imagery, ‘Garden Party’ reflects the many ways artists engage with the natural world,” said Mitchell. “It is an opportunity for visitors to slow down, look closely and think about how we coexist with the environment around us.”

The exhibition extends beyond the gallery walls with a series of “Between Two Prints” videos, offering artists’ and experts’ perspectives on select works and shared across the McNay’s social media channels.

Visitors can also explore additional exhibitions on view during this time, including “untitled: 20 Years of Collecting Contemporary Art,” highlighting more than 100 works from the museum’s contemporary collection, and “Angelica Raquel: Mystic Threads,” on view through July 5, featuring fiber-based works inspired by folklore and personal history.

Support for “Garden Party: Nature on Paper” is provided by the Elizabeth Huth Coates Charitable Foundation of 1992.


Vincent Valdez, “Chavez Ravine,” ca. 2009. Screenprint. Gift of Harriett and Ricardo Romo, 2011.303. © Vincent Valdez