The Contemporary’s 40th Birthday Party!
Saturday, June 27, 2026
10am–8pm
The Contemporary is celebrating 40 years on June 27, 2026! Join us as we spend the day in community, featuring a special Members-only preview of our summer exhibitions, a fun-filled family day, and the opening of FIVE brand new exhibitions. Every event happening throughout the day is free and open to our community. We can’t wait to celebrate the big 40 with you all! Cheers!
Image Gallery
The Birthday Schedule
Members-Only Preview of our Summer Exhibitions, 10am–11am
Contemporary Members are invited to enjoy early access to our summer exhibitions.
Our summer exhibition cycle includes exhibitions by Mónica Martínez-Díaz, Soomin Jung Remmler, Bella Martinez, Rubio and James Cobb, bringing together a group of San Antonio artists whose work reflects on memory, identity, and place through material, image, and story.
Across different disciplines, the exhibitions offer a shared exploration of culture, lived experience, and the ways meaning is shaped.
Wish to attend but are not a museum member? Consider becoming a member using this link: https://contemporarysa.org/membership/
Questions? Email the Contemporary’s Development Associate, Emily Palacios at Emily@contemporarysa.org
Family Saturday | Happy Birthday to us, 1pm–4pm
Join the Contemporary in celebrating our 40th anniversary. This special family day is open to participants of all ages. Visitors can explore our summer exhibitions and participate in a variety of art activities inspired by our exhibiting artist. Light refreshments and birthday treats will be provided.
Mural Dedication, 4pm-5pm
We are celebrating our 40th anniversary with a brand-new public mural designed by longtime friend of the Contemporary and Berlin Residency Alum, Rubio. The swirling, two-story mural spans the 171’ x 29’ façade of our San Antonio River-facing building, replacing our industrial-aesthetic gray and white exterior with a vibrant palette of blues reflecting the sky and river, highlighting our most beloved natural resources.
Exhibition Openings & Homecoming, 6pm–8pm
In 1986 the Contemporary was founded as a grass-roots exhibition space to serve the need to provide a platform for the work and ideas of contemporary artists. In the last 40 years we have seen our exhibitions and programs grow, making connections within our community and beyond. As the first and longest-running non-profit space for contemporary art in the San Antonio, we are excited to welcome home all our friends, collaborators, artists, and colleagues in this special one-of-a-kind exhibition opening.
Throwing it back to Homecoming celebrations, we embrace the spirit inviting long-time friends and new connections (Old guard, and upcoming freshman) to celebrate 40 years with us.
