Texas Originals

A longtime Houston resident, artist John Biggers explained that he saw his art "as a responsibility to reflect the spirit and style of the Negro people." Biggers achieved recognition as an artist for his drawings and sculptures, but he is best known for his murals, which now form a rich part of Houston's visual landscape.

A mural in the El Paso Federal Court House named "Pass of the North" typifies the work of Texas artist Tom Lea. Larger-than-life figures representing El Paso's many inhabitants range across the courthouse wall. Behind them, stark desert light illuminates a mountain range, while storm clouds sweep across the plains in the distance.

In 1966, Barbara Jordan began her historic political career when she became the first African American woman elected to the Texas Senate. Six years later, she won election to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first African American woman from a southern state to serve in the body.