Patron Magazine

Kelly Cornell, director of the Dallas Art Fair since 2016, has been named director of The Aspen Art Fair ahead of its third edition this summer. The boutique fair returns to Hotel Jerome July 29–August 1 with an expanded leadership team that now includes Christine Mack, founder of Mack Art Foundation, who joins the board alongside co-founder Bob Chase, John Sughrue, and Jeremy Buonamici. International galleries including Albertz Benda, Perrotin, and Southern Guild are among the first wave of confirmed exhibitors.

Images: Kelly Cornell, photography by

Bob Chase, photography by Tony Prikryl

Christine Mack, photography by .wells

Jeremy Buonamici, photography courtesy of the Aspen Art Fair

John Sughrue, photography courtesy of

New issue release!
Our cover celebrates the universal language of art, highlighting the Meadows/ARCO Artist Spotlight which signals Spaniard Rubén Guerrero’s Dallas arrival and exhibition in February.

The Dallas art scene thrives on a mix of storied collectors and emerging enthusiasts, a blend that keeps the market vibrant and full of surprises. In Early Access we visited five local art collectors—Marlo and Jeff Melucci, Nadia Dabbakeh Friedman and Jason Friedman, and Travis Vandergriff—to get a glimpse of their standout collections and gather their insights ahead of the upcoming . We also check in with new Dallas Art Fair exhibitor with interior designer
In Mapping the Unexpected, Eve Hill-Agnus guides readers through the bold, sculptural forms in the DMA’s exhibition Constellations: Contemporary Jewelry curated by
Sara Hignite teamed up with the Green Family Art Foundation to curate Fields of Vision: Dallas Collects culled from 40 local patrons. Darryl Ratcliff previews the show opening February 7 in Curating Backward.

In Dressed for Cocktails and Conversation, Rob Brinkley peeks inside and Kessler Park home, a seamless blend of modern and classic elements and a passion-driven art collection.
RIchard Patterson, an original figure of the Young British Artists movement, brings a singularly rigorous painterly voice to the local arts scene. Brandon Kennedy discusses the artist’s practice in Still Chasing the Frame Before it Vanishes.

Turning our attention to the stage, we join the Centerstage Gala chairs, a dynamic cohort spanning the past decade, in Together for Theater.
Lastly, we remember the life and legacy of Charles Dee Mitchell, who left behind an art, photography, and book collection headed to and in A Kindred Spirit in Art and Books. In life, Dee shared it freely with all who crossed his path.

The has released its 2026 exhibitor list. (Swipe to see full list)
 
Returning April 16–19 to Fashion Industry Gallery, the 18th edition brings together more than 90 galleries from over a dozen countries, with several returning participants expanding their presentations alongside new exhibitors entering the fair for the first time.
 
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Dallas Art Fair Foundation’s Acquisition Fund, which has facilitated more than 75 works entering the Dallas Museum of Art’s permanent collection.
 
The VIP Preview, benefiting the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and Dallas Contemporary, takes place Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at dallasartfair.com

Photography by

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Linda P. Custard, a cherished member of our community and a devoted patron of the arts. Linda believed deeply in the power of creativity to inspire, connect, and uplift, and she generously supported artists, organizations, and cultural spaces that enriched so many lives. Because of Linda, and her late husband Bill, countless creative voices were encouraged, performances were made possible, and artistic visions were brought to life.

Photography courtesy of SMU

As 2025 takes its final bow, we’re celebrating the year’s finale with a new issue, and a season overflowing with creativity.

Lee Cullum sets the stage with groundbreaking performances:
Moses Pendleton, the visionary founder of and this year’s Richard Brettell Award Honoree
Rising stars associate conductor Shira Samuels-Shragg and assistant principal violist Sarah Sung
Sylvia D’Eramo, a soprano known for her performances including a holiday concert at Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
And Broadway legend Brian Stokes Mitchell ahead of his residency at SMU and work with Dallas Theater Center on Ragtime.

In the visual arts realm, our contributors explore Surrealism Jenny Saville American Modernism the Torlonia Collection and SV Randall and Sara Dietrich

During this season of sipping and strolling, art advisor Jennifer Klos shares curated spaces at Park House Dallas and Houston, and in her Oklahoma City hometown at Citizen House. Plus, Elizabeth Hooper O’Mahoney celebrates innovation at Kurt Bielawski’s new on Slocum, a retail showroom for everyone on your best list.

Style and substance converge in Dazzling Encounters with fashion, fine jewelry, and marble and stone elegance that may just inspire your next kitchen redesign. Photographed by Mindy Byrd; Creative direction by Elaine Raffel; Hair and makeup by Susie Jasper.

In travel, Coastal Crescendo takes readers to Santa Barbara’s acclaimed and the serene luxury of — art, music, and ocean views included.

Closing with a flourish, Lee spotlights Hattie Mae Lesley Resident artists Coleman Dziedzic and Melissa Martinez, voices bursting with promise and the thrilling pulse of the future.

Tomorrow: experience the artistry of design and legacy at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum with Fashion with a Heritage – AKRIS – Fashion Documentary. The film offers an intimate look into the world of AKRIS, revealing the craftsmanship, innovation, and cultural influence that have defined the Swiss fashion house for generations. Celebrate the intersection of fashion and history in this special screening that honors both heritage and creative vision—a must-see for admirers of timeless design and meaningful storytelling.

As the proud media sponsor, PATRON Magazine celebrates Dallas Contemporary’s Gala + Benefit Auction, which on Saturday, 20 September, raised over $1 million, an unforgettable evening powered by the generosity and vision of the community.

The Dallas Contemporary Gala arrives this Saturday, September 20, transforming 161 Glass Street into an evening of art and momentum for the museum’s mission. Doors open in the early evening for the ticketed event with the program led by Artistic Chairs Shayna Fontana Horowitz and Robyn Siegel and Auction Chairs Peter Augustus Owen and Robyn Siegel. Executive Director Lucia Simek welcomes guests to a night presented by Headington Companies. Proceeds sustain Dallas Contemporary’s work as a non-collecting kunsthalle: free exhibitions, performances, and public programs that advance “the art of this moment.”

The benefit auction, powered by Indy Auctions, is central to the museum’s annual support and unfolds in two parts. Silent bidding is now open and will run through Sunday, 21 September, at 7:00 p.m., with select lots offered live in the room on Gala Night. PATRON is the proud media sponsor.

Images: Christina Jafar, Lucia Simek, Janelle Pinnell

Yves Scherer’s Imagine (Kate Caterpillar B&W), 2024

Jay Shinn, Serenity Portal, 2022, Acrylic on panel, 76 x 76 in. Courtesy of the artist and Barry Whistler, Dallas

Ali Dipp’s Selvedge (American Landscape No. 2 A.B. Durand)

Chris Wolston’s Parrot Vessel, 2021

Robert Janitz, “Untitled,” 2024