Blaffer Gallery
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| Established | 1973 |
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| Location | University of Houston |
| Visitors | 30,000+ |
| Director | Claudia Schmuckli |
| Curator | Claudia Schmuckli |
| Website | Blaffer Art Museum |
Blaffer Art Museum is the art museum located in the Arts District of the University of Houston campus. It was founded in 1973 and has won several awards, including the Coming Up Taller Award as part of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. The gallery exhibits national and international works as well as artwork by students.
The Sarah Campbell Blaffer Gallery was founded in 1973, named in honor of the late Sarah Campbell Blaffer, who during her lifetime made available to the University a collection of major artworks dating from the 15th century to modern day. This collection was purchased in 1979 by the Blaffer Foundation, an independent organization which is unrelated to the museum and the University. The income from the investment of the sale proceeds provides a portion of Blaffer Gallery's program budget. The Blaffer Gallery has presented over 250 exhibitions. The current exhibition policy, adopted by the Advisory Board and University Regents in 1986, focuses upon art of the past 100 years and its artistic, cultural and intellectual antecedents. In 1999, the museum expanded.
The museum created and hosts education and outreach programs. In 1988, UHReach was founded and in 1998 Young Artists Apprenticeship Program (YAAP) was founded.
In 2008, the gallery acquired 149 photographs taken by Andy Warhol as a gift from the Andy Warhol Foundation. The photographs were featured in an exhibition entitled “Celebutants, Groupies and Friends” at the gallery. The collection included photographs of Jamie Lee Curtis, Billy Squier, late Studio 54 owner Steve Rubell, Pia Zadora, and others.
The Blaffer Art Museum was honored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services on November 4, 2009 when first lady Michelle Obama awarded the gallery with the Coming Up Taller Award. The award gives $10,000 to art programs that help underprivileged youth.
In 2010, Blaffer Gallery was renamed to Blaffer Art Museum.
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