Some of the paintings you might see at your local Buc-ee’s. The “Men” sign is not one of them.
Chason Gordon / Chron
There’s a fine line between art that’s hanging in a restroom and art that’s hanging right outside of it. But that line is everything. As anyone who’s made a panicked sprint to the fields of toilets at Buc-ee’s knows, the hallways on the way in are a mini art gallery of sorts, bedecked with an array of cultivated prints from across Texas and beyond.
Even when you’re rushing in the chaotic ecosystem that is Buc-ee’s, you tend to stop and take a look, though it’s much more likely after leaving the lavatory. There you encounter reproductions of regional photographs and paintings that provide a momentary pastoral respite from the all-encompassing rush.
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It gives you pause, similar to the pause that wildlife artist James Corwin felt when he was first contacted about featuring his work there. It’s not exactly a typical venue.
“I did have some trepidations,” Corwin told Chron. “I was worried it may devalue my art. However, I have only had great feedback and people like to share with me that they have seen my work at Buc-ees.”
His print “The Heart of Chisholm Trail II” on view at numerous Buc-ee’s features a breed of Texas Longhorns being driven across a dusty valley. One relates a bit when trying to appreciate it in the midst of the “I have to go now” stampede. The little gallery winds its way right to the edge of the crowded men’s and women’s restrooms, appropriately halting just before the entrance.
A wall of prints, including James Corwin’s “The Heart of Chisholm Trail II” in the upper left.
Chason Gordon / Chron
Corwin lives in Montana and admits that he’s never actually been to a Buc-ee’s, a totally understandable confession considering the beaver-themed travel center hasn’t scurried over to Big Sky Country yet. But he makes regular visits to the Lone Star State and his original paintings can be seen at Gold Mountain Gallery in Fort Worth, Texas, and throughout the country.
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“I love Texas. I have a lot of collectors there and send artwork every week to homes in Texas,” he said.
The Buc-ee’s fine art review process
How does Buc-ee’s select the artwork? It isn’t a matter of founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III travelling to independent art galleries and giving paintings a subtle nod of approval with his trademark cowboy hat.
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Instead, Buc-ee’s works with Somerset House Publishing, an art publisher and distributor in Fulshear, just west of Houston. That’s who got in touch with Hailey Herrera, a Texas-based artist who creates vibrant watercolor paintings.
“One day, I received an email from Somerset House, a company that provides prints, framing, and canvas artwork for Buc-ee’s stores. After reviewing my portfolio, Buc-ee’s immediately selected my painting ‘Old Barn’ for their new Kentucky store,” Herrera told Chron over email.
“The piece performed very well there, which helped me become part of Buc-ee’s artist pool. Following that success, six additional images were added to their collection.”
A wall of prints, including Hailey Herrera’s “Turtle Reflections” at the bottom left.
Chason Gordon / Chron
Herrera moved to the States from South Korea decades ago to continue her Ph.D. studies in computer science at Texas A&M University. Soon after, she married a Texan and made it her home after graduation.
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Her watercolor batiks—a process that combines watercolor washes and wax resist on textured mulberry paper—have been exhibited at the Bullock Museum in Austin, Houston’s Museum of Natural Science, and at the Hyatt Regency on the San Antonio Riverwalk, among countless others.
It’s easy to joke about a gargantuan, nugget-laden gas station not being the ideal venue to showcase one’s art. But in a way, it actually is: Thousands of people pass by the prints that totally stand out amongst Buc-ee’s other offerings. And it’s not just background scenery there; people are buying. Herrera and Corwin regularly get royalty payments from sales every month.
“I didn’t have any concerns about it being featured at Buc-ee’s or where it was placed,” Herrera told Chron. “It’s a unique venue with an incredible number of visitors, so it has certainly helped broaden the reach of my artwork.”
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