Houston’s art scene owes much to a 75,000-square-foot warehouse built in 1928 for the Houston Transfer Company. Later home to the Harris Moving & Storage Company, the building in the Historic First Ward sat alongside dual rail lines that once powered the city’s industrial pulse.
In 2004, The Deal Company bought the property and began converting the warehouse into artist studios. Already home to an informal collective, the space caught the eye of Jon Deal, who worked with city officials to formalize its creative future. In 2005, Winter Street Studios became the first building in Houston officially designated as Art Studios by the City of Houston.
Winter Street Studios’ 20th Anniversary Commemorative Print by original tenant and artist Mark Masterson. (Submitted photo)
Two decades later, Winter Street stands as the cornerstone of Sawyer Yards, the nation’s largest creative campus. It remains a thriving hub for local artists, hosting exhibitions, events and open studios that fuel community and creativity.
Winter Street celebrates 20 years in Houston with a commemorative art reception Thursday, Nov. 6, from 6-9 p.m. Online readers are in luck: You can still catch the party. Print readers, take heart. The monthly Second Saturday Open Art Studios that put Winter Street on the map continues year-round, with the next one this Saturday, Nov. 8, noon-5 p.m.
The current exhibition, Passages, is a landmark showcase commemorating two decades of artistic innovation, resilience and transformation. Resident artists were invited to reflect on the past 20 years through personal narratives, cultural shifts and collective milestones. Painting, sculpture, photography, collage and mixed media offer intimate and powerful interpretations of growth, change and the unfolding path that continues to shape us all. This exhibition is not only a tribute to the past but a portal to the creative futures yet to come.
Passages will be on view through Nov. 14.
Passages exhibition in B Hallway upstairs at Winter Street Studios (submitted photo)
One of the original artists, Sandi Seltzer Bryant, recalls first meeting Deal and helping launch the community:
“I remember Jon driving me to the building — I could see the vision, but I could also see the condition it was in. I was tired of artists having to accept working in less-than-desirable spaces. Jon was willing to put his time, energy, and money into creating a place where artists could truly express themselves — many for the first time — in a reasonably priced and safe environment.
Winter Street has endured, and this anniversary feels even more special after having to rebuild our dream structure following the fire in 2022. Jon has never wavered in his commitment to giving working artists a comfortable, secure, and inspiring space to call their creative home in Houston and for that I am profoundly grateful.”
I still remember visiting artist friends that first year Winter Street Studios opened. Houston had studios, but this felt different. The wild west days were over. The artists had settled in the city at last. They were on the cusp of something big.
Winter Street artists will keep the celebration going with a Winter Wonderland-themed L’Art Garage on Dec. 6 from 3-9 p.m. Shop original art under $500, meet the artists and snag one-of-a-kind pieces just in time for the holidays.
For more information, visit sawyeryards.com or @winterstreetartists on Instagram. The 20th anniversary party runs 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2025, at Winter Street Studios, 2101 Winter Street, Houston, TX 77007.
Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market. Visit his website at ArtValet.com.