René Paul Barilleaux, Head of Curatorial Affairs at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, is retiring after 20 years. In his honor, the museum has organized "untitled: 20 Years of Collecting Contemporary Art," a survey exhibition showcasing key acquisitions he made during his tenure. The show begins with his first acquisition for the museum—"Blue (#267)" by Houston artist Susie Rosmarin—and ends with his last, "Other Voices 3" by Margaret Evangeline. Barilleaux, who studied painting at Pratt Institute, brought a personal, artist-informed eye to his curatorial work, building relationships with artists and shaping the museum's contemporary collection.
The exhibition matters because it highlights the often-invisible role of the curator in shaping a museum's permanent collection, which outlasts any single exhibition. Barilleaux's career demonstrates how personal connections and an artist's perspective can guide institutional collecting, making culture more intimate and empathetic. The show also underscores the McNay's commitment to contemporary art and Texas artists, reflecting a broader trend of museums celebrating curatorial legacies through collection-based retrospectives.