Raised in the suburbs of New York City by an engineer father and an artist mother, Kerry Inman has always moved between worlds of precision and imagination. She studied at Colgate University, where she earned a BA with a double major in studio art and geology, followed by graduate work in geosciences. After several years in California, a job transfer led her—reluctantly at first—to Houston in the mid-1980s. What she discovered there was an arts community as generous as it was inspiring.
Evening classes and volunteer work at local nonprofits soon became part of her rhythm, while Saturdays were devoted to gallery and museum visits, often with friends. The joy she found in sharing art with others far outweighed the solitude of studio practice, and the seed for Inman Gallery was planted.
What began as a modest, weekend-only venture—a 13 x 13 foot room tucked inside another space—has blossomed across decades into a cornerstone of Houston’s cultural landscape. Soon, the gallery will open a new chapter inside a renovated auto-body shop, perfectly situated across the street from one of the city’s most beloved coffee spots.
Beyond her gallery work, Inman continues to champion the arts, serving on the Board of the Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, and on the Decorative Arts advisory committee at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
During a buzzing Houston art week, Inman took a moment to share with Whitewall how her inspiration flows from conversations with artists, quiet walks through the Museum District, and the boundless creativity pulsing through the city’s parks, galleries, and neighborhoods.
Courtesy of Inman Gallery.
WHITEWALL: Where do you find inspiration in Houston?
KERRY INMAN: I honestly find the most inspiration through engaging with other people, especially artists, and others who are committed to our community. Hearing a really good talk, engaging with those passionate about what they do, that is my inspiration.
I’m totally inspired by Amarie Gipson’s Reading Room.
I’m also super inspired by a walk in nature, whether it be early in the morning in my Museum District neighborhood, or in remote rainforests in Canada. I love to learn about birds, ferns, mosses and mushrooms—especially with someone who is as curious as I am.
Houston has absolutely world class parks to explore, including my favorites Memorial Park and Hermann Park.
“I’m totally inspired by Amarie Gipson’s Reading Room,”
Kerry Inman
WW: Favorite place to see art?
KI: There can’t be one favorite! I’m surrounded by great venues that show amazing art! That is a top reason I love Houston.
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Menil Collection, CAMH; Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and Houston Museum of African American Culture—their recent collaborative two-venue Sonya Clark show really stands out.
Also Lawndale Art Center—their recent Big Show was wonderful, and the artist talks brought the work to life. Two of our University museums are bringing it—The Moody Center for the Arts at Rice and the Blaffer Museum at University of Houston.
There’s more! It’s these venues and the folks who run them that make Houston great!
Courtesy of The Museum of Fine Arts Houston.
WW: Best neighborhood vibe?
KI: We’ve just moved the gallery into a new neighborhood along Alabama and I am loving walking across the street to Retrospect Coffee, a former gas station. I’m hoping that we contribute to the neighborhood vibe at our new home in the former Station Museum (which was an auto body shop before that). And once we’re fully moved in, we’ll be having a beer at Under The Radar Brewery and listening to good music in the garden at Axelrad.
WW: Best-kept secret?
KI: Hermann Park!!! Seriously, their Japanese Garden is so good, but there is so much else to see. On a Sunday in April there is a Kite Festival—absolutely fantastic!
WW: Best meal?
KI: Well, that’s a hard one but I have to say my recent birthday dinner with 8 friends in the private dining room at BCN was a really memorable event.
“It’s these venues and the folks who run them that make Houston great!”
Kerry Inman
WW: If you were to suggest 24 hours in Houston, where would you say to be “Morning,” “Noon,” and “Night”?
KI: Morning: Splurge and stay at the St. Augustine. Walk to Black Hole for coffee, and have a breakfast taco (or three) from Delicias Maya’s food truck there, walk back to the Menil and enjoy the grounds before everything opens.
Then spend time on the Menil Collection campus, walk around—duck into the Rothko Chapel, the Twombly building, the main Collection building (don’t miss the Surrealism Galleries) and the Menil Drawing Institute.
Because you are staying right there you don’t have to do it all at once. Take it a little at a time, some in the morning, some in the afternoon—leisurely—the museum is open until 7pm.
NOON: Grab a car and have lunch at ChopnBlok on Westheimer—oh man—so good (but make a reservation!)
After that, I might browse a bit at the wonderful nearby bookstore, Basket Books and Art. Then, I’d need to check out what great shows I don’t want to miss at my favorite art venues, and visit several, until I need a break!
Finish up visiting the Kinder Building, at the MFAH with an early dinner at Le Jardiniere, sitting at the bar.
Then take in a show at the venerable Mucky Duck, a wonderful old fashioned listening room with great bluegrass and folk music.
SLEEP.
Kerry Inman’s Houston Inspirations:
1. Amarie Gipson’s Reading Room
Amarie Gipson. Photo by Troy Ezequiel. Courtesy of Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.
Founded in 2023 by writer Amarie Gipson, The Reading Room is a Houston-based independent reference library dedicated to increasing access to Black art and culture through literature, print media and community engagement. – Amarie Gipson’s Reading Room
2. Houston Museum of African American Culture
Ellsworth Ausby Installation, Courtesy of Houston Museum of African American Culture.
In the vibrant spring of 1999, Houston’s Mayor Lee P. Brown took a significant step towards celebrating our city’s rich heritage by appointing a dedicated committee to establish an African American Museum. After thoughtful discussions, the committee envisioned two distinct institutions: one to honor and preserve the profound history of African Americans in Houston, and the other to showcase the dynamic culture and artistic expressions of African and African American communities. This vision gave rise to both the African American Library at the Gregory School and the Houston African American Museum. – Houston Museum of African American Culture
3. Hotel St. Augustine
Courtesy of Hotel St. Augustine.
At the center of the Montrose district sits Hotel Saint Augustine, located across from the Menil Collection campus near the Menil Drawing Institute. It is home to 71 hotel rooms and suites, a restaurant, a small event space, an intimate lobby bar and a cloistered circular courtyard pool. The property takes inspiration from the spirit of the museum collection and of Houston itself—a duality of old world and new, a rich diversity and a forward-thinking sensibility. – Hotel St. Augustine
4. ChopnBlok
Courtesy of ChopnBlok.
ChòpnBlọk is a fast-casual restaurant concept that carefully unveils the West African culinary experience, serving fresh proteins, vegetables, grains, and beverages that are prepared under a West African flavor profile, packaged in a local, contemporary fashion. – ChopnBlok
5. McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, Courtesy of Ditty TV.
McGonigel’s Mucky Duck is a cozy restaurant with an Irish bent, offering the livest music in Texas, for over three decades. The Duck stage has hosted countless legendary artists and welcomes emerging Americana artists on the rise. – McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
