Tom Lea Institute

The Tom Lea Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to documenting, presenting, teaching, and exhibiting the works of Tom Lea. Through its digital library, curricula, public programs, exhibitions, and publications, the Institute reaches audiences of all ages and encourages the exploration of regional art, history and culture. Founded in 2009 by Adair Margo, the Tom Lea Institute partners with institutions that house Tom Lea’s art and archives, including the El Paso Museum of Art, the C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections at the University of Texas at El Paso, the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin, and the U.S. Army Center of Military History, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In 2013, the Institute launched the Tom Lea Trail, the first artist trail in Texas, connecting the regional histories of eleven Texas cities through Tom Lea’s art and writing. Mission Statement: The Tom Lea Institute is an organization dedicated to presenting, studying, exhibiting and publishing the works of Tom Lea. Through the annual “Tom Lea Month” and other public programs, the institute is committed to developing new audiences and strengthening existing relationships with art, education, history and literary constituencies.