Who We Are
Marfa Studio of Arts (MSA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organization dedicated to fostering creativity, education, and community connection in Marfa, Texas. Located just 60 miles north of the U.S./Mexico border, MSA proudly serves as the only organization in Marfa providing year-round, in-school art programs for children and young adults. All completely free of charge!
Our mission is to make art accessible to everyone. We believe that creativity enriches lives, builds bridges across cultures, and strengthens the spirit of our unique desert community.
Our mission is to make art accessible to everyone. We believe that creativity enriches lives, builds bridges across cultures, and strengthens the spirit of our unique desert community.
what we doMSA operates a 1,000-square foot gallery in the heart of Marfa, showcasing the work of local and regional artists alongside creations from our youth programs. The gallery also features the MSA Retail Store, where visitors can find original pieces by Marfa artists, handmade crafts, and products designed by students and teachers in our SITES (Studio in the Elementary School) program.
Every sale in our gallery and store directly supports MSA’s educational programs, helping us continue to provide free art opportunities to the children and families of Marfa. Our gallery also serves as a welcoming community space. Hosting exhibitions, art talks, and public events that celebrate the creative energy of West Texas. |
our rootsMarfa Studio of Arts was founded in 2000 by artist and educator Malinda Beeman. At the time, Marfa’s art world was growing rapidly with contemporary arts institutions. New artists and residents were arriving, drawn by the landscape and the town’s growing cultural identity. Malinda saw a need to create connection between these newcomers and Marfa’s already deep rooted Hispanic families with ranching traditions.
MSA began as a bridge, a place where creativity could bring people together through shared experience and understanding. Engaging diverse groups. Over the years, it has grown into a vital institution that supports artists, students, and educators while continuing to uphold the spirit of community that inspired its founding. |
community impact
MSA’s presence reaches far beyond the classroom. Through art, we build relationships, support local talent, and help sustain Marfa’s cultural identity. Our gallery gives emerging and established artists a professional space to exhibit and sell their work, while our educational programs cultivate the next generation of creative thinkers.
Marfa may be a small town, but it’s one filled with museums, artists, and ideas that resonate far beyond West Texas. MSA plays a vital role in that ecosystem, keeping art at the heart of the community.
Marfa may be a small town, but it’s one filled with museums, artists, and ideas that resonate far beyond West Texas. MSA plays a vital role in that ecosystem, keeping art at the heart of the community.
about the founder: Malinda Beeman
Artist, educator, and community leader, Malinda Beeman founded Marfa Studio of Arts in 2000 with the belief that art should be accessible to everyone; not just to observe, but to create.
Beeman’’s artwork has been exhibited across the United States, Europe, and Central and South America, and is held in numerous corporate and private collections. She has received two major Artist Awards from the National Endowment for the Arts.
A lifelong artist and educator, Malinda earned her B.A. in Graphics from San Diego State University and her M.F.A. in Printmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute. She went on to teach as a Professor of Printmaking at the University of Houston and served as Program Coordinator of Painting and Drawing at the Anderson Ranch Art Center in Colorado.
Beyond MSA, Beeman co-founded Marfa Maid Dairy, an artisanal goat cheese dairy, and the Marfa Saturday Market, further contributing to the town’s creative and agricultural culture. She continues to maintain an active studio practice at her home in Antelope Hills near Marfa, while serving as President of the Board and SITES Coordinator of MSA.
Beeman’’s artwork has been exhibited across the United States, Europe, and Central and South America, and is held in numerous corporate and private collections. She has received two major Artist Awards from the National Endowment for the Arts.
A lifelong artist and educator, Malinda earned her B.A. in Graphics from San Diego State University and her M.F.A. in Printmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute. She went on to teach as a Professor of Printmaking at the University of Houston and served as Program Coordinator of Painting and Drawing at the Anderson Ranch Art Center in Colorado.
Beyond MSA, Beeman co-founded Marfa Maid Dairy, an artisanal goat cheese dairy, and the Marfa Saturday Market, further contributing to the town’s creative and agricultural culture. She continues to maintain an active studio practice at her home in Antelope Hills near Marfa, while serving as President of the Board and SITES Coordinator of MSA.