A stunning new San Antonio exhibition gathers the most complete collection of large-scale Selena portraits ever shown — plus rare memorabilia, magazine covers, and a summer Tejano film series to match
More than 30 years after she left us, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez still lights up a room — and right now, neighbor, that room is in downtown San Antonio. The Briscoe Western Art Museum has unveiled “Selena Forever / Siempre Selena,” a new exhibition honoring the Queen of Tejano and her lasting impact on music and culture. If you grew up singing “Como La Flor” at the top of your lungs, this one’s for you.
Here’s what makes it special. The show centers on monumental photographs by acclaimed San Antonio photographer John Dyer, taken between 1992 and 1994 — capturing Selena right at the height of her rise to international superstardom. These aren’t small prints, either: the images measure a striking 50 by 62 inches, and the large-scale format creates an intimate, almost face-to-face experience with the star. Museum officials call it one of the most complete collections of large-scale Selena portraits ever shown.
And there’s more than just the portraits. The exhibition pairs Dyer’s images with never-before-seen boutique photographs, magazine covers, and other memorabilia, giving you an up-close look at Selena’s life and her effect on Tejano music and representation for Mexican American women in popular culture. Many of these images have never been displayed together before, so even lifelong fans will see something new.
A Summer of Tejano on the Big Screen
The fun doesn’t stop at the photos. The Briscoe is running a summer film series called “Siempre Tejano,” with screenings included with general admission on select Sundays from June through August. The lineup features “Selena y Los Dinos,” a 2025 Netflix documentary, on June 21; the beloved 1997 film “Selena” starring Jennifer Lopez on July 19; and “Take It Away: The Rise and Fall of Tejano Hollywood,” a 2025 documentary, on August 16 — each starting at 2 p.m.
It’s the perfect excuse to make a whole afternoon of it: take in the exhibition, then settle in for a movie that’ll have you reaching for the tissues and humming the hits all the way home.
More Tejano History on the Way
If you time your visit for later in the summer, you’ll catch even more. On July 24, the Briscoe opens “Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story,” a landmark bilingual exhibition exploring nearly 400 years of Tejano history and culture — the most ambitious show in the museum’s history, featuring more than 100 rare artworks and artifacts, timed to America’s 250th anniversary. Together with the Selena tribute, it makes Briscoe the place to celebrate Tejano heritage this year.
Why You’ve Got to Go
This is one of the biggest museum stories in Texas this summer, and it won’t be around forever. The exhibition runs through January 4, 2027, which sounds like plenty of time — but you know how it goes. Round up your mom, your tías, your kids, and your fellow fans, and go see the Queen the way she deserves to be seen: larger than life, right here in her home state. Bring your camera, bring your memories, and get ready to fall in love with Selena’s story all over again.
If You Go
“Selena Forever / Siempre Selena” is on view now through January 4, 2027, at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, located along the River Walk in downtown San Antonio at 210 W. Market St. The “Siempre Tejano” summer film series runs on select Sundays — “Selena y Los Dinos” on June 21, “Selena” on July 19, and “Take It Away: The Rise and Fall of Tejano Hollywood” on August 16, all at 2 p.m. and included with admission. General admission is $16 for adults, children under 12 are always free, and active-duty military get in free all summer. A companion exhibition, “Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story,” opens July 24. For hours, tickets, and the full schedule, visit briscoemuseum.org.
