Unsung Heroes: Kathy Sosa’s ‘Revolutionary Women’ Comes to the Briscoe Western Art Museum

SAN ANTONIO, TX — The women who shaped Texas and Mexico were never just passive witnesses to history. They were active participants, survivors, cultural transmitters, laborers, activists, mothers, revolutionaries, and community leaders. Their resilience and determination forged the vibrant cultural landscape that connects Mexico, Texas, and the American West. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2026)

This fall, their stories take center stage.

Opening October 15 at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, Kathy Sosa: Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico brings these incredible narratives to life through more than 30 powerful works by San Antonio artist Kathy Sosa. On view through June 14, 2027, the exhibition serves as a striking contemporary artistic continuation of the history explored in the Briscoe’s landmark exhibition, Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story.

A Grand Reopening for the Women of the West Gallery

Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico marks the highly anticipated reopening of the Briscoe’s Women of the West Gallery, which has been temporarily closed as part of the museum’s ongoing renovations.

The refreshed gallery will reopen just in time to welcome Sosa’s exhibition, providing a dedicated, expanded space to honor the women who built and shaped the American West.

Revolutionary Women: History Through a Contemporary Lens

San Antonio artist Kathy Sosa is a self-taught creator whose work explores mestizaje – the distinctive cultural identity of the Texas-Mexico borderlands. While historically referring to racial and ethnic mixing between Indigenous peoples and Europeans, the term has evolved to describe a broader cultural process: the convergence of traditions, languages, ideas, and ways of life.

That exploration takes on a deeply human dimension in this exhibition, which draws inspiration from Sosa’s acclaimed book, Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico: Portraits of Soldaderas, Saints and Subversives. The collection features paintings, mixed media, and sculpture highlighting women whose lives challenge conventional ideas about who built the history of the region.

About the Artist: Kathy Sosa is the author of Mestizaje: The Feminist Art of Kathy Sosa, co-editor and illustrator of Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico, and co-producer of the documentary series Children of the Revolución. Her work has been exhibited nationwide and featured across major media platforms.

A Contemporary Companion to 400 Years of Tejano History

The theme of mestizaje bridges Sosa’s work directly with Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story, the largest and most ambitious exhibition in the Briscoe’s history.

On view through January 18, 2027, Tejano Legacy explores nearly 400 years of Tejano history, culture, and identity through more than 100 artworks and artifacts. It examines the migrations, conflicts, faith, and traditions that created a vibrant borderlands culture that continues to thrive today.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage & Fall at the Briscoe

With Tejano Legacy, Selena Forever | Siempre Selena, a robust fall calendar, and the arrival of Revolutionary Women, the Briscoe offers incredible opportunities to immerse yourself in Tejano and Mexican American history and culture.

🌟 Featured Companion Exhibition

• Selena Forever | Siempre Selena (On view through Jan. 4, 2027): Features photographer John Dyer’s intimate images of Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla captured between 1992 and 1994. Large-scale portraits, boutique photography, and magazine covers celebrate her enduring legacy.

🎶 Fall Events Beyond the Galleries

• Oct. 22 | Llamativa Free Concert (6–8 p.m.): Experience the living rhythms of cumbia with San Antonio’s all-female cumbia group, Llamativa. This all-ages outdoor/gallery performance is completely free and open to the public.
• Nov. 7 | Los Tejanos Film Screening & Conversation (1–4 p.m.): Join a special screening of the documentary Los Tejanos, followed by an audience Q&A with acclaimed author John Phillip Santos, producer Jeri Wachter, and Emmy-winning director Joseph C. Stillman. Free with advance registration.
• Nov. 19 | Truly Texas Mexican Film Screening (6–8 p.m.): Explore how food traditions carry history and cultural memory across generations during this special documentary screening. Free with museum admission.

Plan Your Visit

• Location: Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio River Walk, 210 W. Market Street, San Antonio, TX ( housed in the beautifully restored 1930s former San Antonio Public Library building).
• Stay Updated: Programs and details are subject to change. Visit the Briscoe Western Art Museum online for the latest ticketing information, hours, and event registrations.

About the Briscoe Western Art Museum: Dedicated to preserving and presenting the art, history, and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions, educational programs, and public events reflective of the region’s rich traditions and shared heritage.