A Heartfelt Tribute to Terri Thornton: Celebrating a Legacy of Passion, Education, and Community
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is mourning the loss of its former Curator of Education, Terri Thornton, who passed away after an extraordinary career spanning nearly 30 years. Terri’s contributions to the Museum, her colleagues, and the broader community will be remembered as a testament to her unwavering passion for art, education, and people. She leaves a legacy that will continue to inspire and shape the institution for years.
Terri’s journey with the Museum began in 1994, following her teaching roles at various academic institutions, including the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Christian University. With an MFA from the University of Dallas and a BFA from the University of North Texas, she brought a profound understanding of art to her role as Curator of Education. However, it was not just her credentials that defined her; her heart, dedication, and authenticity made her an irreplaceable figure in the Museum’s history.
Under Terri’s leadership, the education department flourished. She was instrumental in creating many of the Museum’s most beloved programs, such as the Summer Art Camp, Art Study, and the Teen Artist Project, which touched the lives of thousands of students over the years. Her commitment to art education extended to adults as well, with programs like Writing to Look and Sundays with the Modern, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and a deeper connection to art.
Terri championed inclusivity and accessibility, spearheading initiatives such as Spanish-language tours and the Slow Art program, which encouraged visitors to engage more deeply with art through reflection and discussion. She also led the Modern Billings initiative, displaying artists’ works on billboards in underserved communities, and managed a popular summer film series, bridging the realms of art and cinema.
One of her most enduring contributions was curating the Tuesday Evenings at the Modern lecture series. Under her guidance, the program became a hallmark of the Museum’s educational offerings, featuring notable figures such as Trenton Doyle Hancock, Kara Walker, and Barry McGee, who shared their insights and experiences with the public. Terri’s ability to curate a diverse and expansive program ensured that the Modern remained a vibrant and dynamic space for learning and dialogue.
More than just a curator, Terri was a friend, mentor, and guide. Her colleagues describe her as always honest and authentic. She combined the strength and resilience of her Texas roots with a tenderness that made everyone feel valued and heard. Her vibrant energy was contagious, and all who worked with her felt her deep commitment to the Museum and the community.
As we remember Terri Thornton, we celebrate her accomplishments and her spirit. She was both a nurturer and a champion, shaping the Modern Art Museum into what it is today while leaving an indelible mark on everyone who worked with her. While we mourn her passing, we take comfort in knowing that her legacy will live on through the countless programs she created and the many lives she touched.
Terri Thornton may be gone, but her beautiful spirit and impact on art education will never be forgotten.
About the Modern
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is a leader in collecting, showing, and interpreting art from the 1940s to the present. Situated in the heart of the Cultural District, the creative center of the city, the Modern has been housed since 2002 in an elegant concrete, glass, and steel building designed by the renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. In addition to 53,000 square feet of soaring, light-filled gallery space and landscaped grounds with outdoor sculptures, the museum features a reflecting pond, theater, education center, gift shop, and café, creating a thriving hub for our community and beyond.
Founded in 1892, the Modern is the oldest museum in Texas; however, our mission has changed over the years. Today, we strive to connect audiences of all ages and backgrounds with the most compelling art and ideas of our time. Showcasing the work of historically significant, mid-career, and emerging artists, the Modern is known for its evolving collection, which is international in scope. The Museum’s holdings include influential artists from Pablo Picasso, Philip Guston, Anselm Kiefer, Martin Puryear, and Agnes Martin to Mark Bradford, Teresita Fernández, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, and Kehinde Wiley. We have a long history of close relationships with the living artists we show and collect, many of whom visit the museum regularly to give talks and lead workshops.
The Modern is a center of lifelong learning and exchange. Our programs include tours, lectures by leading figures in the art world, youth and adult classes, art camps, workshops, and a range of small-group studio and gallery programs led by the Museum’s educators, docents, and community artists. We also present critically acclaimed first-run films and partner with other local arts organizations to offer music, dance, and theater.
The Modern is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition achievable by an American museum. Alliance accreditation signifies excellence and accountability to the entire museum community, to governments and outside agencies and to the museum-going public.
The History
The Museum was first established in 1892, making it the oldest museum in Texas and one of the oldest in the western United States. Founded by a group of forward-thinking women as the Fort Worth Public Library and Art Gallery in downtown Fort Worth, the museum has undergone several name changes and been housed in various buildings over the decades. Although the word “modern” only became part of the museum’s name in 1987, it has always been dedicated to the art of our time.
The Museum’s first permanent building was designed by the Bauhaus-trained architect Herbert Bayer and opened in 1954. The Cultural District began to develop around the site over the next few years, and with the arrival of new institutions such as the Amon Carter Museum and Kimbell Art Museum, we modified our focus to international art from World War II to the present. In 2002, the Modern relocated within the Cultural District to a world-renowned building designed by the Pritzker Prize–winning architect Tadao Ando. Acclaimed for its concrete walls and glass sheath, with pavilions that seem to float on an expansive reflecting pond, the building allows for major exhibitions, insightful educational programming, and the most comprehensive displays of the Museum’s collection in its history.
3200 Darnell Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
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