On a golden afternoon inside the McNay’s historic Semmes Lobby—the original entryway to Marion Koogler McNay’s home—sunlight spills across Spanish tile and arched windows, illuminating nearly a century of artistic legacy. It’s here that Voice of San Antonio sat down with Director and CEO Matthew McLendon for a conversation about heritage, hospitality, and how one woman’s rebellious spirit continues to shape the creative soul of the city.
“This was Marion McNay’s front door,” McLendon said, glancing toward the room where generations of visitors have entered. “I still hear stories from people who remember when the door was just open—you could walk in and out as you pleased.” That openness, he believes, is part of the museum’s DNA. “It was never really a domestic house,” he said. “It was built for entertaining. Marion chose the highest point on her property, right along Austin Highway, because she knew it would be the first thing people saw coming into San Antonio and the last thing they saw leaving. She viewed it as a gateway—and it still is.”
McLendon’s own journey into the arts began at six years old, as a musician and performer. After years in classical music and theater, a summer in Florence studying art history shifted his focus. “It opened up a whole new way of understanding the world,” he said. Graduate studies in London led to work at the Tate and later museum leadership roles across the U.S. “When I learned about the McNay, I realized it brought together everything I love: performance, modernism, and contemporary art. All three of my artistic lives under one roof.”
Now two years into his tenure, McLendon is focused on expanding the McNay’s reach while honoring its roots. “We’ve been talking a lot about local roots, global impact,” he said. “That’s always been part of the McNay’s story—Marion collected living artists. Today we’re doing the same, bringing in international voices while uplifting artists from San Antonio and across Texas. It’s about showing that local artists belong in global conversations.”
Belonging, he added, is central to the museum’s mission. “Our vision is to be San Antonio’s place of belonging. Welcome is a start, but belonging goes deeper—it means you see yourself reflected here, that you’re heard and valued.” McLendon acknowledges that museums can feel intimidating, especially those with grand architecture or quiet reverence. “We think a lot about removing what I call threshold anxiety,” he said. “If I, as a museum director, can still feel intimidated walking into certain institutions, how must others feel? So we’re constantly looking for ways to open the door wider.”
That openness extends to how the McNay engages the community. “From family days to dance nights and tequila tastings, those experiences of joy and discovery are just as valuable as what happens in the galleries,” he said. “They help people associate the McNay with fun, with life, with community.”
This fall, the museum opened a major installation by conceptual artist Sandy Skoglund, featuring her iconic Radioactive Cats. “It’s especially meaningful because it celebrates a 20-year relationship between Sandy and the McNay,” McLendon said. Next spring, a retrospective will honor René Paul Barilleaux, the McNay’s retiring Head of Curatorial Affairs, spotlighting two decades of curatorial leadership. “It’s a rare chance to see what it means when one person shapes a collection over 20 years.”
For McLendon, belonging also means sustainability. “Every gift matters,” he said. “Membership ensures that the programs people enjoy continue—and that they remain accessible to everyone. And the best thing you can do? Bring a friend. There are lifelong San Antonians who’ve never been here. Introduce them to their museum.”
When asked what he loves most about San Antonio, McLendon doesn’t hesitate. “It’s the most authentically kind place I’ve ever lived,” he said. “People here aren’t just polite—they’re deeply kind. That spirit makes this city feel like home.”
As the afternoon light faded through the arches of the Sims Lobby, that same spirit seemed to linger—a reminder that the McNay isn’t just a museum, but a home that still opens its doors to San Antonio.
Listen to the full conversation:
Voice of San Antonio Podcast, Episode 02 — “Local Roots, Global Impact” with Matthew McLendon, Director & CEO of the McNay Art Museum.
Available now on YouTube, and voiceofsanantonio.com.
THE VOICE:
Eleanora Morrison
Eleanora (Ellie) Morrison is a fifth-generation San Antonian and the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Voice of San Antonio, a platform dedicated to amplifying visionary voices in the city. As Editor-in-Chief, she leads both editorial and creative direction, shaping the platform’s voice, visual identity, and storytelling approach. With a background in arts, culture, and media, Ellie has always had a passion for telling stories that reflect the diverse, vibrant spirit of San Antonio. Her work strives to elevate local voices, showcasing the city’s rich cultural heritage and supporting its future growth. In addition to her editorial role, Ellie is a multi-disciplinary creative leading projects that shape spaces, conversations, and community in San Antonio and beyond. Connect with her on social media @eleanoramorrison.