A brief history of Dallas Contemporary 1978 - 2023: 

1978: The Artists Coalition of Texas (ACT) was established. ACT was dedicated to the development of local contemporary art and the search for alternative spaces for artists. It was artist-initiated and artist-directed. In 1980, the name was changed to D’Art, a visual art center for Dallas. A search for a permanent arts facility was led by Mary Ward and Judy Hearst.

198: Patricia Meadows found a warehouse at 2917 Swiss Avenue and joined the board of D’Art. The D’Art board voted to rent the warehouse, which opened to the public in August 1981.

1981–1986: Patricia Meadows oversaw programming, including art exhibitions by individual and group Dallas artists, seminars, meeting and workshop space for artists, and office space for art organizations. She also managed fundraising for rent and building renovations. In 1986, she recruited Vicki Meek to be the first paid executive director.

1986–1989: Under Executive Director Vicki Meek, D’Art established a collaboration with the Center for Research in Contemporary Art at the University of Texas at Arlington, sharing resources for exhibits by local, national, and international performance and installation artists such as Allan Kaprow, Suzanne Lacy, Coco Fusco & Guillermo Gómez-Peña, and Jim Pomeroy. D’Art closed temporarily and reopened after renovation.

1989–2001: Executive Director Katherine Wagner worked with Patricia Meadows, Vicki Meek, and the board of directors to establish "Mosaics," an exhibition series promoting artists of color. Wagner and Meadows increased membership and initiated new programming. Offices for diverse organizations such as the Mexico Institute, USA Film Festival, and an arts business center were established. The Legend Award, honoring Texas arts heroes such as James Surls and Margaret McDermott, was founded. Significant regional artists were exhibited in the main gallery, while smaller galleries offered opportunities for solo and community exhibits. In 2001, after finding the original building at 2917 Swiss Avenue faulty, the Meadows Foundation underwrote a new facility located at 2001 Swiss Avenue with a ten-year lease.

2001–2010: Executive Director Joan Davidow established "Art Think," an intensive education program making contemporary art more accessible to students. Davidow led the museum’s first capital campaign, raising $4.5 million to purchase and renovate a 37,000 sq. ft. facility in the Dallas Design District, its current building. The name was changed to Dallas Contemporary in 2007, and the scope of exhibitions expanded to include non-regional artists.

2010–2022: Executive Director Peter Doroshenko worked with adjunct curators Alison Gingeras and Pedro Alonzo to bring a diverse array of international artist exhibitions and group shows, enhancing global awareness of DC’s program. Associate Curator Emily Edwards joined the DC staff and began curating exhibitions dedicated to underrepresented voices.

2022–2024: Executive Director Carolina Alvarez-Mathies encouraged DC to embrace its origins as a regional art space, strategically rebuilding a sense of collaborative community while maintaining a strong international perspective, and creating opportunities for Texan artists in the global arena. Deputy Director Lucia Simek joined the DC staff in 2022, helping to guide public programs, education, and the museum’s curatorial goals.

2024–present: Deputy Director Lucia Simek has been appointed as the Interim Executive Director. In her role as Deputy Director, she oversaw curatorial affairs and public programs. Since joining the museum, Simek has spearheaded innovative initiatives, including "DC Performance," dedicated to artists working at the frontier of performance art, and "DC EMPTY," a series that provides space for regional artists working in time-based media.