Only organizations as relentlessly dedicated to visual art in all its forms as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston would have a hoard of cups, saucers and chairs designed by world-famous architects. For the past decade, the Houston chapter of the American Institute of Architects has helped MFAH build a collection of architect-designed housewares and the like. Starting this month, its pulled some out of the vault for the exhibit Form Follows Function. Items on display include a 2-shaped chair by designer Gerrit Rietveld; a folding, neon, translucent plastic chair from Belgian furniture designer Maarten van Severen; and a tea/coffee cup and saucer set designed by Italian architect Aldo Rossi. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 12:15 to 7 p.m. Sundays. Through January 30. 1001 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-639-7300 or visit www.mfah.org. Free to $7.
Tuesdays-Sundays. Starts: Aug. 8. Continues through Jan. 30, 2010