Leave it to Linda Pace to hire world-renowned architect David Adjaye, knighted Sir David in 2017, to build a sparkling, ruby-red contemporary art center to house her personal holdings before she passed away in 2007.

Ruby City is a realization of Linda’s dream, and her legacy has strengthened San Antonio’s place on the world’s contemporary art map. God bless Linda Pace, who believed that art was a vital social force for the good. Her artists-in-residence program, artpace, founded in 1993, has nurtured the talent of up-and-coming artists, many now featured in Ruby City.

Ruby City’s admission is always free. That’s right, FREE! On Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., anyone with a desire to soak up the creativity of local and international artists is welcome to roam through Pace’s eclectic collection at 150 Camp Street.

The 14,000-square foot museum is a superb backdrop for the thought-provoking works of art. It’s difficult to pick just one favorite, but I believe Cornelia Parker’s “Heart of Darkness” made with charred wood from a Florida wildfire was pretty hard to beat.

Ruby City will host programs inspired by its permanent collection throughout the year. Keep up with the latest via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been her home ever since. Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to curate a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!