One of the specialty license plates available to Texans features a bold image of the state flag with the phrase “State of the Arts” at the bottom. This motto might not be the first attribute people associate with Texas (California and New York immediately jump to mind), but it’s absolutely befitting of the Lone Star State.

Hundreds of world-renowned writers, artists, musicians, and actors call Texas home, and their influences and styles are as far-reaching as the stars in the West Texas sky. Having three of the country’s 10 largest cities also helps maximize exposure for artists and art aficionados. Premier exhibits and tours always include Texas on their schedule, and the dynamic magnetism of the state itself serves as an inspiration for a diverse mixture of creative endeavors. Anywhere that can claim it is home to Pulitzer Prize– and Oscar-winning writer Larry McMurtry and alternative rockers the Butthole Surfers is bound to be brimming with eclectic culture.