How Humble Donkey’s
Texas Art Came to Be.

The history behind Humble Donkey and its Texas art is one part love story, one part adventure tale — and 100% “we’ll figure things out as we go.” It all began when John and Laurie Lowery purchased a former dairy farm in Burton, Texas. Houston city slickers who knew nothing about livestock but had grown tired of big-city life, they decided to buy up some farm equipment, split their time between cities and have a go at some small-town serenity.

Old habits die hard, though. And for John, a life-long artist, advertising guru and former NASA illustrator, art was a really, really old habit.

In 2016 he picked up his paint brush to put his own spin on the critters, farm accoutrements and characters that called the region home — and decided to sell it out of his very own gallery. (As for Laurie? She’s a very patient woman.) That year, John’s gallery, Humble Donkey, laid down roots on Round Top’s Henkel Square.

As time progressed and John’s Texas art caught on, Humble Donkey upgraded to larger spaces on the square — and eventually added clothing, antiques and home goods. A full decade after Humble Donkey’s grand debut, the husband-wife duo made the difficult decision to close to spend more time with family (especially their brand-new grandkid!), figure out their next chapter and enjoy the rural Texas quirks and curiosities John had painted for so long.

Today, John and Laurie still call Burton their full-time home, they’re all in on that small-town life and they’re livin’ life to the fullest together. (Just between us, though? They still know zilch about cows.)