Humble Donkey Studio — Attraction in Round Top

I live in Houston and about a year ago I was looking for something different to do one weekend. I took a look at the map and looked for a place I’d never been and found myself in Round Top a few hours later. When I got to Henkel Square, I saw a big red barn called the Humble Donkey and was immediately drawn inside.

I had no idea I was about to walk into a place that I would visit over and over and over again. Or that I would soon have so many pictures of donkeys in my home.

This two-story shop is filled with whimsy. I don’t think it’s possible to turn in any direction and not find something that makes me smile.

The shop has a curated selection of clothing and home goods (they have some vintage-style juicers that I’ve had my eye on for a while), but the star is the art, all by proprietor John R. Lowery.

Much of the art is focused on donkeys (often of his own donkeys, Willie, Waylon and Pablo Picasso), but there are also cows, owls, fish, raccoons, moose and even a jackalopes, frogs and iguanas. There’s lots of Texas landscapes and landmarks and some portraits of people. There’s a story behind every piece. Ask him or his wife, Laurie, about the painting of a cow drinking out of a pool. John puts his imagination on canvas with bright colors and precise brushstrokes that make everything come to life.

Be sure to check out the back room — it’s where all the available original paintings are. Each piece is beautifully spotlighted.

The hospitality is top-notch. Leslie and Debbie work with the Lowerys; everyone is genuinely welcoming, kind and helpful, and they always offer a beverage to wet your whistle!

There’s only one problem I ever have at the Humble Donkey: Deciding which piece(s) to take home. I want all of them but am quickly running out...

We pretty much made the trip to Round Top from Dallas specifically to purchase a particular piece of art from Humble Donkey. We arrived early on Tuesday of Antiques Week/Fall 2025 and luckily found a parking spot right in front of the studio. We walked in with a purpose, but didnt realize how many different size/substrate/framing options we would have for the print, and the staff member that helped us was so incredibly helpful, we were very impressed. Once we had made our choice, we walked around the gallery portion of the shop and were just blown away the the stunning art pieces on display. If you aren't in the market for large pieces of expensive art, this is still a great stop, as they make small prints, post cards, stickers, etc available so that you can find a way to take a little piece of this wonderful artists work home with you. I know I...

I visited this gallery/retail space during the Spring Round Top Antiques Fair and was so impressed! The clothing selection is adorable and stylish, and the art is absolutely beautiful—unique pieces with a variety of print options available for purchase. I did run into an issue with one of the clothing items I bought, but when I reached out, the team responded quickly and resolved it right away. I really appreciated their excellent customer service. Overall, such a lovely spot with great style...