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Closed on Weekends

A PIECE of the History

In 1969, the student governmernt of North Dakota State University began investing a portion of the student activity fee to purchase fine art for the student body. A group of students ,faculty ,and staff started meeting to explore various funding opprtunities and with matching from the National Endowment for the arts, began purchasing contemporary american art. Some 30 years later, the art collection has grown to 400 plus pieces. Pieces have been acquired through direct purchase from artists purchase from artists and others have been donated to the university. The acquisition of this art was the seed that grown into the program as it exists today.

Student Art Collection

It is the oldest component and is comprised of American Contemporary artists and features work by Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Judy Chicago, Fritz Scholder, Oscar Howe, Ron Davis, Philip Pearlstein, James Rosenquist and Frank Stella. Works were purchased through an annual purchase awards from Student Government. An advisory committee would acquire works through art dealers and regional juried art exhibits.

The Lakeside Studio Collection

The Lakeside Studio Collection was donated by the Lakeside Studio Gallery in 1977. The Gallery hosts a summer workshop for master printmakers and this particular summer 15 printmakers from around the country retreated to the shores of Lakeside Michigan for the summer to learn new processes and create art. (Sigmund Abeles, Richard Black, Harvey Breverman, Herb Jackson, Raymond Kercui, Stanley Lea, Robert Malone, Will Peterson, David Shapiro and Robert Weaver)

The Ralph Engel Memorial Collection

The Ralph Engel Memorial Collection was left to the students as part of the Engel estate upon his passing. Engel was a member of the NDSU Department of English from 1955 - 1975. Over the years he collected art from local, regional and national artists filling the walls of his home to share with students and friends. (Leonard Baskin, Pablo Picasso, Utagawa Toyokuni III, Robert Nelson, Johnny Friedlander, Ben Shahn, Joan Miro, Jean Dubeffet, andCharles Beck)

The NDSU Collection

The NDSU Collection is a smaller collection of works that have been donated to the university over the years and specifically housed with the Visual Arts & Gallery Program. (Ben Shahn, Robert Nelson, George Pfeifer, Gustav Vigiland, Tracy Linder, Walter Piehl, Jr., Theodore Waddell, frje echeverria, and Leo Kim)

The Memorial Union Collection

The Memorial Union Collection consists primarily of student work and a sub-section of poster prints. In the past, the Memorial Union often provided purchase awards for student and visiting artists. (Francisco Goya, Joan Miro, W. Piehl Jr., Judith Altobell, Theodore Waddell, Martina Lopez, Richard Bresnahan)

The Printmaking Education and Research Studio (PEARS) Collection

The PEARS Collection was developed as a partnership with the Visual Arts Department and PEARS. Established in 1999 the collection consists of established visiting artists as well as current student work. (Mac Hornecker, Tim Dooley, frji echeverria, Wayne Kimball, Linda Olson, Jaune Quick To See Smith and Aaron Wilson)