Gifts of The Collectors Circle

The generosity and continuing support of the Collectors Circle is the focus of this exhibition featuring works of art purchased and conserved by this outstanding group of Grace Museum supporters.

On the evening of February 10, 2019, The Grace Museum celebrated the seventh annual Collectors Circle event. The tradition was established in 2012 by the Exhibitions and Collections Committee of The Grace Museum with the goal to bring new focus to the collection and to raise funds to acquire additional works of art for The Grace’s permanent art collection. The collection originated in 1937 with the Abilene Fine Arts Museum whose goal was to collect art for the good of the citizens of Abilene. As the only accredited museum in Abilene by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), The Grace Museum is the steward of the collection that has grown for the last eight decades through carefully screened donations from artists, collectors and private individuals to create an exemplary collection of American art with Texas connections.

Since 2012, Collectors Circle members have purchased 16 outstanding works of art by artists Bob Stuth-Wade, Bill Kennedy, Dan Rizzie, Teresa Gomez-Martorell, Julie Speed, Jerry Bywaters, Linda Ridgway, Sarah Williams, William Lester, Chapman Kelly, Lloyd Brown, Miles Goodwin, Valton Tyler, Jim Woodson, Lilian Garcia-Roig, Sedrick Huckaby, Miguel Zapata, Brian Cobble, and Toni LaSalle. The group has also designated funds for professional conservation of works of art in the collection.

The Grace Museum’s permanent art collection continues to be featured in art exhibitions at the museum and loaned to other museum exhibitions upon request. Because we are an AAM accredited museum, we maintain the highest professional standards for the preservation and presentation of works of art in the collection. The Grace curatorial staff wishes to thank the Trustees and Committee volunteers who give so generously to support the work we do to curate, present and preserve the art collection.

This project is supported by a grant from the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council and the City of Abilene.