Through six decades, the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU Texas has acquired artwork through generous donations and well-planned purchases resulting in a remarkable permanent collection of American art. “Highlights from the Decades” explores how the WFMA collected art through the past 60 years to create a rich educational resource for Midwestern State University and the surrounding North Texas communities.

The Wichita Falls Museum of Art has amassed over 1,700 pieces of art, and this exhibition highlights a selection of artworks acquired each decade in this journey.

“Narrowing down a selected exhibit from over 1,700 works is always a challenge,” said Danny Bills, curator of collections and exhibitions. “This roster contains pieces that are well known, as well as some work that has not been seen in a while, plus a never-before-seen piece of art acquired through the Collectors Circle in 2021. We intend to leave this installation up through the rest of 2023 so that anyone who visits the museum will enjoy our collection and our rotating exhibits.”

Purchases of artwork began in 1968 through the museum’s Art Acquisition Committee. In 1975 the museum received matching grant funds from the National Endowment of the Arts to help purchase artwork. Over the years, the museum would maintain an endowment for collecting, which continued until the merger with Midwestern State University in 2005. Collecting slowed following the merger but in 2010 a new program, the Collectors Circle, was created. The Collectors Circle was formed by community donors who meet once a year to vote on potential purchases brought forward by the museum's Curator of Collections. The Collectors Circle has purchased 94 artworks since its inception. Through this collecting effort, the representation of female artists and artists of color has increased dramatically.

Early in its seventh decade of collecting, the WFMA is poised to continue its educational mission as an advocate for the power of art to enrich lives and connect communities. This increasingly diverse collection stands as an unwavering educational asset to future generations of patrons.

The exhibition will be open through Dec. 21. Contact the museum at 940-397-8900 for more information.