Permanent Collection

Texas State Galleries maintains a permanent collection that reflects its commitment to modern and contemporary art and serves as an important teaching and research resource within the School of Art and Design at Texas State University.

The collection comprises approximately 350 works, with particular strength in modern and contemporary works on paper, many by artists working in or connected to Texas. Over two-thirds of the collection have been generously donated by Dr. Timothy Woolsey, Professor Emeritus of Music at Texas State University. His sustained generosity over many years has decisively shaped the scope and character of the collection.

In May 2018, TXST Galleries received fifty-four works from the Blanton Museum of Art at University of Texas at Austin. These artworks, formerly held by The Contemporary Austin, were among a group distributed by the Blanton to museums across Texas.

In 2019, collector Browne Goodwin donated sixty-seven works acquired in Texas, further strengthening the collection’s regional depth. Beginning in the 1970s, Mr. Goodwin and his wife, Diane Goodwin, built a collection focused on supporting emerging artists in cities where they lived, including Austin, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Exhibitions such as Selected Gifts from the Collection of Dr. Timothy Woolsey (2023) and Fresh Ink: Drawing from the Permanent Collection (2024) have highlighted works from the collection and underscored the central role of philanthropy in its development. Permanent collection exhibitions are frequently curated by TXST Galleries student workers and interns, giving students hands-on experience in curatorial practice, exhibition planning, and public engagement.

Collection Focus

The TXST Galleries Permanent Collection is particularly strong in modern and contemporary works on paper, including drawing, printmaking, and mixed media. While emphasizing artists with ties to Texas, it also reflects broader currents in late-nineteenth and twentieth-century art.

Artists represented include Jasper Johns, Christo, Julie Mehretu, Terry Winters, Julie Speed, Thomas Hart Benton, Jasper F. Cropsey, Richard Diebenkorn, Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell, Mark Tobey, Bill Hutson, and Eugene Omar Goldbeck, among others.

These works support teaching across media, methodologies, and historical frameworks, and provide students with direct access to original works of art.

Study & Access

The permanent collection is principally reserved for use by Texas State University faculty, staff, and students. It serves as a resource for instruction, research, and exhibition-based learning within the School of Art and Design. Works may be accessed by appointment, coordinated with Galleries staff, and are subject to availability, preservation considerations, and exhibition schedules.

Texas State University faculty may contact Dr. Sarah E. Kleinman, Director of TXST Galleries, to discuss ways the Galleries can support their teaching and research: s.kleinman@txstate.edu.

Support TXST GAlleries

Philanthropic support plays a vital role in sustaining TXST Galleries’ exhibitions, public programs, and permanent collection. Financial contributions help fund conservation, educational initiatives, student opportunities, and the long-term stewardship of the collection.

Tip: to direct your gift to the Texas State Galleries Program Support Fund, enter “Galleries” under “Search for other Texas State University Programs.”

Donor Acknowledgement

TXST Galleries gratefully acknowledges the generosity of individuals and collectors whose gifts have shaped and sustained the permanent collection. Donors are recognized through exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, and their contributions play a lasting role in advancing teaching, research, and engagement with contemporary art at Texas State University.