Summer Library I, Stella Ebner Gift from the University of St. Thomas Masters Program Alumni to the Art History Department

The Permanent Collection

"The Fine Arts play a crucial role in the cultural life of the University of St. Thomas and contribute directly to its educational mission."

The Rev. Dennis Dease
President. University of St. Thomas

The permanent collections of the University of St. Thomas comprise over 500 objects, including paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, stained glass, and textiles. Most of these objects are on display on building exteriors, as well as in the Libraries, offices, classrooms, dormitories, seminary buildings, the student center; and in various outdoor settings, such as the Sculpture Garden of the O'Shaughnessy-Owens Science complex. Many works of art are used directly for teaching purposes in the Art History classroom, as well as specialized settings such as the Luann Dummer Center for Women. Others play a direct role in worship and meditation. New objects are added annually, either through direct purchase or through donations. To reach as broad an audience as possible, the art collections of St. Thomas consist of three separate groupings, each with its own audience and environment.

The Monumental Collection consists of public, large-scale works of arts, such as the commemorative statue of Archbishop Ireland, Constellation Earth, and In the Beginning was the Word.

Landscape by Nicholas Brewer

The Gallery Collection is the main teaching collection of the University and embraces a broad range of periods,regions, and media to serve a variety of curricular needs.

The Open Collection enhances the campus environment with a variety of works of art, such as photographs and large-edition prints, in public areas of the University buildings.

Assembling an art collection takes thought, direction, and funding. St. Thomas alumni and friends help to act as architects in the building of the UST collections through gifts to the Acquisition Fund.