Art Galleries at Our University Celebrate a Century of Artistic Excellence
Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) Celebrate Centennial Anniversary
The Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) are gearing up to celebrate their 100th anniversary, marking a century of showcasing art and fostering a creative community. Established in 1926, the LUAG has grown from a small beginning into a world-class art gallery.
Originally located against the industrial backdrop of Bethlehem Steel's blast furnaces, Lehigh University, founded in 1865, has always been known as an engineering school. However, university leaders recognised the importance of the visual arts and made strides to incorporate them into the curriculum.
Henry Coppée, Lehigh's first president, believed art was as important to undergraduate learning as math, science, and history. As a result, the founding curriculum required all students to study drawing and offered instruction in painting.
The first exhibition in LUAG was organised by Emil Gelhaar, a Swedish-born painter and instructor of freehand drawing. The showcase in 1926 featured original oil paintings from contemporary American artists and reproductions of paintings by the Great Masters, including Raphael, Rembrandt, and Titian.
Since then, the LUAG's collection has grown to over 20,000 pieces, representing different eras, cultural ideas, mindsets, and mediums. The collection includes a nationally recognised collection of Latin American art, photography, video, and an outdoor sculpture collection.
As part of the centennial celebration, the LUAG will feature perspectives from students and alumni influenced by a Lehigh education that includes the arts. The event will also include a look back at the gallery's history and a look ahead at what's to come.
The Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) have come a long way since their inception, evolving from a small art gallery into a world-class institution that continues to inspire and educate. The centennial celebration promises to be a fitting tribute to this remarkable journey.
