The Lowe Art Museum is one of the University of Miami's cultural gems. It houses South Florida's largest and most varied art collection spanning 5,000 years of world art history in virtually every medium.

After being housed for two years in two classrooms in UM's George E. Merrick Building, the Lowe Art Museum opened its doors on February 4, 1952 as the Joe and Emily Lowe Art Gallery. To celebrate the Lowe's 60th year with the South Florida community, highlights of its distinguished collecting history will be featured in this anniversary exhibition, which draws from some 18,000 works of art and showcases important objects not currently on view, or that may never have been seen by the faculty, students, or the general public.

The exhibition will be divided into the three sections: The Foundation Years, 1952-1969; The Formative Years, 1970-1989; and Building the Legacy, 1990-and beyond. It includes paintings, sculpture, works on paper, photography, and mixed media objects that represent the unique, multi-cultural holdings of the Lowe.

While the Lowe has permanent galleries devoted to each of its major collecting areas, there are significant holdings that, due to current space constraints, have not been on exhibition for a number of years. This exhibition will be a rare opportunity to showcase these objects, many selected by our guest faculty curators in their respective fields. The exhibition will be cross-cultural and will touch on all media in the collection, thereby highlighting the unique nature of the permanent collection at the Lowe.

The exhibition and its accompanying catalogue,
featuring six scholarly essays on objects in the
permanent collection by UM professors, will document the growth of the Lowe and its cultural service to both the University and broader South Florida communities over six decades. It will also be a tribute to the many benefactors and donors who have contributed to its growth.

Above Image Captions:

LAM Building, 1961

John Ferren, United States, 1905-1970
Untitled, 1958
pastel on paper, 25 1/8  x 19"
Gift of Theodore Racoosin, 70.031.001
© 1958 John Ferren