Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) traces its beginnings to 1926, the year of the first-known exhibition in the faculty room of the Alumni Memorial Building, believed to have been organized by Emil Gelhaar (1861- 1934), a Swedish-born painter and instructor of freehand drawing.
It showcased original oil paintings from contemporary American artists and reproductions of paintings by the Great Masters—Raphael, Rembrandt and Titian, among others.
While Lehigh has always been known as an engineering school—set against the industrial backdrop of Bethlehem Steel’s now silent blast furnaces—university leaders also recognized the importance of the visual arts. Henry Coppée, Lehigh’s first president, believed art was as important to undergraduate learning as math, science and history. His founding curriculum required all students to study drawing and offered instruction in painting, according to LUAG.
Since those early years, Lehigh’s artworks have grown into a world-class collection of more than 20,000 pieces representing different eras, cultural ideas, mindsets and mediums. In addition to classic paintings rooted in realism, Lehigh has also amassed a nationally recognized collection of Latin American art, photography, video and an outdoor sculpture collection.
As LUAG prepares to celebrate 100 years, we take a look back at its history, a look ahead at what’s to come and hear from students and alumni influenced by a Lehigh education that includes the arts.
