Spring 2021

A new year typically prompts a fresh start--a clean slate that invites us to leave all things undesirable behind.  Clearly this year is different.  A raging global pandemic, political polarization, and deep social inequities permeate our lives--and regrettably will be with us for quite some time.

Despite these overwhelming challenges, we know that experiences with art can be a source of inspiration and healing.  As we explore art made by diverse artists and cultures, and as we tap our own creative energies, we are reminded that the act of making can generate positive change.  Viewing and making art not only helps us escape the everyday, but acts as a mirror to reconnect us to our values, interests, and passions.

As we reopen our galleries on February 9, join us at LUAG--in person and online--to reconnect, reflect, and refresh your spirit.  Inspired by the exhibition Well, Well, Well:  Picturing Wellness in the LUAG Collection, join us for programs that connect mindfulness and well-being to magnificent works of art.  Activate your senses while supporting local businesses through our new free program series Taste of Art, which pairs restaurants and cuisines of South Bethlehem with artworks in the LUAG collection.  As a testament to the flourishing of human creativity in spite of a global lockdown, explore our online exhibition Black and White Sketches in Quarantine, featuring artworks from artists around the world who have immersed themselves in artmaking during this historic time. 

As we transition to new political leadership in the United States, and as we all reflect on our civic responsibilities, visit Doing Democracy:  Photography from the George Stephanopoulos Collection at our Main Gallery and also on the South Bethlehem Greenway.  Explore these remarkable photographs by accessing the free, Lehigh student-produced videos on your smartphone through the QR codes paired next to each artwork, or view the videos on our website.

In closing, our team at LUAG begins 2021 with deep gratitude.  The recent transformative gift of $5M from Kenneth R. Woodcock ‘65 provides critical and flexible support for LUAG, now and for future generations.  We also celebrate magnificent gifts of art, including the collection of Japanese porcelain from Dr. Robert Wheeler ‘50 that highlights how engineering, chemistry, physics, and art are intertwined.  And finally, we are grateful for you--our friends, neighbors, and supporters, who make LUAG a place of possibility and inspiration.

We hope that you will visit LUAG--physically and virtually--and make art an essential part of your life in 2021.

See you at the galleries and online,

will's signature.jpg

William B. Crow, Ph.D.

Director and Professor of Practice