Sixty Years of Student-Acquired Contemporary Art at Wake Forest University
This year Wake Forest celebrates the 60th anniversary of the University’s one-of-a-kind student-led art buying program. Beginning in 1963, students under the direction of faculty advisors have traveled to New York City every four years to purchase contemporary art for the Mark H. Reece Collection of Student-Acquired Contemporary Art. This revered tradition has empowered three generations of students to amass a premier collection of contemporary art. As progressive and radical as it was in 1963, the students’ charge has remained consistent over six decades and 16 art-buying trips: to purchase artworks that reflect the times. Of the Times at Hanes Gallery features highlights from each decade and select artworks from each buying trip.