In 1971, University Galleries was founded at the Â鶹´«Ã½AV, as part of the Department of Art. In 2019, with an expanded collection and exhibition space in the University Foundation Arts Building, as well as an institutional commitment to the collection and programming, the John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art was created.
The Lilley Museum of Art permanent collection houses objects that are more than 4,000 years old, to contemporary art from today. The collection spans all time periods and cultures, and is noted for its strengths in self-taught and folk art, ancient Chinese art, Native American art, works on paper, and art from the Great Basin and Northern California. We have an active and selective acquisition plan with the aim to develop a collection that is unique, diverse, and useful to the audiences it serves.
The Lilley Museum of Art uses the power of art to enhance the cultural life of our diverse communities, and sees art as a tool for creativity, connection, and learning.
The Lilley Museum of Art envisions a community with art at its center and strives to be a remarkable and invaluable space on campus, a leader in the museum field, and an excellent cultural institution that serves students and the community at the university and beyond.