University of South Dakota Art Galleries Receives Major Donation of Artwork from Stilwell Family
The generous donation included approximately 6,000 pencil drawings and watercolor paintings on typing paper.
Stilwell, who encompassed a lifelong commitment to artistic exploration and daily practice, often used his drawings to create moments of reflection and experimentation, revealing deep creative curiosity and an enduring engagement with art making beyond the classroom.
“We are so pleased you are enjoying Dad’s sketches. They represent many hours of enjoyment for him. His recreation and relaxation after teaching classes was to drive to the country and sketch,” said Mary (Stilwell) Van Loan, daughter of Wilber M. Stilwell. “More often than not, he had his clipboard, paper and pencil in his hands—just having fun with it, working out some compositional idea or writing about art. It seemed he usually had some aspect of art on his mind.”
A selection of drawings from the donation is currently on view in Gallery 110 in Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts, as part of the Stilwell Student Awards Exhibition, an annual exhibition established in honor of Stilwell’s contributions to the Department of Art and his lasting impact on students.
The “Stilwell” exhibition is on display at the John A. Day Gallery through Sunday, Feb. 22.
University Art Galleries staff has also begun the process of cataloguing, digitizing and rehousing the drawings into archival sleeves and portfolios. This work will take place on Mondays in Gallery 110 from 9 a.m. to noon and will continue throughout the spring semester.
The Stilwell donation will become part of the University Art Galleries’ core collection, supporting teaching, research and public engagement while preserving the legacy of an art educator whose influence continues to shape the USD art community.
For more information, please contact the USD Art Galleries at [email protected].
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