New name to reflect the institution’s role in collection stewardship, academic collaboration, education and public engagement Press release 10/07/2026: BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Oct. 7, 2026 – The Texas A&M University Art Galleries, which encompasses the J. Wayne Stark Galleries and the Forsyth Galleries, will become the Texas A&M University Art Museum, reflecting the institution’s role in collection stewardship, academic collaboration, education and public engagement. The transition comes from a need to reflect the work of the museum’s current leadership and professional staff in the ongoing work they do to acquire, preserve and interpret the university’s expanding art collections. It will also represent existing collaborations between the museum staff and university faculty who utilize the teaching collections for research, classroom education and programming. While the name change establishes a unified identity for the department, the Stark and Forsyth gallery spaces will retain their current, individual names and locations within the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M University campus. “The transition to the Texas A&M University Art Museum reflects the depth and breadth of the work our staff already undertake as museum professionals,” John Spriggins, director of the Texas A&M University Art Museum, said. “Our role extends well beyond presenting exhibitions—we are stewards of significant collections, partners in teaching and research and facilitators of meaningful engagement with art. The new name more accurately represents our responsibility to preserve, interpret and make these collections accessible while supporting the academic mission of Texas A&M University.” Dedicated in 1992, the Stark collections were named for J. Wayne Stark ‘39, founding director of the Memorial Student Center and key player in the formation of OPAS and the MSC Visual Arts Committee. Stark was instrumental in fusing academics with civic awareness by bringing museum-quality art to campus during his 33 years at Texas A&M, which became the impetus of the current collections. Alongside the Stark Galleries collections is the Forsyth Galleries, which houses the collections of Bill ’35 and Irma Runyon. Consisting of late 19th and early 20th century glass and American paintings, the Forsyth was established in 1989. It houses one of the world’s leading collections of English cameo glass. “By merging the Stark, a gallery dedicated to contemporary Texas and regional art, with the Forsyth’s collection of exceptional 19th and 20th century European and American fine and decorative arts, we create a dynamic space where the community gains access to not only a broader spectrum of artistic voices, but also new opportunities for dialogue and inspiration,” Elizabeth Appleby, assistant director of the Texas A&M University Art Museum and curator of the Forsyth Galleries, said. “This will allow us to celebrate local creativity alongside historical masterpieces, offering visitors a richer understanding of both our cultural heritage and our present-day artistic landscape.” Together, the collections provide opportunities for both the campus and community to encounter art across multiple periods, mediums, cultures and disciplines. The Texas A&M University Art Museum will continue its work through rotating exhibitions, collaborations with university and external partners and educational programming to reflect Texas A&M University’s commitment to transformational education and community engagement. “Art has the power to create connections across disciplines, generations and communities,” Spriggins said. “As the Texas A&M University Art Museum, we have an opportunity to make the university’s collections and exhibitions more accessible to everyone while creating meaningful opportunities for students, faculty, staff and the broader community to learn, engage and be inspired. Our goal is to make the museum a destination where people can encounter art, exchange ideas and see themselves as part of the cultural life of Texas A&M and the Brazos Valley.” For more information about exhibitions, programming and events, visit uart.tamu.edu. Admission is always free and open to the public. Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.
