UAFS hosts Harold Keller: Portals. Fort Smith Art Instructor Donates Profound Collection.

The Wingate Art & Design gallery has the immense privilege of hosting an unprecedented exhibition of Harold Keller’s work, with over forty paintings, drawings, ceramics, and artists books donated by Keller’s daughter.

Keller had an artistic career of over seventy years, along with a teaching career of thirty-five. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts in art and philosophy. He became a professor of art at the Fort Smith Junior College, now the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, from 1956 to 1962. He solely transformed the curriculum to include studio art, art history, and art criticism, making a major contribution to the current art program.

Keller explored a range of themes, styles, and media throughout his extensive artistic career, combining unique features of magical realism with a critical reflection of reality and reinterpretations of religion, society, and culture. Many of his pieces combine a visual irony of his thoughts involving religion and philosophy, along with art portraying his personal experiences of upstate New York landscapes.

It is urged that everyone sees this unique piece of UAFS history and the stunningly talented artist that contributed to it. The exquisite mythological drawings and paintings, along with the uniquely captured landscapes are not ones to miss.