Donor Collection: E.G. Meyer Family Collection
October 6, 2026 - December 23, 2027
The E.G. Meyer Family Collection tells a story of curiosity, thoughtful acquisition,
and a deep appreciation for the art of the American West. The collection traces its
origins to E.G. Meyer's grandmother, Anna Ilfeld, an early patron of the Taos artists
of New Mexico. Although Meyer first encountered Western art through works inherited
within his family, he spent decades shaping a collection that reflected his own eye,
interests, and passions.
Professor Emeritus E.G. "Gerry" Meyer devoted more than fifty years to the University
of Wyoming as a scientist, educator, administrator, and researcher. Alongside his
academic career, he assembled an exceptional collection of Western American art. In
2012, Meyer and his family pledged a significant portion of the collection to the
University of Wyoming Art Museum, ensuring that works by artists including Frederic
Remington, Charles M. Russell, Joseph Henry Sharp, Thomas Moran, Nicolai Fechin, and
many others would become a lasting resource for teaching, research, and exhibition.
More than a remarkable gift, the E.G. Meyer Family Collection expanded the museum's
ability to explore the complexity and evolving artistic traditions of the American
West. It exemplifies how a collector’s individual vision can become a lasting cultural
resource that deepens our appreciation of history while creating new opportunities
for discovery.
As with every collection presented throughout Museum as Collector, these works invite visitors to consider not only the stories represented in the art
itself, but also the choices and relationships that brought them into the museum.
The E.G. Meyer Family Collection reminds us that museums are built through acts of
generosity that extend the life and meaning of artworks far beyond their original
owners.
