University Art Gallery to Exhibit Diverse Collection by Internationally Known Artists

SAN LUIS OBISPO – A diverse collection of more than 70 works of art, including sculpture, painting, drawing, mixed media printmaking, collage, photography, ceramics and digital media, will be showcased in the next University Art Gallery exhibit, running May 18 through June 15 at Cal Poly.

The Barry Berkus and Family Art Collection will open with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday May 18 with a talk by Barry Berkus about his collection.

Berkus is a noted Santa Barbara architect, art collector and philanthropist who has donated a large number of artworks from his collection to the County of Santa Barbara. The Barry collection includes more than 70 art works created collected over 25 years

Barry Berkus and his late wife, Gail, were recognized by Art News magazine as among the top 200 art collectors in the world. Their modern and contemporary collection was noted for its diversity and for large scale artworks by such well known artists as Alexander Calder, Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist, Frank Stella, Nancy Graves, Roy Lichtenstein, Richard Diebenkorn and Ed Ruscha.

While recognized for their collection of internationally and nationally known artists’ artworks, the Berkus’ also supported Santa Barbara area artists.

The University Art Gallery show will include works by Cal Poly Art and Design Professor Sky Bergman and San Luis Obispo area artists Bob deBris, Colin Gray, Richard Ross, Lucy Brown, Wayne McCall, Dug Uyesaka, Keith Puccinelli, Hilary Brace, Marie Schoeff, Mary Heebner, Rafael Perea de la Cabada, and Seyburn Zorthian.

The show will also include works by such renowned artists as sculptor Lawrence Argent, painter Ciel Bergman (formerly Cheryl Bowers), photographer Jeff Brouws, digital artists Eric Chan and Heather Schatz (known together as ChanSchatz), and Ann Hamilton, a photographer, installation and performing artist.

The University Art Gallery is located in the Dexter Building (Building # 34) next to the Kennedy Library. Admission is free.

For more information, contact: Gallery Coordinator Jeff Van Kleeck, at 805-756-1571 or jvanklee@calpoly.edu .

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