Texas A&M University-Victoria is proud to be home to The Linda and William Reaves Collection of Texas Art. The collection was officially dedicated in September 2023 as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the university.
The Linda and William Reaves Collection of Texas Art offers a curated public art assemblage commemorating the 50th anniversary of the university’s presence on the mid-Texas coast. It was assembled to underscore and acclaim the qualities and attributes of the university’s distinctive service area as well as to feature accomplished regional artists whose works have either referenced or been inspired by this slice of Texas over the last half-century. As such, the collection represents a unique place-centered, time-bound grouping of Texas art.
Donors
Linda J. and William E. Reaves
Rebecca Lee and Maurice Schmidt
Irma and Dr. Jim Brand
Kay Betz
Amber W. Countis
Vice President of Advancement & External Relations
University Advancement
Texas A&M University-Victoria
3007 North Ben Wilson Street
Victoria, TX 77901
Phone: (361) 570-4829
Cell: (903) 246-1320
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Email: CountisA@tamuv.edu
Website: Texas A&M University-Victoria
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The Linda and William Reaves Collection of Texas Art
Gift of Linda and William Reaves, 2022-23
The Linda and William Reaves Collection of Texas Art at the Texas A&M University-Victoria (A&M-Victoria) is a collection of art in public spaces assembled in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the university’s presence in the region. The artworks comprising the collection are emblematic of the qualities and attributes of the university’s location in Victoria, Texas at the center of an area stretching across the coastal plains and prairieland southwest of Houston and north of Corpus Christi. Though distinct in their narratives, perspectives, aims, and conceptual underpinnings, artists in the collection—Xavier González, Jonathan Paul Jackson, Leila McConnell, Kermit Oliver, and Dick Wray among them—radiate the spirit of the region, its people, places, ideas, networks, and environments. When viewed in totality, The Linda and William Reaves Collection of Texas Art at the Texas A&M University-Victoria is a constellation of expressions and narratives that come together to present one grand and rewarding glimpse into the area’s unique artistic tradition and local culture.
Aiming to inspire art scholarship, shed light on Texas art and artists, and enrich the experiences of students, faculty, and visitors, Linda and William Reaves assembled and donated this extensive art collection in 2022-23. This generous gift reflects the Reaves’ passion for and dedication to Texas art, as well as their commitment to making art accessible to everyone. Collecting for the past forty years, the couple has amassed a substantial, important, and focused collection of twentieth-century Texas art, a rich area of creativity often overlooked by scholars and collectors alike. Artworks from the Linda and William Reaves Collection of Texas Art at Texas A&M University-Victoria are now on display in buildings across the A&M-Victoria campus.