Art About Agriculture Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Show in Portland

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Art About Agriculture’s annual exhibition of agriculture and natural resource-themed artwork by Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a touring show that will be on display from Nov. 17 to Dec. 31 in Portland.

Britt Block, What a Bee Sees: Apple Blossom, 2022. Pastel on Paper, 54” x 45” (detail). Featured in Oregon State University's 2023 Art About Agriculture exhibition. (Photo/OSU)The juried show in the Antoinette Hatfield Hall Rotunda at Portland’5 Centers for the Arts will feature 65 pieces of art from artists representing 20 counties in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

An opening reception including complimentary hors d’oeuvres and free ice cream scoops from the Beaver Classic Food Truck will he held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 – online registration is free and open until November 10: https://beav.es/qUo.

This year’s open call for artwork received 641 submissions from 194 artists, more than double the number of submissions from last year.

“For 40 years, the College of Agricultural Sciences has invested in visual arts as an important part of its mission,” said Owen Premore, directing curator of the program. “Art’s power to foster dialogue from diverse perspectives while holding space for aesthetic enjoyment, reminiscence, poise, and education is an unmatched point of access into agricultural appreciation.”

The show is currently on display at the Rogue Gallery & Art Center in Medford through Nov. 10. It was previously featured at the Giustina Gallery at The LaSells Stewart Center on Oregon State’s Corvallis campus.

Art About Agriculture program first of its kind

The College of Agricultural Sciences’ Art About Agriculture program was established in 1983 as the region’s first annual agricultural-themed arts competition and touring exhibit. It recognizes professional and emerging Northwest artists, creates a growing, dynamic, permanent collection of fine art based on portraying agriculture and natural resources, and presents the permanent collection and touring exhibits across the state.

Artworks selected for the annual competition and tour are eligible for several juried purchase awards. Purchase awards are funded by donations and endowments. These purchased artworks are added to the Art About Agriculture permanent collection. Artworks from the permanent collection are exhibited on the OSU campus in Corvallis and by loan agreement throughout Oregon and the Northwest. The permanent collection contains more than 421 works of art by more than 251 artists.

For more information, visit agsci.oregonstate.edu/art.