Internationally Renowned Artist’s Daughter Leaves Family Property/Studio to OSU

The Oklahoma State University Foundation (OSUF) announced a property gift bequeathed from Taos resident Martha Reed, daughter of the late Doel Reed, for the establishment of the Doel Reed Center for the Arts, to be maintained by the OSU College of Arts and Sciences. 

Doel Reed, the undisputed master of the aquatint, was recognized worldwide for his artistic genius and was a veteran faculty member at OSU credited for establishing and heading OSU’s department of art after his arrival at the university in 1924. He spent 35 years at OSU before retiring to his second home in Taos, N.M.

The Center consists of two century-old adobe homes on a one and a half acre lot along with Reed’s personal artist studio. Through Martha’s gift, OSU’s art department will inherit the property to benefit many areas.

“When people first start looking at Reed’s property they may see it as only an opportunity to involve students,” said Kent Young, Doel Reed Center for the Arts campaign chairman. “But it has a much broader aspect to it in that it involves artists, writers, architectural students, botanists, etc. It has a multi-disciplinary use that reaches far beyond art students.”

Developed by the OSU art department, the multi-faceted approach for use of the property includes the establishment of a national/international artist and scholar residency program, a cross-disciplinary course to facilitate restoration of the property, a student internship program and a competitive faculty residency program.

Young is helping ensure the art department will be able to maintain the property so OSU students, faculty and constituents will be able to experience Reed’s artistic influence for years to come.

The initial goal is to establish a significant endowment to support the maintenance of the property and support of programming for the Center.

“From a maintenance standpoint everything is in good condition,” said Young.  “Everything in his studio was left just the way it was when he died. We want OSU to be able to preserve it.”

The campaign committee is calling on OSU alumni and art enthusiasts to help support the initiative by making gifts to the endowment fund.  Young also believe the end result will provide OSU faculty and students with an unmatched opportunity to experience art in an inspired environment as well as bringing art prominence to OSU.

“This is going to help OSU reach a completely different audience,” he said.  “It opens up the potential for all sorts of positive stories that will help the OSU arts become better recognized.”

To make a donation to the Doel Reed Center for the Arts or for more information, please contact Suzy Thompson at (405) 744-6469 or make a gift online at OSUgiving.com.

The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.

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