Stark Galleries
The Stark Galleries, named for J. Wayne Stark ’39, focuses on American paintings, prints, drawings and photographs of the 19th and 20th centuries, with an emphasis on Texas art. The gallery boasts masterpieces from well-known artists like Julian Onderdonk, H.O. “Cowboy” Kelly and Dorothy Hood.
While the Stark Galleries showcases fine art, one of its main missions is to support the educational mission of Texas A&M University by spreading the beauty and power of art across campus. The Stark Galleries oversees the care and maintenance of all Texas A&M public art.
Amanda Cagle, Stark Galleries’ collection manager, oversees the care of 47 pieces of public art on campus, which is a 27% increase since 2017. The oldest sculpture she manages, “Lawrence Sullivan Ross,” was erected in 1919 and has become a tradition for Aggies to visit for good luck during exams. Cagle explained that, like “Sully,” these university monuments are much more than physical structures
“Many of our former students have pursued careers around the world and understand the impact that public art can have both on a campus and in a community,” Cagle said. “Art can educate, inspire and even challenge a viewer to look at the world in different ways. Moreover, the Stark Galleries’ sculpture collection is a wonderful, and easily accessible, visual link to Aggie traditions and history.”