Major gift paves way to the future for Art Museum, strengthens collections

Through a major gift, the Art Museum is now named the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum at Miami University. A naming event took place on December 2, 2022 with Miami University President Gregory Crawford, Acting Dean of the College of Creative Arts John Weigand, and Jeffrey Horrell ‘75 and Rodney Rose Director and Chief Curator Jack Green introducing Major Benefactor Richard Cocks who gave a speech during which he shared his personal experiences in collecting art. The unveiling took place in the presence of members of the Cocks family, present and former directors and staff, partners and supporters of the museum, as well as Miami University faculty, staff and students.

The total amount of the gift is private, but is the largest outright gift in the museum's history. Richard and his late wife Carole have been long-standing members and supporters of the Art Museum over many years. Since the early 1980s, the Art Museum received gifts from Richard and Carole of fine porcelain, as well as paintings and drawings largely by Ohiobased artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They also established the Richard and Carole Cocks Endowment for Art Museum Curatorial Activities in 1994.

Through this generous and transformational gift, the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum Fund will help support renovations and future expansion of the museum, as well as support acquisition and maintenance of collections. In addition to his interests in art, Richard is an engineer and has a special interest in the museum’s architecture and its setting within this unique landscape.

There's been much discussion with stakeholders and users about the kinds of enhancements that could expand our audiences, improve our exhibitions, and better preserve our collections for future generations. This provides a starting point towards a future phased project of renovation and expansion, taking into consideration the unique architecture of the Walter Netsch building and its surrounding sculpture park grounds. A key goal is for the Art Museum to become more of a destination for visitors, while fulfilling our mission as a teaching museum for the 21st century that engages in dialogue with and about visual culture.

A total of 13 works recently donated to the museum strengthen Miami University's collection of American art of the 19th and early 20th centuries by artists from the Cincinnati region, including a portrait by Frank Duveneck, entitled Italian Girl. A painting by Elizabeth Nourse, entitled Shelter (Mother and Baby) adds to works in our collection by this important 19th century female Ohio artist. The Edward Henry Potthast painting, Standing Woman, and his painting Sailing Canoes on a Beach complement two other works by the same artist in the museum’s collection. We’re looking forward to being able to use these newly acquired works in teaching, research, and also in our exhibitions. The gift also includes four statues gifted to the College of Creative Arts (CCA).

The Art Museum and College of Creative Arts extend a huge thank you to Richard and Carole for this gift and their support over many years. This milestone sets us on course towards future enhancements to make the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum a center for excellence in collections-based teaching and a destination for exhibitions, programs and events for everyone across the university and the wider community. Watch this space for future updates!