Taylor University Opens New Boren Art Gallery this Friday

Upland, Indiana, April 20, 2022—Taylor University officials will dedicate one of the nation’s largest collections of Western and Native American art this Friday, April 22, at 4:30 pm during the grand opening of the Boren Art Gallery on Taylor’s campus.

The art gallery will be home to the collection of paintings and sculptures acquired by the late Leland and LaRita Boren of Upland, Indiana, over the course of their lives. The Boren collection consists of more than 500 pieces of art depicting numerous facets of Native American life and the American West.

The Borens gifted the collection to the University prior to their passings; LaRita in 2011 and Leland in 2018.

“I believe many people will be impressed by the overall breadth and quality of the pieces,” said Boren Art Gallery Director Dr. Kenton Stiles. “The Borens’ love for Western art is clearly evident in this collection.”

The collection includes numerous oils and watercolors along with sculptures.

The new Boren Art Gallery is housed in Taylor’s historic Helena Memorial Hall. Since its construction more than 100 years ago, the building has been home to numerous University functions including chapel, music, theatre, and more recently, Admissions and the President’s and Provost’s offices. Taylor University renovated Helena Memorial Hall to serve as the home of the collection, honoring the Borens’ request to create a place where people throughout the country could visit and enjoy their art.

The Boren Art Gallery is located near the Modelle Metcalf Visual Arts Center, where a museum-quality gallery frequently showcases guest exhibits and student artwork from Taylor’s Art Program.

If you would like to visit the Boren Collection of Western Art between now and graduation weekend, it is currently open to the public Monday-Thursday, from 11 am to 4 pm, through Friday, May 20.