Collection — Oregon Artists Series Foundation

The Collection

A significant collection of contemporary art work by Oregon and Pacific Northwest artists is installed on the main floor of the Salem Convention Center. The pieces, including paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works by various artists, have been acquired since the Convention Center opened. The collection began with purchases from Mayor’s Invitational exhibits that started in 2007. Other works on display are part of the City of Salem public art collection, started in 1972 when the Salem Civic Center was constructed.

The collection has grown since 2008, with some works purchased by the City’s Urban Renewal District, acquisitions by Convention Center with guidance from OASF, and with funds from the City’s Half-Percent for Art program. Other pieces, such as Street Light in Fog, a 1962 painting by Carl Hall, were purchased with funds generated at events like the Center’s 10th anniversary celebration. Other works were gifted to the collection.

OASF and the Convention center have enjoyed the loan of artwork from the collection of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art since July 8, 2011 when eight paintings were installed. The works were by Oregon masters, including Jay Backstrand, Margaret Coe, Tom Fawkes, Constance Fowler, Paul Missal, Carl Morris, and Lucinda Parker. The loan program continues today with paintings by the late George Johanson and Lucinda Parker on display.

In 2020, Home Pool by Richard Thompson was purchased with City of Salem Percent for Art funds and additional funds from OASF.

In 2021, Mystere Ontologique or Mystery of Being by Robert Bibler was purchased by OASF and gifted to the Convention Center.

In 2023, mixed media works by the late Sandra Nichols and Dave Nichols, who worked as nic and sloy, were added to the collection. peggy with buick by nic (left) and what women make by sloy were purchased by OASF and the Convention Center, respectively.