The Hutchinson Art Association was founded in the spring of 1949 by board members Ernest Dewey, Martha Hamilton, Mrs. Jack Jarrot, Ed Wiley, Josephine Dalton, Marguerite Sours, and Shirley Schmidt. Its first big exhibition was held on June 12, 1949 in the auditorium at Hutchinson Community College, then known as the Hutchinson Junior College. The exhibit was a New York show from the American Federation of Art. Regional art was also shown in various classrooms. At the time, it was one of the most prestigious exhibits to ever visit Hutchinson, Kansas.

In the decades since, the Hutchinson Art Association has collected over 350 works of art by local, national and international artists. These works of art display on rotation year round in our Permanent Collection Gallery, and represent high caliber human creativity that has left an indelible mark on the history and culture of Hutchinson. The art within this exhibit represents some of the best the collection has to offer. We hope you take your time in the gallery and reflect on the history of these works and the impact of their creation.

To the staff, board members, donors, artists, and collectors both past and present who have contributed works of art to the Hutchinson Art Association’s Permanent Collection, we thank you for enriching this experience for many generations to come.

Artwork: “Woman with Pears” by R.C. Gorman, HAA Permanent Collection of Fine Art