By: Daniela Chamorro
COMMERCE, TX—A painting by the late Dr. Michael Miller, professor and the director of the Studio Art Graduate Studies program, was donated to Texas A&M-Commerce by his sister Teresa Miller-Wiggins. Dr. Miller passed away in 2016 after an influential 23-year career.
In February 2017, A&M Commerce’s art department displayed a gallery of Dr. Miller’s paintings to honor his legacy as both an artist and a mentor for other artists. Afterwards, Miller’s sister Teresa donated one of the paintings, appraised at $15,000, to the university. The painting, titled “Ace Cool, 2010” is an acrylic and fabric on canvas pop art collage measuring 72×72 inches.
“Mr. Miller had a profound influence on his students, many of whom are successful artists today. It is an honor to have one of Michael’s very large paintings in the university’s permanent collection,” said Christine Blackhurst, University Exhibitions Coordinator in A&M-Commerce’s art department. “The Miller family’s generous donation allows students and visitors the opportunity to experience Michael’s dynamic use of materials and color in one of his massive signature pop art collages.”
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Dr. Miller was a Core Fellow, Artist in Residence at The Glassell School of Art, the teaching institute of The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. His work was exhibited all over Texas, including the Moody Gallery in Houston and the Barry Whistler Gallery in Dallas.
