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The permanent art collection was originally started by Fr. Michael E. Komechak, O.S.B who began collecting art for Benedictine University over forty years ago. His goal was to enhance the Fine Arts program and curriculum which was established at St. Procopius College in 1910.
Fr. Komechak saw art as a reflection of God's Grace, and would often refer to the art collection as a teaching tool for his classes. The scale of his "teaching tool" has grown to such an extent, that it has transformed the entire university campus into a living art gallery. Art is everywhere.
Fr. Michael's fascination with all forms of artistic expression lead him to collect every type of media and, while the core of the collection reflects an emphasis on 19th and 20th-century American and European art, he also paid special attention to Midwest regional and world religious art so the collection includes art work by local, national, and international artists, and numerous Chicago area artists.
Today, the Benedictine University Art Collection numbers over 3500 pieces. A majority of the collection is comprised of works on paper and original fine art prints, but, also includes drawings, paintings, printmaking, photographs, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, mixed media, various kinds of religious work, folk art and kitsch.
Selections of the permanent collection are on view in the Fr. Michael E. Komechak, O.S.B. Art Gallery and are also featured in special exhibitions throughout Benedictine University. One of the goals of the art gallery is to establish a virtual exhibition space which will be accessible through this website for use by the public and Benedictine University students. Our Fine Arts faculty is encouraged to continue the precedent established by Fr. Michael to inspire learning through use of the art collection as a supplement to their curriculum.
A large portion of the Komechak Art Gallery's permanent collection support local, national and international artists. Chicago Hairy Who artists like Ed Paschke, Barbara Rossi, and internationally recognized artists like Josef Beuys, Christo, Philip Pearlstein, Ursula von Rydingsvard, Pat Steir, Robert Indiana, Kathe Kollwitz, Richard Hunt and Fred Stonehouse are among many their notable artists.
During the 1980s-2000's Benedictine University chose to focus their collection efforts on printmaking and works on paper. The fine print collection comprises nearly half of the Komechak Art Gallery's permanent collection, and includes artists from 17th to 21st –century from Europe, Japan, America and Latin America.
The Komechak Art Gallery has a diverse collection of outsider artists, both American and Latin American. Works by Howard Finster, Bonnette, Tolliver, Bell, and local artists Mr. Imagination and Wesley Willis round out the works on paper, wood and mixed media.
An emphasis in the Komechak Art Gallery is its religious collection, consisting of paintings, prints, carved angels and crucifix, icons, chalices and religious statues. Works from this part of the collection come from American Southwest, Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe and America.
Amoco Corporation
Anthony DeVita Ins. Agency
Campaign Fund Cowlishaw
Chicago Community Trust
Delta Kappa Gamma Society
Galleria Unique
Graham Foundation for Advance Studies
Groben's Inc.
Illinois Arts Council
Illinois State Music Teachers Association
Jurgen K. Pritschet, Inc.
Kerley Ink Engineers, R. A.
Lisle IL Park District
Lovely Fine Arts Inc.
Mediventure Sec
Melsa Foundation
Naperville Community Unit School
Parsons Association
Pepper Construction Group
Presbyterian Church
Publication Maher
Roy Boyd Gallery
Schirott &Luetkehans, P.C.
Schwab Fund for Charitable Giving
U.S. Government Agencies
Valuemetrics, Inc.
Village of Lisle, IL
Mr. Joseph E. Ahern
Mr. Thomas E. Allen
Ms. Melinda J. Antoskiewicz
Ms. Christina M. Argianas
Mrs. Patricia E. Ariano
Mr. Karl Arntzen
Mrs. Jean Athey
Ms. Dee D. Auxier
Dr. James F. Baker
Mr. Larry E. Ballard
Dr. &Mrs. Francis Banich
Mrs. Jocile W. Barbieri
Mr. Andrea J. Basso
Mrs. Diane I. Battistella
Mr. &Mrs. Harold Bauer
Dr. Philip G. Bean
Lt. Commander Richard C. Becker, U.S.N, Retired
Mr. Jose M. Beltran
Ms. Barbara A. Bernhard
Mr. &Mrs. Walter F. Block
Ms. Mary Ann Bobosky
Mr. Charles E. Boone
Ms. Janice Borla
Mr. Walter J. Borla
Dr. &Mrs. Albert C. Bosch
Mr. &Mrs. Timothy R. Botts
Mr. Joseph C. Bowe
Mr. David Bower
Mrs. Susan J. Brassfield
Ms. Frances L. Brocker
Dr. &Mrs. Peter W. Broido
Mr. Fred Bruney
Mr. &Mrs. John E. Buntrock
Mr. James A. Byrd
Mr. &Mrs. Cleve Carney
Mrs. Kathie Jo Carter
Ms. Nancy Jean Carrigan
Ms. Joan M. Case
Mr. Dennis R. Casey
Mr. Adrian C. Catani
Ms. Dorothy Dean Cavenaugh
Ms. Marilyn W. Cawiezel
Mrs. Marilyn A. Cermak
Dr. Aloysius J. Chen
Mr. Daniel E. Christin
Mr. Christopher Claus
Ms. Marilyn K. Claus
Mr. Paul M. Conlin
Mr. Jann M. Contento
Dr. Alicia R. Cordoba Tait
Mr. &Mrs. Robert Corrigan
Ms. Julie Cosimo
Mr. Joseph F. Croce
Mr. Gerald S. Czerak
Mr. Philip J. Dambach
Mrs. Meagan P. Daniel
Mr. Gene E. Darfler
Ms. Lisa A. Darnell
Mr. Anthony De Vita
Mr. &Mrs. Jerry E. Dempsey
Ms. Catherine A. Dillon
Ms. Diane C. Divall
Mrs. Doris Donovan
Mrs. Gail M. Donovan
Mr. George J. Dzuricsko
Mr. Theodore J. Ecker
Mr. &Mrs. Dale M. Emmet
Mrs. Val M. Ensalaco
Mrs. Helga Ertas
Mrs. Valerie J. Feld
Ms. Wendy Finch
Mr. &Mrs. Gary J. Finigan
Mr. Jay T. Fitts
Ms. Diane L. Fitzgerald
Dr. Patrick T. Flynn
Ms. Barbara Fosco
Mrs. Helen M. Fraser
Mr. John and Mrs. Laura Fraser
Mr. Bill Frier
Mr. Harold W. Fruechte
Mrs. Cathaleen Gaddis
Ms. Wendy R. Gaspar
Mrs. Catherine A. Gavin
Mrs. Judith A. Gavlin
Ms. Jean M. Geisheker
Mr. Duane D. Gengler
Mr. Willis M. Gillett
Mrs. Kathryn E. Giordano
Mrs. Karin A. Gleason
Mr. & Mrs. Myles C. Gogan
Mr. & Mrs. William F. Golden
Mr. Thomas W. Good
Ms. Donna Goodlett-Collins
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Gorman
Mr. & Mrs. David A. Grobl
Mr. Stephen A. Grobl
Mrs. Theresa Gronowski
Mrs. Gillian F. Hacker
Mr. &Mrs. James E. Hahn
Mr. James E. Hamilton
Mr. Joel W. Hamilton
Mr. &Mrs Wayne Hamilton
Mrs. Janet R. Hannah
Mr. Glenn Hansen
Mr. JJ Hantsch
Mr. Gerald W. Harris
Mrs. Margaret Helms
Mr. &Mrs Gary Herbst
Mrs. Christine M. Herz
Ms. Stephanie M. Holz
Mrs. Sharon R. Hoogendoorn
Mr. Richard A. Horny
Ms. Karen O. Hounsokou
Mr. Richard F. House
Mrs. Beth House
Dr. &Mrs. Michel Ilbawi
Mr. Robert L. Inglis
Mrs. Dina R. Ismail
Mr. Gregory W. Jackson
Mrs. Claire B. Johnson
Mrs. Margaret Kachadurian
Ms. Diane M. Kalcic
Mr. R. Terence Kalina
Ms. Melanie G. Kaplan
Mr. Thomas W. Kaufman
Mrs. Hope L. Keber
Mr. Damin Keenan
Fr. Joseph M. Kelchak, O.S.B.
Ms. Patricia F. Kennedy
Sr. Susan E. Kilduski
Mr. Kenneth T. Kistner
Dr. Phyllis M. Kittel
Mrs. Kristina R. Klemens
Mrs. Barbara C. Knierim
Mr. Robert C. Koller
Mr. James Komechak
Ms. Kimberly Komechak
Mr. &Mrs. Raymond R. Kopp
Mr. &Mrs. Kerry M. Krafthefer
Mr. Lawrence J. Krupicka
Mrs. Helene Lamarre
Mr. Richard J. Lamb
Mr. Joseph W. Langston
Mrs. Carolyn Lauing-Finzer
Mr. John G. LeDonne
Mrs. Maria S. Lee
Ms. Karen Lennox
Mr. Jason M. Leppin
Dr. Jonathan F. Lewis
Mrs. Josephine V. Lewis
Mr. Lawrence D. Lillwitz
Mr. Arthurs Lipschultz
Mr. Eugene P. Lopez
Ms. Melissa L. Lopez
Mrs. Valerie A. Louthan
Dr. Gregory Macaluso
Mrs. Catherine L. MacDonald
Ms. Carolyn Mack
Mr. Ben Mahmoud
Dr. M. A. Malloy
Dr. Luigi Manca
Mr. &Mrs Caesar Marchetto
Mr. Michael D. Maremont
Mr. Robert J. Marschalk
Mr. &Mrs Jack Martens
Ms. Virginia C. McCarthy
Mr. Stephen A. McClary
Mrs. Mary A. McKane
Dr. Ralph D. Meeker
Dr. John C. Mickus
Ms. Izabela J. Mieszczanska
Dr.Susan M. Mikula-Christie
Mr. William M. Miller
Mr. Richard M. Montalbano
Mr. &Mrs. William G. I. Moore
Mr. &Mrs. Anton Morell
Mr. Donald F. Nagel
Ms. Juliana C. Nelligan
Ms. Ruth D. Nelson
Mrs. Nancy H. Nettleton
Mr. &Mrs. Shawn P. Nolan
Ms. Tracy W. Novinger
Mr. Timothy R. Nunes
Mr. &Mrs. Robert E. Nyikos
Mr. &Mrs. James B. O'Connell
Mr. &Mrs. Richard J. Ogan
Ms. Camille Oliver-Hoffmann
Mr. &Mrs. Lawrence A. O'Neill
Mr. &Mrs Raymond Pahler, Jr.
Rev. John M. Palmer
Ms. Jennifer E. Para
Ms. Teresa J. Parker
Mr. Ronald E. Paryl
Ms. Sharon N. Paschke
Ms. Dorcas Mae Pearcy
Mrs. Cindy Penovich
Mr. &Mrs. Timothy Peters
Mr. &Mrs. Russell G. Phillip
Mrs. Mary Joyce Pickett
Mr. Robert M. Pine
Mr. &Mrs Frank Pipal
Ms. Dolores R. Pircon
Mr. &Mrs. John S. Pircon
Dr. &Mrs. Richard A. Pircon
Mr. Ronald W. Pircon
Mr. Edward F. Poff
Ms. Mary P. Powers
Dr. Robert A. Preston
Mr. John B. Reilly
Mr. &Mrs. William N. Rentas
Mr. Glen Richards
Ms. Virginia E. Richardson
Mr. &Mrs John Riordan
Mr. &Mrs. Henry Ristic
Ms. Jill A. Romine-Poskin
Ms. Tahnya Jones Rooney
Ms. Linda A. Rothstein
Mr. Daniel L. Ryan
Ms. Agnes M. Rzetelny
Ms. Mary Catherine R. Rzetelny
Mr. Michael E. Salatino
Mr. Eric Sanders
Mr. Paul and Mrs. Carol Sarkisian
Mr. Robert F. Scalise
Mr. William Scarlato
Ms. Jennifer Scavone
Mr. James P. Schaefer
Mr. Charles J. Schiller
Mr. & Mrs. John I. Schlossman
Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Schulz
Mr. Joseph L. Sheehan
Ms. Maureen J. Sheehan
Mr. Don E. Shirey
Mrs. Barbara Juster Shore
Mr. Roger E. Sienkiewicz
Mr. Theodore Sirek
Ms. Grace Skalski
Mr. &Mrs. Don H. Skelton
Mr. Joseph E. Smilgius
Mrs. Deborah K. Smith
Mr. William F. Sonntag
Mr. John J. Stachniak
Ms. Susan M. Stackley
Mr. John R. Steffek
Mr. Howard S. Stone
Mr. & Mrs. Frederick E. Straub
Mr. & Mrs. L. Christopher Taw
Mr. & Mrs Michael Taylor
Mr. Robert W. Taylor
Mr. Lawrence A. Tholen
Mrs. Georgianne Thomas
Ms. Louisa S. Thurber
Dr. Thomas W. Tylka
Dr. Gloria J. Tysl
Mrs. Barbara A. Victor
Mr. Robert F. Vilimek
Mr. Raymond J. Vrablic
Mrs. Veronica F. Watts
Ms. Joan A. Weber
Mr. & Mrs. August Wiezik
Mr. Hardy L. Wenner
Mr. Theodore F. Wickord
Ms. Priya C. Williamson
Mr. James Wilson
Ms. Marisa D. Wilson
Mrs. Rosemary Macko Wisnosky
Mr. William J. Wittenberg
Ms. Catherine S. Wokas
Dr. Therese F. Yaeger
Mr. & Mrs. H. Christopher Zaenger
Mr. Ian C. Zaenger
Dr. & Mrs. Javier Zavaleta
Dr. John F. Zigmond
Ms. Margaret A. Ziomek
Mr. Gary J. Zullo
Mr. Robert S. Zwolinski
Teresa J. Parker
Curator
gaddis@ben.edu
630-829-1873
Cathy Gaddis
Office Assistant
gaddis@ben.edu
630-829-1873