Asian Art

In 1936, the University of Oklahoma accepted a gift of Asian art upon which the university’s art museum was founded, and the Asian art collection was initiated. The original Wentz-Matzene collection includes art from across Asia, including Gandharan sculpture from the Trajanic Period, Persian manuscripts of the Shahnameh, and ceramics and textiles from 20th century Chinese artists. Since that original gift, additional gifts have expanded the collection to include Japanese woodblock prints, extensive Chinese ceramics, textiles, and sculpture.

As with many of the collection areas, the donors’ collecting interests have increased the breadth of what is represented, including significant gifts from Dorothy Tidwell, Stanley Marcus, the Woolaroc Museum, J. Donald Walp, Kenneth French, Mark Landrum, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Bernat, and Dorothy Tidwell.