From Mantel to Museum: The Eclectic Legacy of Patricia L Murray

Curated by Alex Gabriel, Susquehanna University Intern 

Since their inception, art museums have had a deep, complicated relationship with private art collectors. While many of these relationships have been historically fraught and filled with contention, the connection between art collectors and the museums to which they donate also have the potential to be beneficial not only for the museums and collectors, but also for the community that they serve.

During her lifetime, Patricia L. Murray served as one of the founders of the Susquehanna Art Museum (SAM), a donor to the institution, an educator, and a private art collector. Just recently, in 2023, parts of her collection were loaned to SAM posthumously, highlighting her dedication to the museum before, during, and after its creation. From Mantel to Museum: The Eclectic Legacy of Patricia L. Murray showcases an eclectic mix of artistic styles, form, and thematic content by local and regional artists: F.L. Wall, Joan Danziger, Leon Berkowitz, Douglas Zucco, Theo Tobiasse, and Ellen Siddons. Subsequently, it invites viewers to recognize Murray as an overtly positive force in the history of SAM and the greater Harrisburg art world.