A Brief History of the Oregon Society of Artists
In the mid-1920s, there was growing tension within the Portland Art Museum as some artists felt increasingly marginalized by what they viewed as aggressive “faddists and abstractionists.” In response, in late fall of 1926, William Gray Purcell—architect, conservative artist, and Art Editor of SPECTATOR magazine—called a meeting of like-minded individuals.
The purpose of this gathering was clear:
To help artists present their work to the public
To provide a forum for artists to meet and discuss shared challenges
To create an exhibition space governed by artists themselves
To foster meaningful connections between artists and supporters of traditional art
In early 1927, an organizational meeting was held, William Gray Purcell was elected President, and the group formally adopted the name The Society of Oregon Artists.
Early Years and Growth
The Portland Art Museum initially welcomed the Society, providing space for meetings and exhibitions. In return, SOA members supported the Museum during periods of financial difficulty. However, once the Museum received county assistance, philosophical differences emerged between the Museum’s curatorial direction and the Society’s mission, prompting SOA to seek a new home.
On December 9, 1929, the Society incorporated. Because the original name conflicted with an older organization, it was officially changed to the Oregon Society of Artists (OSA).
For many years, meetings were held in Clyde Leon Keller’s art studio. Keller, the Society’s third president, was instrumental in ensuring that OSA remained artist-run. Membership during this era read like a “Who’s Who” of Portland’s art community.
As the Society grew, meetings were held in libraries, restaurants, and halls, with annual exhibitions hosted at Meier & Frank’s auditorium and the Public Library. At one point, artworks could even be borrowed using a library card.
A Permanent Home
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, OSA explored multiple locations—including Depoe Bay and Sauvie Island—but each proved too far from Portland’s artistic center. The Society ultimately recognized the need for a permanent educational and cultural home.
A Building Fund was established, supported entirely through classes, exhibitions, bazaars, rummage sales, and member-led initiatives. Instructors such as Arthur A. Selander, Ed Quigley, Kate Raymond, and Colista Dowling contributed significantly to this effort.
In 1953, OSA purchased the former Wilcox formal garden site, thanks to a generous loan and donation from Nathan Sohn, who was so impressed by the Society that he became a member himself. Architect Thayne J. Logan and contractor Lyle Keeler donated their professional services, and members contributed labor and meals. No public funds were requested or accepted—this was truly a “do-it-ourselves” project.
The first meeting in the new building was held on September 23, 1954. By December 1956, the mortgage was burned, and the building officially belonged to the Society.
Expansion and Legacy
Over the following decades, the building expanded to meet growing needs, with additional wings, a parking lot, and memorial galleries—all made possible through volunteer labor and donations. BrushMarks, OSA’s long-running publication, was founded in 1940 by Helen Logan.
OSA has been the grateful recipient of many meaningful donations, including artworks, furnishings, and memorial gifts that continue to enrich the Society today. A memorial gallery dedicated to Colista Dowling was established in 1970, and the Henry Ets art collection helped fund lasting improvements to the campus.
Historically, OSA has been a home for art made using traditional skills and methods. Until 2018, the organization operated almost entirely through volunteer leadership. Today, OSA remains an educational nonprofit, offering both traditional and contemporary instruction across a wide range of media.
Classes and workshops are offered both in-person and online, and The Gallery hosts monthly exhibitions aimed at helping artists—members and non-members alike—share their work with the public. OSA continues to be guided by a hands-on volunteer board, maintaining the spirit upon which it was founded in 1926.
To celebrate our 100th year and better reflect the multifaceted nonprofit we’ve become, we are thrilled to announce our new name: Oregon Art Center (OAC). While our name is changing, our heart stays the same. Our nonprofit mission, location, and classes remain exactly as they've always been. Thank you for being part of our story—we can’t wait to create this next chapter as Oregon Art Center!
Presidents of the Oregon Society of Artists
(Listed from present to past. Numbers in parentheses indicate multiple terms served.)
2026 Karen Russell
2025 Joe Bottomly
2023 -2024 Steve Kleier
2022 Nancy Tanner
2021 Gail Joseph
2018-2020 Judy Matarazzo
2016-17 Tim Mahoney
2014-15 Mary Holt
2012-13 William Woods
2010-11 Kris Kuster
2010 Donna Lind
2008-09 John Reece
2006-07 Billie Fisher
2004-05 Rudy Stevens
2002-03 Jack Gilbert Miller
2001 Janet Holt
2000 Robert Graber
1999 Nancy Seiffert
1998 Lori Noel
1996-97 Garve Beckham
1994-95 Aloha Cannon
1993 Robert Vetto Jr.
1992 Chester Glenn Murphy
1990-91 Robert Vetto Jr.
1989 Chester Glenn Murphy
1987-88 Gloria Heisley Webber
1982-83 Norm Greene
1981 Doris Barron A good executive officer. Devoted to conservative art.
1980 Waldemar Nitz (2) A good artist. A fine master of ceremonies.
1979 Waldemar Nitz (1) A good administrator, with a sense of humor.
1978 Carl Prier (3) An experienced president.
1977 Jean Goin 50-Year Anniversary. First woman president. A good artist. Retired to studio at Depoe Bay.
1976 Robert Adams (2) Helped with mailing Brushmarks and had good programs.
1975 Leonard J. Cleary, Sr. A good executive. Promoted friendship and unity. A craftsman in metal.
1974 Ree Barron (2) Promoted sketching and better exhibits.
1973 Carl Prier (2) A hard-working president and a good purchasing agent for OSA.
1972 Ree Barron (1) Conservative artist and instructor. U.S. Corps of Engineers (photogrammetric engineer).
1971 Dr. Max Zimmerman An artist for recreation. Brewmaster by occupation.
1970 Ashley Russell Very active in conservative art, commercial art.
1969 Carl Prier (1) Printer and artist. Hobby Archaeology, mainly the stone carvings and paintings of the Stone Age American Indian.
1968 Paul Keller (1) Insurance executive and artist. Got good publicity for Society. Started educational items on back sheet of Brushmarks.
1967 Thayne J. Logan (4) An Architect. Opened meetings with Salute and Oath of Allegiance to our flag. Had artist paint-out picnics and good educational art programs at meetings.
1966 Ben Larsen (4) Artist. Very fine exhibits of ecclesiastic art.
1965 Ben Larsen (3) Artist. Holy Week murals in our gallery. Jerusalem street scene.
1964 Beryl Berry Personnel Executive. Aviator as hobby. Finished our parking lot. Added granite plaques dedicating building to conservative art.
1963 Rev. James Alley (2) Invited Gov. Mark Hatfield to our show. Established Gladstone Art Week. The Society paid off notes of second unit.
1962 Rev. James Alley (1) Preacher, Gladstone First Christian Church. The Society received good publicity for traditional art.
1961 Oscar Haugen Engineer Bonneville Power. Picnic at Amity, and many sketching projects.
1960 Arthur A. Selander (3) New second unit of building built.
1959 Robert Adams (1) Apartment house manager. Artist as hobby. Started planning second unit of building.
1958 Clyde Leon Keller, Jr. (2) Money raising program to pay for first unit of building.
1957 Clyde Leon Keller, Jr. (1) Building Management. Watercolor artist. Expanded traditional art.
1956 Dan Rowinski Military service. Artist and wood carver as hobby. Expanded sketch group activity.
1955 Albert Gerlach (2) Art Glass artist. Rule of Society back to conservative art membership.
1954 Ivan Houser (2) Building became reality.
1953 Ivan Houser (1) Sculptor. Ceramic Mfg. Started new building first unit.
1952 Arthur A. Selander (2) With E. B. Quigley, started sketch groups to finance new building. Purchased land.
1951 Arthur A. Selander (1) Artist. Art teacher. Former Tax Appraiser, registered Civil Engineer in Oregon. Stressed need for new building.
1950 Frank Boynton (3) Membership over 1000.
1949 Frank Boynton (2) Started membership drive.
1948 Frank Boynton (1) Paint and wallpaper dealer. Art as hobby.
1947 Albert Patecky (2) An artist. Fiscal year changed from January to April 30, 1948.
1946 Menalkas Selander An artist. Expanded educational program.
1945 Albert Patecky (1) An artist. Telephone Director Sales. Expanded exhibits.
1944 Daniel Powell (3) War Year. Educational program started, again stressed traditional art.
1943 Daniel Powell (2) War Year. Held regular meetings.
1942 Daniel Powell (1) High school teacher. Sculptor, sketch artist. War Year.
1941 Thayne J. Logan (3) World War II started. Many members called into service. Just holding society together was problem.
1940 Harold McMahon Window trimmer. Artist as hobby. Started "Brushmarks" as society news bulletin.
1939 Thayne J. Logan (2) An architect. Society expanding. Good educational programs.
1938 Ben Larsen (2) An artist. Gave liberally of his time to OSA affairs.
1937 George McBride Government service, Marine Inspector. Oil painter marine subjects. Expanded art activity.
1936 F. W. Sercombe A lawyer. Artist as hobby. Revised and had printed our Constitution, at his expense.
1935 E. D. Morgan Fowle Government service employee. Oil painter as hobby. Extended activity of Society.
1934 Thayne J. Logan (1) An architect. Artist as hobby. Both water color and oil painting. Unified the Society.
1933 Albert Gerlach (1) Art Glass artist. The Society was having growing pains and other groups were trying to grab our membership.
1932 Ben Larsen (1) An artist. The Society was considering an offer of site at Depoe Bay. Incorporated officially as "The Oregon Society of Artists."
1931 Clyde Leon Keller An artist and art dealer. Known as "Keller the Art Man." Gave generously of his time and use of his store for the Society. A good traditional artist.
1930 Judge H. M. Tomlinson A lawyer. Painted in oil as a hobby. Very civic minded.
1929 Wm. Gray Purcell (3) A good organizer and believer in traditional art.
1928 Wm. Gray Purcell (2) Public Relations and Art Director in World War I.
1927 Wm. Gray Purcell (1) An architect, interested in sketching and the fine arts.