The Trout Museum of Art (TMA) Collection is an eclectic mix of over 150 museum-quality works of art, including American, European, Asian and African paintings, sculptures and other decorative objects, representing over 400 years of art history. Each work of art in the collection is an eyewitness to a time and place — near, far, past, or present. The collection was assembled during the past 40 years by Dr. Monroe E. and Sandra Trout, who then gifted it to the Appleton Art Center in 2010, along with a $1 million endowment to preserve, protect, and promote the collection. The name of the museum was changed at that time.
Other works in the collection were collected or donated to/by the Appleton Art Center/TMA over the past 60 years. Selections of the permanent collection rotate three to five times a year in the Spotlight on the Collection section at TMA.
In the 1960s, the Appleton Artists Guild set out to provide educational opportunities for local artists, create a suitable viewing gallery, and amass a permanent collection. Now the Trout Museum of Art, it hosts a wide range of exhibitions, educational programs, and events to energize the love of art in our community. Located in Downtown Appleton, WI, TMA works with countless individuals and organizations across the region in year-round programming for youth, teens, and adults.
Credit: Overview from museum website