Artwork by Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol and other masters on temporary exhibit at Murray State University
By Aviva Yasgur | Sep 15, 2026
MURRAY, Ky. — The Murray State Department of Art & Design and University Galleries are excited to announce the opening of the temporary exhibit, “An Eclectic Eye: A Curated Selection from the Dr. Michael E. Porter and Lana G. Porter Fine Art Collection” in the Eagle Upper Gallery in the Price Doyle Fine Arts Center on Murray State’s campus.
On view now through Oct. 26, visitors can view a collection of works by world-renowned artists including Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol and many others, made possible by the generosity of alumna Lana Porter (‘65, ‘72). Temporarily on loan to the University by Porter, this exhibit is composed of pieces collected over the lifetime of Porter’s late husband and art collector, Dr. Michael Porter (‘64, ‘69).
Other artists featured in the exhibit include Jeff Koons, Alex Katz, Helen Frankenthaler, Robert Rauschenberger, Jim Dine, Elizabeth Murray and many others. The wide-ranging pieces span art forms from painting to prints to sculpture and glasswork, and styles such as Abstract Expressionism, Modern Art, Pop Art and more. The collection brings works of a caliber typically found in large city museums right to the campus of Murray State University and available for not only Murray State students, but the whole community to view free of charge.
"This exhibit brings together a selection of masterful artworks from the remarkable Porter Collection, offering our students and the community a unique opportunity to explore various themes and concepts that have shaped and inspired artists for centuries,” said T. Michael Martin, Murray State University professor of Art & Design and director of University Galleries. “It is my hope that visitors leave with a lasting impression and creative inspiration."
The public is also invited to a reception celebrating the exhibit and the generosity of the Porter family on the Friday of Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 16 at 3 p.m. in the Clara M. Eagle Gallery, which is located on the 6th floor of the Price Doyle Fine Arts Center and adjoins the Eagle Upper Gallery.
Lana Porter, honored as a Distinguished Alumna by the Murray State University Alumni Association in 2002, has been one of the University’s most generous and involved alumni for decades. Her support has benefitted areas of campus ranging from University libraries to the Cyber Center to student scholarships and more. Recently, she has honored the legacy of her late husband not only with this temporary art exhibit but also by establishing the Dr. Michael E. Porter and Lana G. Porter Gallery Fund for Excellence, a permanent endowment to support student and community access to the fine arts on campus through financial support of the Murray State University Galleries.
Porter has enjoyed a remarkably successful corporate career spanning telecommunications, sales, business development, marketing and more. Currently Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner of Spektrem Marketing as well as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of L & M Enterprises, Porter spent more than 25 years at Ameritech (now AT&T), where she became the CEO of Ameritech Library Services, the world’s largest software development company for the library industry. Between her extensive experience both with libraries and with telecommunications, she has a profound appreciation for both of these fields, leading to her strong support of both areas at Murray State. In addition to financial support, Porter has devoted countless hours of service to Murray State through her membership on the Murray State Foundation Board of Trustees since 2005, as well as serving on the University’s Cyber Center National Advisory Board, New Library Task Force and the National Campaign Council.
Dr. and Mrs. Porter met as students at Murray State and married before either graduated. They lived and worked in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Lana teaching French at the middle school and Michael teaching biology at the high school. They returned to Murray where Michael worked on his master's degree and Lana taught English, French and speech at Benton High School in nearby Marshall County. Upon his graduation in 1969, Michael taught at Murray State in the biology department while Lana completed her graduate work in English, earning a master's degree in 1972. In 1970, Michael began his doctoral studies at The Ohio State University, which he completed in 1977. Lana continued to work in educational research and nonprofits until she began her career with Ohio Bell Telephone in 1978. She then had a 25-year career with AT&T (then Ameritech) in various international and executive level positions throughout the Midwest. She completed her Executive Master of Business Administration degree at The Ohio State University in 1980.
In addition to his professional career, Dr. Porter had a passion for art, carefully building a wide-ranging collection of treasured pieces of his favorite artists over the years. “An Eclectic Eye: A Curated Selection from the Dr. Michael E. Porter and Lana G. Porter Fine Art Collection” showcases a small but remarkable sampling of his lifetime collection.
The University Galleries are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m during the fall semester (though times may vary based on departmental needs). For more information about the Department of Art & Design, visit murraystate.edu/art or follow them on Instagram @murraystateart.
For information about supporting Art and Design or the Murray State Galleries, please contact Rebecca Dyer, director of Development for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts at 270-809-3940 or visit murraystate.edu/giving.