Life is an Art: The Collection of Jan Petry

Charles Dellschau, Fall Not

Charles Dellschau, Fall Not 4660

Life is an Art: The Collection of Jan Petry highlights 30 artworks donated to IAM by the late, long-time board member Jan Petry. The exhibition showcases paintings, drawings and sculptures by major figures in American self-taught art, including Emery Blagdon, James Castle, Ulysses Davis, Charles Dellschau, William Hawkins and Martín Ramírez, as well as Günther Schützenhöfer, a resident artist at Gugging, a progressive art studio in Austria. Those artworks are complemented by objects that reflect Petry’s passion for folk art, design, furniture and maritime themes, offering a glimpse into the vision of a dedicated collector. 

2011 4 Mertz Hi res

Albert ​“Kid” Mertz, Life is an Art

2023 43 High res

Drossos P. Skyllas, Untitled (Tree of Life)

2023 44 High res for web

Martín Ramírez, Untitled (Caballero)

2025 5 Mc Nellis Hi res

Laura Craig McNellis, Untitled (Boat)

2025 9 Aaron Hi res Top

Jesse J. Aaron, Untitled (Goat)

2025 14 Jones Hi res Front

Shields Landon ​“S. L.” Jones, Untitled (Portrait bust of woman with rose)

2025 23 High res

Emery Blagdon, Untitled #560

2025 26 High res

Ulysses Davis, Untitled (Fantasy beast)

2025 41a b Unidentified Hi res

Unidentified Artist, Untitled (Man with bird, woman with big hair)

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Charles Dellschau (American, 1830–1923). Fall Not 4660, 1920. Mixed media on paper, 19 x 17 in. Collection of Intuit Art Museum, gift of Jan Petry and Angie Mills, 2025.8a 

Albert ​“Kid” Mertz (American, 1905–1988). Life is an Art, n.d. Paint, paper bag and tape, 16 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. Collection of Intuit Art Museum, gift of Jan Petry, 2011.4

Drossos P. Skyllas (American, 1912–1976). Untitled (Tree of Life), c. 1950. Oil on canvas, 18 x 14 in. Collection of Intuit Art Museum, gift of Jan Petry and Angie Mills, 2023.43. Photo by John Faier

Martín Ramírez (American, 1895–1963). Untitled (Caballero), c. 1950. Watercolor and crayon on paper, 34 x 23 1/2 in. Collection of Intuit Art Museum, gift of Jan Petry, 2023.44. © Estate of Martín Ramírez, courtesy of Ricco/Maresca Gallery

Laura Craig McNellis (American, b. 1957). Untitled (Boat), c. 1982. Paint on newsprint, 21 x 28 in. Collection of Intuit Art Museum, gift of Jan Petry and Angie Mills, 2025.5

Jesse J. Aaron (American, 1887–1979). Untitled (Goat), n.d. Mixed media, 13 x 8 x 4 1/2 in. Collection of Intuit Art Museum, gift of Jan Petry, 2025.9

Shields Landon ​“S. L.” Jones (American, 1901–1997). Untitled (Portrait bust of woman with rose), c. 1982–1983. Carved and painted wood and satin rose, 12 x 9 x 11 in. Collection of Intuit Art Museum, gift of Jan Petry and Angie Mills

Emery Blagdon (American, 1907–1986). Untitled #560, c. 1956–1986. Steel and copper wire, 27 x 6 x 6 1/2 in. Collection of Intuit Art Museum, gift of Jan Petry, 2025.23

Ulysses Davis (American, 1913–1990). Untitled (Fantasy beast), n.d. Carved wood, paint and varnish, 11 x 9 x 3 1/4 in. Collection of Intuit Art Museum, gift of Jan Petry in honor of Cleo Wilson, 2025.26

Unidentified Artist. Untitled (Man with bird, woman with big hair), n.d. Pair of carved wood figures, man: 12 1/2 x 5 x 2 1/2 in, woman: 13 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 in. Collection of Intuit Art Museum, gift of Jan Petry, 2025.41a&b