Ray Must Collection

Ray Must was born in 1928 in Detroit, Michigan. His first significant experience with the arts was in primary school when his art teacher showed the class how she worked and carved out a wooden sculpture. She became an early role model.

Ray obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University, where he majored in psychology and art. He was heavily influenced by his instructors who inspired his interest in alternative materials. Ray obtained a Master of Arts degree from The Ohio State University, focusing mostly in print making. He was a research assistant and taught classes at OSU. He then taught middle school for two years and served two years in the U.S. Army.

Taking a position to teach at the Dayton Art Institute (DAI), Ray moved to Dayton in 1964. The first printing press came to the DAI just before his arrival and he, and other artists, would build the DAI's studios. Later, Ray became one of the original faculty members at Wright State University where he taught from 1967-1991, achieving emeritus status. He, a print maker, along with two painters, made up the original WSU Art Department faculty.

Ray also played a major role in raising funds and bringing in artists for the Dayton Visual Arts Center in its formative years. He is a founding member of the Dayton Printmakers Cooperative, one of the most active print groups in Ohio. His art work includes large abstract paintings on un-stretched canvas, figurative drawings, technically inventive prints, and intimate and inspiring daily sketchbooks that have been exhibited nationally. At the time of this writing he has done fourteen one-man exhibitions, as well as a steady stream of group shows, workshops, lectures, exhibition curating and jurying duties. In 2006, his Ray Must: Paintings, Prints and Sketchbooks went on exhibit at Purdue University. In 2012, pieces of his work were on display at the Robert and Elaine Stein Galleries at WSU in Dayton Matrix: A regional Print Exhibition and later at The Dayton Printmakers Cooperative Winter Print Show and Sale. Today, he is still very involved in the Dayton art community.

Mr. Must's collection was the first to come here through a cooperative initiative between the Wright State Art Department and Special Collections and Archives. This partnership was established to document the history and development of art education and the Art Department here at Wright State University. A key element in this project is also to collect the history of the Art Department's wider relationship with the art community of Dayton and the Miami Valley.

Ray Must died on July 22, 2022.