The Reed Art Gallery at the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) will present “A Lasting Legacy – Art from the Zillman Estate,” an exhibition celebrating the lives, legacy, and longstanding commitment to the arts of Donald and Linda Zillman. The exhibition will be on view from Sept. 4 through Oct. 23, 2026, with an opening reception on Friday, Sept. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. The reception is part of Presque Isle’s monthly First Friday Art Walk and is free and open to the public.
The exhibition features a diverse selection of artwork from the extensive collection of Donald and Linda Zillman, including paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, photographs, art posters, and other works. Artists represented include Chad Erpelding, Phillip Hams, Sally Morgan, Hyrum Benson, Paula Ragsdale, and Leo Thompson. These works were gifted to the University of Maine at Presque Isle following the Zillmans’ passing and represents a significant addition to the university’s art collection.
“A Lasting Legacy” provides an opportunity for the university and the wider Northern Maine community to experience and appreciate works that the Zillmans collected and valued throughout their lives. More than an exhibition of individual works of art, the show celebrates the Zillmans’ deep appreciation for the arts and their extraordinary generosity in making art an important part of their lives and their connection to the community.
Reed Art Gallery Director Frank Sullivan first met Donald and Linda Zillman at the grand opening of the Wintergreen Arts Center in 2006. At the time, Donald Zillman was serving as president of the University of Maine at Presque Isle: “I first met Don and Linda about 20 years ago, shortly after I moved to Maine, through my involvement with the opening of the Wintergreen Arts Center. Both Don and Linda were deeply passionate about the arts and were extraordinarily supportive of the Fine Arts community in Northern Maine. They regularly attended artists’ exhibitions, including several of my own, and they purchased original artwork both for their personal collection and for the University. They also supported local arts organizations in countless ways,” Sullivan said.
“Their commitment to the arts was genuine and far-reaching. They understood the importance of artists and arts organizations to the cultural life of our community and consistently demonstrated their support through their presence, their advocacy, and their generosity,” Sullivan said. “I am grateful that UMPI has been entrusted with these works from their collection. It is an honor to celebrate Don and Linda through this exhibition and to share their love of art with the university and the Northern Maine community.”
The Zillmans’ connection to UMPI and its arts community extends back many years. Linda Zillman was particularly involved with the university’s Reed Art Gallery and played an important role in the acquisition of 153 Andy Warhol photographs for the university’s collection in 2008. The couple’s support of the arts was part of a broader commitment to education, culture, and the communities in which they lived and worked.
In December 2025, UMPI received a $2.16 million gift from the Zillman estate, the largest single financial gift in the university’s history. The gift reflects the Zillmans’ continuing commitment to the university and its future. The addition of artwork from their personal collection provides another meaningful dimension to that legacy, allowing students, faculty, artists, and members of the public to encounter and enjoy works that were once part of the Zillmans’ lives.
“We are deeply grateful for the works of art that have been gifted to the University’s collection,” Sullivan added. “These pieces will become part of UMPI’s cultural and educational resources for generations to come. This exhibition gives us an opportunity not only to share the artwork with the public, but also to recognize and celebrate two people whose generosity and deep commitment to the arts made such a lasting contribution to our community.”
The Reed Art Gallery is located on the upper level of the Center for Innovative Learning in the heart of the UMPI campus, 181 Main St. in Presque Isle. Regular gallery hours during the academic year are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sundays from 3 to 9 p.m. The Reed Art Gallery is closed on Saturdays and holidays. For more information, contact Gallery Director Frank Sullivan at frank.sullivan@maine.edu or 207-694-1920.
The Reed Art Gallery at the University of Maine at Presque Isle serves as a cultural hub for the campus and surrounding community, showcasing a variety of exhibitions that promote creativity, education, and artistic expression.