Dean Porter (1939-2022)

Born in 1939 in Gouverneur, New York, Dean Porter was interested in the West and art from childhood. A professor of art at Harpur College encouraged him to study art in 1957. He received a masters degree in art history in 1966 and accepted the position of curator in the University of Notre Dame's Art Gallery. In 1974 he was appointed Director. In 1975 Porter curated "Victor Higgins: An Indian Painter Working in Taos, New Mexico" - he became completely immersed in New Mexico and the Taos Society of Artists work. Porter went on to write several books, including "Victor Higgins, An American Master" and "Taos Artists and Their Patrons, 1898-1950;" all the while creating beautiful woodcuts and watercolors.

In the spring of 2002, Porter retired from all museum work though continued to teach. He devoted his remaining years to painting, writing and lecturing on the art and artists of Taos.