Contemporary Art Collection
Contemporary Art Purchasing Program
The University of Maryland College Park Stamp Student Union has developed a Contemporary Arts Purchasing Program (CAPP) whose mission is to educate and inspire by exposing the campus community to thought-provoking art created by noted contemporary artists. Now in its eighteenth year, the program provides a student committee the opportunity to interact with the art world by researching, discussing, and purchasing artwork by emerging and established contemporary artists. CAPP operates on a biannual basis. Students of diverse majors are selected to participate through a competitive application process. Together they embark on a rigorous research and training program, including extensive visits to galleries and artists’ studios in Baltimore, New York, and Washington, DC. Explore the collection online!
REQUIRED PROGRAM
FALL
- Enroll in ARTT489C: Advanced Special Topics in Art - Markets and Collecting (3 credits) [May satisfy 400-level and/or art theory elective requirement(s) for undergraduate Studio Art Majors and MFAs; may satisfy one of three "Supporting Area" courses required for Art History Majors with approval from Director of Undergraduate Studies; applicants in other disciplines should inquire with their program director about the course's applicability as a distribution requirement in their field.]
- Attend weekly meetings and conduct extensive independent research
SPRING
- Enroll in a one-credit class to prepare for trips to DC, Baltimore, and New York City, where the committee visits galleries and artists' studios
- Participate in trips, gallery tours, and studio visits, including over spring break (March 14–20, 2021)
- Present acquisition recommendations to the CAPP Advisory Board, a panel of CAPP alumni, curators, collectors, and art historians
- Attend weekly meetings and conduct extensive independent research
PRESS ABOUT CAPP
- Roser, Lilly and Hayden Smith. "UMD art purchasing program gives students hands-on curating experience." The Diamondback. December 11, 2023. Read here.
- Brock, Rachel. "Our World Through Art in Stamp Gallery." The Diamondback. September 13, 2023. Read here.
- DeCandia, Mel. "Art for the Students, By the Students in the Stamp Gallery." The Diamondback. May 4, 2016. Read here.
- Magness, Josh. "Artist Wafaa Bilal Looks to Continue the Conversation at Stamp." The Diamondback. April 6, 2016. Read here.
- Farrell, Liam. "An Art Time Capsule: Stamp Displays a Decade of Student-Purchased Art." TERP. February 23, 2016. Read here.
- Milad, Jackie. "Living with Art: The Contemporary Art Purchasing Program at College Park." Interview by Marnie Benney. Bmore Art. March 15, 2014. Read here.
CAPP COMMITTEE ALUMNI
2024-2025
- Vivian Castrillo, Studio Art ‘26
- Raina Hatcher, Art History/Physics/Astronomy '26
- Noa Nelson, History/Art History '25
- Grace Orellana, Immersive Media Design '25
- Rachel Schmid-James, Art History and Classics '26
- Trinitee Tatum, Art History and American Studies '25
2022-2023
- Emily Boa, Communications ‘24
- Isabella Chilcoat, Art History ‘23
- Rachel (Rae) Leonberger, Art History/LGBTQ+ Studies ‘23
- Alicia Perkovich, Art History & History ‘23
- Raphael Ukpelegbu, Business Marketing ‘23
2020-2021
- Ty Roland-Reeves, Studio Art ‘22
- Emily Gilman, English ‘21
- Katherine Jackson, Art History ‘21
- Daniela Ruiz Perez, Geographical Sciences/Studio Art ‘21
2018–2019
- Jacky Cruz-Castillo, Studio Art/Art History '19
- Kari Gillman, Studio Art '19
- Rina Goldman, Studio Art/Theater '19
- Annie Jun, English '18
- Sydney Wess, Journalism/Art History '19
- Ruoyu Wu, Studio Art/Math '20
2016–2017
- Rachael Carruthers, History/Studio Art ‘17
- Grace DeWitt, Animal Science/Studio Art ‘17
- Nicolay (Nick) Duque-Robayo, Art History/Philosophy ‘18
- Kathleen Hubbard, Art History/Philosophy ‘17
- Damon King, Business ‘17
- Sarang Yeola, Physics/Economics ‘18
2014–2015
- James Boyle
- Zoe Copeman
- Melissa Rogers
- Lauren Jeyoon
- Korey Richardson
- Makeda Solomon
- Charlotte Zhang
2012–2013
- Nathalia Gabriel
- Zulekha Sayyed
- Jennifer Clifford
- Hanna Kelly
- Alexander McCormick
- Sarah Buchanan
2010–2011
- Michele Briley
- Erin Kim
- Mara Duvra
- David Phelps
- Eldis Sula
2008–2009
- Sana Javed
- Ali Stuebner
- Alison Reilly
- Megan Wickless
- Ophra Paul
2006–2007
- Lindsay Smilow
- Dominique Ryan
- Dara Koppelman
- Rachel Kurinsky
- Emily Newton
- Fernando Ramirez