Article
October 23, 2025
Written by Student Writer Austin Watts and Sydney Kern
Lydia and Robert Ruyle Gallery Dedicated, Honoring Vibrant Artistic Legacy and Transformational Generosity
UNC advocates and Greeley residents' legacy and their enduring impact on the artistic community will be continuously remembered and celebrated in an established art-centric space
For decades, the galleries at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) have showcased student and professional artists while serving as a cultural hub for Greeley.
Now, with the recent dedication of the Lydia and Robert Ruyle Gallery, formerly known as the Campus Commons Gallery, that role is poised to expand.
The Ruyle family generously chose UNC to preserve and steward the lifetime artwork collection of their late mother, Lydia Ruyle, M.A. ’72. The collection features more than 500 original works, drafts and papers related to her art, including the globally celebrated Goddess Banner Collection, crop circles and other original pieces. UNC will have the opportunity to display the profound pieces on campus, utilize them for curatorial and research purposes and circulate them at institutions, conferences or other events worldwide to ensure Lydia’s art remains accessible and influential.
Along with donating Lydia’s lifetime artwork collection, the family has established three endowments, one being a scholarship, in honor of Lydia and her husband Robert (Bob) Ruyle, who were lifelong Greeley residents and UNC advocates. Lydia received her Master of Arts in Studio Art in 1972. She then went on to teach in both the Art and Women’s Studies departments at UNC. Bob came to UNC in the early 1950s on a basketball scholarship, before earning a law degree from the University of Colorado and becoming a lawyer in the Greeley area.
During the name dedication ceremony on Sept. 11, their son, Stephen Ruyle, spoke about education being a guiding belief of his parents, sparking the scholarship.
“My mom would say, ‘I believe we are here to learn,’” commented Stephen. “Education is the best hope for the human race and for our planet. Education is how we pass on humankind’s accumulated knowledge to the next generation. Knowledge is the foundation for human ethics and for values in this technological world.”
Maya Hairston-Chase
The generous scholarship covers full tuition for a master’s student in Studio Art whose research aligns with Lydia’s collection. The first student artist to receive the Ruyle scholarship is graduate student Maya Hairston-Chase, who says the award has led her to a newfound connection between Lydia’s work and her own.
“I really relate to Lydia in a lot of ways,” Hairston-Chase said. “Her passion for researching and sharing stories that are often ignored by the dominant culture and her drive to make sure her art was accessible and seen in all kinds of places, not just above someone’s couch, is inspiring. Receiving a scholarship and being the inaugural receiver is wonderful, but what really makes me happy to have received this scholarship is that it’s coming from someone who shares a similar interest and purpose.”
Hairston-Chase is a multimedia artist at UNC studying Painting and Drawing. Her work finds its roots in activism and representation for marginalized groups, focusing on the relationship between literature and physical art by reworking traditional stories into equitable spaces.
The family believes Hairston-Chase is a perfect candidate to empower and carry forward Lydia’s legacy.
“We have a hard time imagining what the future is really going to be like, but we know we are on the way and that we have a good foundation,” Stephen said during the ceremony. “From here on out, it’s up to Maya and those who follow to make the history — and the her story.”
Naming the space, the Lydia and Robert Ruyle Gallery, provides the opportunity for the university community to honor the Ruyles’ far-reaching legacy, which was evident in the attendance during the name dedication ceremony.
Dedication Debut
A large crowd gathered in the Campus Commons to witness the unveiling. All eyes were on a large blue banner hanging above the entrance of the gallery. As soon as the banner dropped and the name was revealed, the space was filled not only with thunderous applause but also with an energy of joy and support for UNC’s largest gallery. The celebration was not only about the dedication itself but about honoring the ideals that shaped Lydia and Bob’s lives — education, creativity and generosity.
Belle-Pilar Fleming, UNC’s director of galleries, was a key individual involved in the renaming process.
“Lydia was really passionate about work created by women artists, specifically, and there’s a lot of work that we’re already showcasing in the galleries that aligns with that goal,” Fleming said. “Lydia was also known for showcasing art from around the world, so those ideas already pair really well with the mission of our gallery spaces.”
The first exhibit held in the Lydia and Robert Ruyle Gallery was “Roots and Routes,” which showcased alumni artwork and demonstrated the diverse talents and journeys of alumni artists, like Lydia, whose creative paths began on UNC’s campus.
To honor Lydia’s passion for women artists and global perspectives, the gallery will focus its future exhibits on those themes. The gallery will also always feature a rotating display of Lydia’s work and a biological tribute panel to inspire artists for generations to come.
The Lydia and Robert Ruyle Gallery is located in Campus Commons, open Monday through Friday, from 10a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment. Contact galleries@unco.edu to learn more.
Ruyle Endowment details:
- Ruyle Collection Endowment: Provides ongoing support to ensure the Ruyle Collection remains visible and accessible. It prioritizes opportunities to display the collection on UNC’s campus as well as via loans to institutions, conferences or other venues around the world, so Lydia’s work continues to reach broad audiences.
- Impact: Supports the ongoing care, exhibition and study of the Ruyle Collection, keeping Lydia Ruyle’s art visible and accessible while removing barriers to transport, display and public engagement.
- Ruyle Collection Staffing Endowment: Funds a permanent professional role dedicated to managing, preserving and promoting scholarship around the Ruyle Collection, as well as stipends for student employees.
- Impact: Builds professional capacity within UNC’s art programs, ensuring long-term care of the collection while also offering students hands-on experience that supports their growth as future artists and scholars.
- Lydia and Robert Ruyle Graduate Research Scholarship Endowment: Awards annual scholarships to graduate students in Art & Design whose research connects with the Ruyle Collection.
- Impact: Elevates the graduate program by attracting and retaining top students, deepening the research profile of the School of Art & Design and expanding the ways the collection informs new creative and scholarly work.
To make a gift that supports the UNC Galleries, click here.
