COZAD, Neb. — A major cultural expansion has taken shape in the small town of Cozad, Nebraska, as a newly completed $3.5 million art gallery opens to the public, honoring the legacy of renowned American artist Robert Henri.
The newly unveiled gallery more than doubles the exhibition space previously available and positions the affiliated Robert Henri Museum as the home of the largest permanent collection of Henri’s work. The expansion marks a significant milestone for the institution, which began preserving the artist’s childhood home in the 1980s and opened its original gallery in 2014.
“This expansion was very much needed,” said Peter Oswald, executive director of the Robert Henri Museum and Art Gallery. “We were at capacity in our previous gallery, and with the number of Henri paintings continuing to grow, we simply couldn’t display them all. We now have more than 30 to 35 of his works on view, and we expect more to come.”
Henri, born Robert Henry Cozad, spent his formative years in Nebraska before his family was forced to flee the town following a deadly dispute involving his father, John Cozad. After assuming new identities, the family relocated to the East Coast. Henri would later become one of the most influential figures in American art, known for his leadership in the Ashcan School and his philosophy of capturing real life on canvas.
The new 5,000-square-foot facility offers not only expanded gallery space but also includes climate-controlled storage, enhanced security, a gift shop, an outdoor patio, and designated areas for educational programming and events. The original gallery space will now serve as a research library and archive dedicated to Cozad’s local history.
Exhibits in the new gallery adopt an unconventional approach, organized geographically to trace Henri’s life journey rather than by artistic theme. This layout offers visitors a chronological narrative of the artist’s travels and creative evolution.
“Most galleries don’t do it this way,” Oswald noted. “We’re telling the story of his life—why he went to certain places—and letting visitors see the art in that context. Many of our guests are passing through on the interstate, and they may not know who Robert Henri is or why there’s a museum dedicated to him in a town of 4,000. That backstory becomes part of the experience.”
The project was made possible through a combination of grants, private donations, and a $2 million contribution from longtime museum supporters Larry and Tammy Paulsen.
Final touches on the facility are expected to continue in the coming weeks, with more artwork scheduled for display in the near future. Museum officials encourage visitors to explore not only the new gallery but also the original museum and historic home, offering a comprehensive and immersive look at both art and local heritage.
“You could easily spend a full day here,” Oswald said. “There’s so much to see and do.”
