Honoring Dan Howard (1931-2024)

With heavy hearts, we mourn the passing of Dan Howard, one of our most beloved artists. Always upbeat with fresh, innovative ideas, Dan was a gallery favorite. Identified by the Omaha World-Herald as Nebraska’s most highly decorated artist, he was the recipient of over a hundred prizes, awards, and honors during a 70-year career as a professional artist and art educator. Born, raised, and educated in Iowa, Howard received both B.A. and M.F.A. degrees in art from the University of Iowa. As an educator, he was a faculty member and administrator at three state universities: Arkansas State, Kansas State, and for 22 years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, serving ten years as department chair from 1974 to 1983.

His passion for education was evident not only in his administrative roles but also in his dedication to nurturing the next generation of artists. Even after his retirement Dan continued creating, maintaining a studio at Richards Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. He exhibited extensively throughout the United States, with artwork represented in well over 350 competitive and invitational showcases. Major art galleries in at least twelve cities carried his work over several years, including a prominent SoHo gallery in New York City during the 1990s. Additionally, more than 600 public, corporate, and private art collections in this country and abroad include one or more Howard works among their acquisitions. In the competitive arena, he was the recipient of top awards in three major national painting competitions: the Chautauqua in New York, the Butler in Ohio, and the Society of Four Arts in Florida.

Howard’s work has been placed in national collections of corporate entities such as Hallmark Cards, Westlaw Publishing, United Airlines, American Airlines, Qwest (CenturyLink), Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing (3M), Pepsi-Cola, Chicago Steel Corporation, Riceland Foods, Sheraton Hotels, Holiday Inns, Coopers & Lybrand, ConAgra, TD Ameritrade, and numerous banking and financial/insurance institutions. Locally, Assurity Life Insurance, Farmers Mutual Insurance, Great Western Bank, and the Lied Center for Performing Arts prominently feature Howard’s artwork in their respective buildings. As for public art collections, Howard’s art is held by many institutions, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.; Lowe Art Museum, Miami, FL; The Parthenon Museum, Nashville, TN; Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR; Sioux City Art Museum, IA; Fort Dodge Art Museum, IA; Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, NE; Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE; Sheldon Museum of Art, Lincoln, NE; and others.

Dan’s deepest love was for his late wife, Barbara, with whom he spent the last 70 years of his life. Barbara passed away in June 2024, and yesterday marked not only the loss of Dan but also his reunion with her. While Dan’s passions were painting and teaching, his greatest love was always Barbara. We find solace in knowing they are together again.

A funeral service for Dan will be held Friday, September 20, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68512. Arrangements entrusted to Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home in Lincoln, Nebraska.