Lincoln, Neb.—“Lincoln Collects: The Larry Small Collection” will open Oct. 2 and run through Nov. 6 in the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery in Richards Hall on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campus.
Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday, from noon to 5 p.m. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public.
An opening reception will be held on Friday, Oct. 2 from 5-7 p.m. in the gallery. A closing reception will be held on Friday, Nov. 6 from 5-7 p.m. in the gallery. Both receptions are free and open to the public.
In addition, retired Lincoln Journal Star arts reporter L. Kent Wolgamott will do a Q&A with Small on Friday, Oct. 2 at 6pm during the opening.
This exhibit is part of Lincoln Collects, an ongoing series hosted by the School of Art, Art History & Design, to showcase works belonging to notable art collectors in the Lincoln area. It highlights objects from the private collection of local collector Larry Small, a Lincoln High graduate, philanthropist and a longtime supporter of the arts.
The exhibition will include his large collection of vintage chalkware string holders, Catalin radios, Art Deco pieces and Nebraska Art, among other intriguing objects.
Collecting art portrays a variety of human motives. For some it’s about status. For Small it’s about fun. Small’s collecting first started in elementary school and with his own creations—trucks, cars and airplanes made out cardboard and balsa wood. However, his serious collecting started after a life-altering motorcycle accident in his 20s that temporarily affected his vision and required years of recovery. During this time, he started collecting radios, eventually moving to, other vintage items, art deco, and work from Nebraska Artists.
As a kid Small kept his collection in his basement club house, which was made from deconstructed wooden boxes from the neighborhood grocery store. Much later, he shared his collecting through his store, Flat Water Toys, a museum-like toy store that was located in the Haymarket. Now, the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery will offer a traditional “white cube” setting for his unique collection.
Small was born in Minneapolis, but his family moved to Lincoln when he was young. He had a long career in management, which moved him around several times, but Lincoln is his home, so he always returned. From 1984 to 2025, Larry served on the board of the Lincoln Haymarket Development Corporation, contributing to projects that make the Haymarket the vibrant district it is today. In 2021 he and his late wife, Margaret, donated the bronze statue of Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte at the Centennial Mall, located between L and M streets. In 2026, Small received the Benefactor of the Arts Award from the Lincoln Arts Council.
The Eisentrager-Howard Gallery is located on the first floor of Richards Hall at Stadium Drive and T streets on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln city campus.
Follow the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery on social media via Instagram (@eisentragerhoward) to stay apprised of any updates.
September 18, 2026
Larry Small in his home with his art deco decanter collection.
