Twenty-one paintings in a variety of media by Kentucky and regional artists are recent gifts to the museum selected as Purchase Awards from competitions hosted by the OMFA. This collection constitutes a survey of contemporary landscape painting with an emphasis on the visual documentation of Owensboro and the region. In addition, it represents the architecture of civic, corporate, educational structures and churches and private residences that have become iconic landmarks. Sponsoring these gifts were Swedish Match, Atmos Energy, Dr. R. Wathen Medley, Jr., Ann Murphy Kincheloe, and Gail Reisz Branch.

A special collection of photographs includes gifts from local photographers Wendell Thompson, Bill Hughes and Fr. Larry Hostetter.

Three unique portraits represent the works of the late Lex Shipley (1924-1993) an Outsider Artist known for his expressionistic paintings and a painting in the Folk Art genre of Bluegrass icon, Bill Monroe. Also featured is a realistic work by the late Cynthia Lightner.