A student makes her selection.

Founded in 1940 by Ellen Johnson, the Art Rental
Program allows Oberlin students and members of
the community to rent two original works of art each semester. Students line up in the museum courtyard –and in some cases, camp overnight – to take home works by artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, and Red Grooms. With more than 400 prints, paintings, photographs and sculptures, the rental collection has something for everyone.

New this semester are two oil paintings by Reverend Albert Wagner, a Cleveland "outsider" artist who was transformed by a religious experience and felt called to change his life through art. His search for self-redemption - and his sometimes controversial message - were recently the subject of a book and an award-winning documentary film.

Watch a video from the Fall 2008 Art Rental!
Click here.

The Art Rental collection may be previewed on Wednesday, September 10 from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Student rental takes place on Thursday, September 11 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Student/community rental is Friday, September 12 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Rentals must be returned by Thursday, December 11 at 4:00 pm.

Please note: Art Rental has returned to the guidelines as they were first established by Professor Ellen Johnson in 1940: the first to arrive are the first served. These guidelines are in place to insure maximum fairness for Art Rental participants. For more information, please download the PDF.

New To Rent: One of several recent additions to the AMAM’s 400-item strong art rental collection:



Rev. Albert Wagner (American, 1924-2006)
Remember It's Just Maybe
late 20th - early 21st century
Paint on masonite
Art Rental Fund, RC2008.1