David J. Miller
Professor Emeritus of Art David J. Miller, a distinguished painter, teacher, and mentor whose work and influence shaped generations of Skidmore students and alumni, died Saturday, June 20, in Saratoga Springs. He was 83.
David joined the Skidmore faculty in 1975 and served the College until his retirement in December 2008. A professor of drawing and painting and holder of the Ella Van Dyke Tuthill ’32 Chair in Studio Art, he also directed the Schick Art Gallery, where he helped shape exhibitions and support emerging artists. During his more than three decades at Skidmore, he earned a reputation as an inspiring teacher, thoughtful colleague, and dedicated mentor.
An accomplished abstract expressionist artist, David’s work appeared in public collections, including the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Albany Institute of History and Art, and the Cleveland Institute of Art. He received fellowships from both the New York Foundation for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Among his many achievements at Skidmore, David started the annual Juried Skidmore Student Exhibition, which has continued for a half-century. He was also the first faculty member to hold a solo exhibition, “David Miller: A Retrospective” (2001), at the Tang, only a few months after the museum opened in October 2000.
Ian Berry, Dayton Director of the Tang, called David “a huge force for good across four decades at Skidmore” and described him as consistently “open, inviting, enthusiastic, and interested to hear about what was new.”
“David was always a generous and upbeat collaborator, and he mentored scores of students in the painting studios and at the Schick Gallery. His leadership of the Schick and the Malloy Lecture brought many great artists to campus and made connections for our students to the art world beyond campus,” Berry said. “He was the first person to reach out to me when I was new to Skidmore and was a keen liaison and supportive advisor as we opened the new museum. His solo exhibition at the Tang in the Wachenheim Gallery during the museum’s first year was a great celebration for our entire community.”
Born Dec. 13, 1942, in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, David earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Before joining Skidmore, he taught at Lake Erie College in Ohio and at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves as a first lieutenant and general’s aide in the late 1960s.
Colleagues and former students remember David not only for his artistic accomplishments and dedication to teaching, but also for his warmth, generosity, curiosity, and enduring commitment to those around him.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years, Sandy (Stein) Miller; his son, Darren T. Miller (Christine); his grandchildren, Tate and Georgia Miller; and his brother, James Miller (Elaine).