Macon County couple William Banks Hinshaw and Robin Markle Hinshaw donated 18 artworks and artifacts to the Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum, Mountain Heritage Center, and Tali Tsisgwayahi Archaeological Collections and Curation Facility in Cullowhee, North Carolina. The donation includes 20th-century works by artists from Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, pieces by North Carolina ceramicist Nell Cole Graves, and a regional archaeological artifact, accompanied by a $2,000 conservation contribution. Two donated works—a 1961 color lithograph by Cuban artist Wifredo Lam and an untitled ink work by Raúl Milián—are currently featured in the museum's '20th Anniversary Exhibition,' on view through July 2.
The donation matters because it supports the WCU Fine Art Museum's strategic effort to diversify its collection and provide a more comprehensive understanding of contemporary American art for students and the community. The Hinshaws, who previously pledged $125,000 in 2024 to endow a fund for balanced artist representation, are practicing physicians whose personal collection reflects a long-standing connection to Latin American art, rooted in Banks Hinshaw's undergraduate friendships at Duke University and ties to the Pan American Union. Their gift ensures the preservation and public accessibility of works assembled over 50 years, filling a gap in the museum's holdings and enriching regional cultural resources.