Skelton widow's $4 million gift will create new fine arts gallery at Vincennes University

The widow of legendary entertainer Red Skelton has pledged $4 million to the Vincennes University Foundation to create an art gallery.

Lothian Skelton's donation will cover most of the $4.6 million cost of the gallery, which will be an expansion of the Red Skelton Museum in Vincennes, Indiana.

Red Skelton was a Vincennes native and a star of radio, television and film across for some 70 years. He was also known for his paintings of clowns. A New York Times story on his death noted that "(Skelton) did paintings of clown faces that fetched $80,000 and more. He once estimated that he earned $2.5 million a year from lithographs."

“This is my opportunity to honor the legacy of a wonderful and talented man who spent his life bringing joy to others,” Lothian Skelton said.

Red Skelton died in 1997 at age 84.

The 7,200-square-foot art gallery will showcase Red Skelton’s artwork. It will connect to the Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy adjacent to the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center on the Vincennes Campus.

“This has been a work in progress for several years, and we are so excited to have the pieces fall into place to expand the museum and have the space to showcase Red’s artistic side,” Museum Director Anne Pratt said in a news release.

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the museum expansion is scheduled for Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time outside the Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy. A reception will follow in the foyer of the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center, celebrating Lothian Skelton’s birthday. The public is invited.

The Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy opened in 2013 and sees thousands of visitors yearly from across the country and around the globe.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Vincennes University to add gallery with gift from Red Skelton's widow