The Spencer Museum of Art didn’t waste much time creating an exhibition to honor John Talleur.

Two years after Talleur’s death, the Spencer will celebrate the art of printmaking and the life of the late professor emeritus at Kansas University with “Teaching from Prints: The Legacy of John Talleur.” The exhibition runs from Saturday through Jan. 18 in the Spencer’s Kress Gallery.

“Often museums receive gifts, and it may be years before you’re able to share them because it takes a long time to organize an exhibition because of scheduling and timing,” said Steve Goddard, curator of prints and drawings at the Spencer. “We felt we should make an effort to share these with the rest of Lawrence as quickly as possible.”

The exhibition will feature 180 pieces, including 30 of Talleur’s works, spanning more than 500 years. The collection is from the bequest to the museum made by Talleur and his daughter, Ann.

“There will be a combination of things he collected and the things he made,” said Goddard, organizer of the exhibition. “He was very influential in the arts in Lawrence and wanted to share with the public his remarkable collection of prints and his own works.

“This is an exhibition that looks at John, not just as a printmaker, but also as a collector, someone who loved to surround himself with art.”

Talleur’s collection includes rare pieces from the 15th century.

Steve Goddard, curator of prints and drawings at the Spencer Museum of Art, handles one of John Talleur's prints from the artist's 1976 portfolio. The museum will honor Talleur, a former Kansas University faculty member, with an exhibit of 500 years of print history.

“Two of the oldest pieces are metal cuts, done around 1470,” Goddard said. “There will also be a number of 16th-century prints, including a print by Dürer, a great German Renaissance artist.”

Talleur, who taught at KU for more than 40 years, died Nov. 27, 2001. Goddard taught several classes with Talleur.

“We had art history students and studio students all in the same class,” Goddard said. “We had a lot of fun. Some good art was made, and some good papers were written.”

Andrea Norris, museum director, said Talleur influenced several students.

“He inspired a number of people to pursue careers in various aspects of the arts with a really intense engagement in visual arts,” she said.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H., will dedicate the John Talleur Print Studio at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 7. Three years ago, Talleur gave his presses and letterpress equipment to the arts center. The presses include a 1952 Sturges Etching Press, a 1945 Vandercook Press, a 1950 Proofing Press and an 1895 Washington Hoe Letter Press.

This self-portrait by the late artist John Talleur will be part of Teaching