L. Price Amerson (1941–99) was an artist, curator, educator and museum director who played a pivotal role in shaping the visual arts at the University of California, Davis. He earned a B.A. in art and design from Texas Tech University and a Ph.D. in art history from Pennsylvania State University. Joining UC Davis in 1972, Amerson founded and directed the Richard L. Nelson Gallery and Fine Arts Collection, expanding its holdings of works by significant Northern California artists, including Wayne Thiebaud, Roy De Forest, Jay DeFeo and Robert Arneson. He organized exhibitions ranging from contemporary art to regional history, authored more than 40 publications and taught museum studies, mentoring generations of arts professionals. Amerson also initiated the campus' Art in Public Places project, helping bring important sculptures to UC Davis, most notably Arneson's Eggheads Series. An artist known for his whimsical approach, Amerson left an enduring legacy through his commitment to collecting, scholarship and making art accessible to the university community.