History

EMERSON GALLERY

With three temporary exhibition spaces  and storage space for the Hamilton College Collection, the Emerson Gallery opened in September 1982, initiating a new era of institutional collecting. The Collection, which then included approximately 400 works of art, has now grown to include more than 4,000, with strengths in American prints and works on paper, British art of the 20th century, ancient vases and glass, and Native American and Pre-Columbian art. All but a few of these acquisitions have been made possible by the generosity of Hamilton alumni and friends. With the advice of the Committee on the Visual Arts, the Gallery has also developed ambitious exhibition programs that have achieved national recognition as well as endowed lecture and visiting artist programs.