About Us
Our History
The Center Art Gallery was founded in 1974 to serve as an arts hub for the community of Calvin College (now Calvin University), supporting the educators, students, alumni, and artists of Calvin. The gallery’s permanent art collection was started in 1922 with the gift of a painting and has continued to grow through generous gifts and intentional purchases.
The collection can be concisely categorized into:
- Calvin University faculty and alumni work
- Art and Artists of West Michigan
- 19th century Dutch and Hague School work
- Modern Photography
- Printmaking of Sadao Watanabe and supporting Asian prints and artifacts
- Artwork addressing the prodigal son biblical parable
- Contemporary artwork addressing the theme of light
Since Calvin University is a teaching university, the collections and exhibitions of the Center Art Gallery are used as educational tools. With nearly 45% of the collection on display throughout campus, artwork has been integrated into the daily lives of students and staff. The Center Art Gallery views art making as a cross-disciplinary practice. The gallery space functions as a lab for artists to experiment and explore artistic ideas and practices. Exhibitions become opportunities for students and guests to explore and enhance their own academic backgrounds and aesthetic interests.
Our Mission
- To provide continued support for the artists of the Calvin community including students, faculty, and alumni by giving opportunity to exhibit and discuss their work.
- To provide our art students and the University and civic communities the educational opportunity to view the aesthetic richness of other cultures in the context of our liberal arts tradition.
- To provide the Calvin community with an opportunity to view and dialogue with challenging art objects, artists, and ideas from a cross-section of contemporary culture, encouraging thoughtful evaluation rather than blind acceptance or rejection of our contemporaries active in the arts.
- To provide the Calvin community with an opportunity to view the works produced by Christians involved in the arts and thus strengthen the ties between those of similar and different Christian traditions.
Related links
- American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
- Michigan Museums Association (MMA)
- Association of Academic Museums & Galleries (AAMG)
- Grand Rapids Gallery Association (GRGA)
Support us
If you would like to support what we do at the Center Art Gallery, please contact Brent Williams for more information.