Frederick Morrow Gallery of Art
The Frederick Morrow Gallery of Art is the principal fine arts exhibition and collection facility of the American College of Arts and Performing Arts. Opened in 1964, the gallery was named in honor of ACAPA co-founder Frederick J. Morrow (1901–1982), who championed the visual arts as a cornerstone of the College's identity from its founding in 1947. A major expansion completed in 1998 doubled the gallery's exhibition footprint, added climate-controlled permanent collection storage, a reading room, and a dedicated education wing.
The Morrow Gallery occupies a 22,000-square-foot facility on the eastern edge of the ACAPA main quad. It houses a permanent collection of approximately 1,400 works, with a primary emphasis on 20th- and 21st-century American art across media including painting, sculpture, photography, works on paper, printmaking, and mixed media. The gallery presents 8–10 major exhibitions per year and serves as a locus for interdisciplinary engagement across all of ACAPA's academic departments.
The gallery is a fully accessible public institution and welcomes visitors from the Eastbridge community and beyond. Guided group tours, educational programs, and rental of facilities for private events are available. See sections below for current and upcoming exhibitions, collection highlights, and educational offerings.
Gallery Administration
- Director
- Nadia Kowalski (appointed 2019)
M.F.A., Art History & Curatorial Practice, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
n.kowalski@acapa.edu - Asst. Director
- Thomas Ruelle — t.ruelle@acapa.edu
- Chief Curator
- Dr. Constance Abara — c.abara@acapa.edu
- Registrar
- Philip Sato — p.sato@acapa.edu
- Educ. Programs
- Miriam Ostroff — m.ostroff@acapa.edu
- Gallery Info
- (802) 555-0194 | gallery@acapa.edu
Hours & Admission
| Day(s) | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday – Wednesday | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Friday | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Saturday | 11:00 am – 4:00 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Extended hours during special openings and exhibition previews. Closed on College holidays and during winter recess (Dec. 20 – Jan. 5). Check Events & Calendar for exceptions.
Admission
| ACAPA students (with ID) | Free |
| ACAPA faculty & staff (with ID) | Free |
| General public (adult) | $8.00 |
| Seniors (65+) / Non-ACAPA students | $5.00 |
| Children under 12 | Free |
| First Thursday of each month | Free (all visitors, 5–8 pm) |
Group discounts available for parties of 10 or more. Contact the gallery office in advance.
Location
Morrow Gallery Building
14 Founders Drive
Eastbridge, VT 05401
Campus Map
Accessible entrance on north side of building. Parking available in Lot C (Founders Drive) and Lot E (Arts Quad). ADA-accessible. Assistance available upon request.
Current Exhibitions
A survey of landscape painting by American artists working from 1970 to the present, tracing the evolution of the genre from post-minimalist realism through ecological engagement and digital-era abstraction. Featuring works by approximately 28 artists drawn largely from the Morrow permanent collection, supplemented by loans from private collections and regional museums. An illustrated catalog is available at the gallery desk ($18).
The annual thesis exhibition presenting final projects by graduating Master of Fine Arts candidates in Painting, Sculpture, Photography, and Interdisciplinary Arts. Works include installation, video, traditional media, and mixed-media practice. Free and open to the public. Opening reception was held March 7; closing reception April 4, 5:00–8:00 pm.
A rotating display of works from the Morrow Gallery's permanent holdings, with the current rotation foregrounding abstract and non-objective painting and sculpture from the 1945–1980 period, including works associated with Abstract Expressionism, Color Field painting, and early Minimalism. Works on display include pieces by artists acquired through the Morrow bequest and subsequent institutional gifts.
Upcoming Exhibitions — Spring/Summer 2026
A major regional survey commissioned by the Morrow Gallery examining the range and vitality of contemporary art practice in New England. Curated by Chief Curator Dr. Constance Abara in collaboration with guest curator Rosa Figueroa (Portland Museum of Art). Features approximately 40 artists working in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Opening reception: Friday, April 25, 6:00–8:30 pm. Free and open to the public.
A focused exhibition drawn entirely from the Morrow permanent collection, presenting the gallery's substantial holdings in printmaking. Works encompass screenprint, etching, lithography, woodcut, and relief printing by American artists across five decades, with particular strength in the Pop, Conceptual, and Neo-Expressionist periods.
Explores the intersection of architectural representation and imagination in American painting, drawing, and photography from the postwar era to the present. Includes loans from several university collections and features a new site-specific installation commissioned from Brooklyn-based artist Senna Park. Supported in part by the ACAPA President's Exhibition Fund.
Open submission exhibition for all currently enrolled ACAPA undergraduate students in visual arts programs. Juried by a panel including gallery staff and external jurors. Awards presented at opening reception. Submission guidelines available from the Department of Visual Arts or the gallery office.
Permanent Collection
The Morrow Gallery permanent collection comprises approximately 1,400 works with primary emphasis on American art of the 20th and 21st centuries. The collection encompasses painting, sculpture, photography, prints, drawings, works on paper, and mixed media. Holdings span movements including Social Realism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism, Conceptual Art, Neo-Expressionism, and contemporary practice through the present decade.
The collection was established with works donated by Frederick Morrow and his personal network of artist friends at the time of the gallery's 1964 founding. Subsequent growth has been driven by institutional acquisitions, alumni donations, and the Friends of the Morrow Gallery annual acquisition fund. Significant gifts were received in 1977 (the Hartwell Bequest, 112 works), 1993 (Doris Engel Collection, photography), and 2014 (the Vance and Patricia Holst Gift, 38 works, 21st-century focus).
Collection Strengths
- American Abstract Expressionism and related postwar movements (c. 1945–1965)
- Photography: documentary and conceptual, 1960s–present
- Prints and works on paper: screenprint, lithography, etching (extensive holdings)
- New England regional art, all media, 20th–21st century
- Contemporary painting and sculpture, emphasis on artists of color and women artists
- Artist's books and multiples (approximately 90 items, housed in the reading room)
Recent Acquisitions NEW
The following works were accessioned to the permanent collection in 2024–2025:
- Cedar Run No. 4, oil on linen, 2022 — Sylvia Tanaka (b. 1979, Burlington, VT). Gift of the artist.
- Untitled (Displacement Series, #7), archival inkjet print, 2021 — Marcus Webb (b. 1968, Chicago, IL). Purchased with Friends of the Morrow Gallery acquisition funds.
- Study for Monument (After Wilkins), bronze, ed. 3/5, 2023 — Caroline Osei-Bonsu (b. 1985, Accra/Boston). Institutional purchase, President's Exhibition Fund.
- Correspondence, 1952–1971 (set of 14 screenprints), 2020 — Dmitri Larkin (b. 1944, New York, NY). Bequest of the artist's estate.
- Eastbridge Winter (Night), chromogenic print, 2024 — Alma Richter (b. 1991, Eastbridge, VT; ACAPA BFA '14). Alumni Gift.
The full collection catalog is available for in-gallery use in the reading room. A partial digital catalog is accessible to ACAPA students and faculty via the Hartley Library portal. Public online access to collection records is in development; inquiries to Registrar Philip Sato.
Educational Programs
The Morrow Gallery Education Office, under the direction of Miriam Ostroff, coordinates a range of programs for ACAPA students, K–12 groups, and the general public.
For ACAPA Students and Faculty
- Curriculum-linked gallery sessions: Faculty may request tailored gallery visits or collection viewings integrated with coursework. Contact the Education Office at least two weeks in advance.
- Collection study access: Works not on display may be viewed by appointment for research and studio study purposes. Graduate students and upper-division undergraduates with faculty endorsement may apply to the Registrar.
- Student docent program: ACAPA students may apply to serve as trained gallery docents (paid position, 6–8 hrs/week). Applications open each August and January. See Student Employment.
- Artist talk series: The gallery hosts approximately 6 artist lectures per academic year, free and open to the ACAPA community. Schedule posted on Events & Calendar.
For Schools and Community Groups
- K–12 school tours: Docent-led tours available Tuesday–Friday by advance reservation. Designed to align with Vermont visual arts curriculum standards. No admission charge for Vermont public school groups. Contact the Education Office.
- Gallery for Families: Informal drop-in family activities on the second Saturday of each month, 11:00 am–1:00 pm. No registration required; art supplies provided.
- Community workshops: Periodic workshops in drawing, printmaking, and photography open to adult community members. Fee-based; see current schedule at the gallery or on the Events & Calendar page.
- Eastbridge Public Library partnership: The gallery loans framed reproduction prints to EPL branches on rotating six-month terms. Contact gallery office for information.
Facility Rental
Selected gallery spaces within the Morrow Gallery building are available for rental by outside organizations and ACAPA departments for receptions, private events, lectures, and screenings, subject to scheduling and use restrictions. Rental does not require that an exhibition be displaced; event spaces are distinct from active gallery areas.
| Space | Capacity | Approx. Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrow Atrium | up to 120 (reception) 80 (seated) |
$650/evening | Main entrance hall; adjacent to permanent collection. A/V available. |
| Education Studio | up to 30 | $150/half-day | Workshop-style seating; projector, sink, storage. Daytime/weekend only. |
| Reading Room | up to 20 | $100/half-day | Seminar/meeting use. Collection access not included unless arranged separately. |
| East Wing Gallery (non-exhibition periods) | up to 80 (reception) | $500/evening | Available between exhibitions only. Inquire for scheduling windows. |
ACAPA student organizations receive a 50% discount on rental rates. All rentals require advance approval, a completed rental agreement, and a security deposit. Alcohol permits require separate ACAPA administrative approval. Catering is the renter's responsibility; a list of approved vendors is available from the gallery office.
For rental inquiries: gallery@acapa.edu or call (802) 555-0194.
History of the Gallery
1947: ACAPA founded in Eastbridge, Vermont by Frederick J. Morrow and co-founder Dr. Harriet Calloway. Morrow, a painter and collector, insists from the outset that a dedicated gallery be incorporated into the College's long-range facilities plan.
1964: Frederick Morrow Gallery opens in a purpose-built 9,000-square-foot building designed by Vermont architect Eliza Comstock. Inaugural collection numbers 87 works. Opening exhibition: Form and Freedom: American Abstraction in the Postwar Decade.
1977: The Hartwell Bequest adds 112 works to the permanent collection, nearly doubling holdings. A small storage addition constructed.
1982: Frederick J. Morrow dies at age 81. A memorial exhibition, Morrow: A Life in Art, is presented; his estate donates an additional 60 works and an endowment for acquisitions.
1993: Gift of the Doris Engel Collection establishes a dedicated photography archive within the permanent collection.
1998: Major expansion completed. Gallery footprint extended to 22,000 square feet. New spaces include three additional exhibition galleries, dedicated collection storage, an education wing, a public reading room, and improved accessibility throughout. Grand reopening: September 12, 1998.
2014: Gallery centennial (of co-founder Morrow's birth year) marked with a retrospective of collection highlights and the Vance and Patricia Holst Gift of 38 works.
2019: Nadia Kowalski appointed as Gallery Director, succeeding retiring director Bernard Acheson (Director 1991–2019).
2024: Five new works accessioned to the permanent collection (see Recent Acquisitions above). Gallery achieves carbon-neutral heating/cooling certification under ACAPA's campus sustainability initiative.
Friends of the Morrow Gallery
The Friends of the Morrow Gallery is a membership organization supporting exhibitions, acquisitions, educational programs, and conservation at the Morrow Gallery. Annual membership levels range from $50 (Student/Senior) to $1,000+ (Patron). Benefits include advance exhibition previews, invitations to artist talks and special events, and a 10% discount at the gallery bookshop. For information, contact gallery@acapa.edu or visit the gallery desk.
Contact
Morrow Gallery, ACAPA
14 Founders Drive, Eastbridge, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 555-0194
Fax: (802) 555-0197
Email: gallery@acapa.edu
Director Nadia Kowalski: n.kowalski@acapa.edu
Education Programs: m.ostroff@acapa.edu
See also: Campus Facilities Overview | Department of Visual Arts | Events & Calendar | Gallery News