It gives me great pleasure to welcome all visitors to the Adelphi University Virtual Art Museum. This ever-growing online collection reflects our continuing commitment to bring contemporary, cultural, and historic visual art to our students and the wider Adelphi community.
Showcasing the work of Adelphi students and faculty, along with special exhibitions from accomplished artists, this virtual museum nurtures Adelphi's artistic community and allows us to serve a public beyond our immediate geographical region.
While the Adelphi campuses feature a number of venues for viewing art in person—the Adele and Herbert J. Klapper Center for Fine Arts Gallery, the University Center Gallery, and the Swirbul Library Gallery in Garden City, as well as in the gallery at Adelphi's Manhattan Center—those galleries provide limited display space in light of our vast permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. We have taken Adelphi's collections and rotating exhibitions beyond the walls of any gallery space, offering a view into these extraordinary works to anyone, anywhere within reach of Internet access. I anticipate that these works of art will inspire, challenge, and captivate a diverse audience.
The University’s goals of teaching, research, and service are supported and enhanced by the virtual Art Museum. Through remote access to original works of art, and by collaborating with faculty, students, and staff from the departments of Art and Art History, and many other disciplines, the museum contributes to the development of critical thinking and visual literacy. This collection of works creates an online environment that is exciting, challenging, and thought-provoking—distinguished by the range and diversity of collections, innovative exhibitions, and in-depth research of our staff.
The Adelphi University Art Museum is meant to encourage appreciation and understanding of art and its role in society through engagement with original works of art. Observing art provides a needed refuge for reflection, tranquility, stimulation, and joy in our often stress-filled lives. It can deepen our knowledge of cultures and reveal insights into history that other modes can't. Through our online museum we seek to share these opportunities with many.
It would be impossible for me to choose a favorite among the works presented on the site, so I encourage you to view all medias and styles: the "Outdoor Sculpture Biennial"; the "Weapons, Tools, and Rituals" collection of African ceremonial implements; various works on paper, mixed media, oil painting, watercolor, silkscreen, lithographs, sketches, and photography, including portraits, landscapes, and abstract images.
It is my hope that visiting the museum through the website will encourage you to visit the galleries and showcases on our campus and experience first-hand the collections, exhibitions, and events.
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all who were involved in creating this virtual museum. This group has worked incredible hours bringing together so many diverse collections of art to make it available to an infinite audience. Thank you for stopping by, and enjoy!
A Note from Gayle D. Insler, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
