The Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery is the dynamic, vital center for the visual arts in the Monadnock Region, encompassing the best of the traditional and contemporary worlds. The original gallery was a gift to Keene State College and the community from beaTrix Sagendorph, artist and benefactor, in memory of her mother, Louise E. Thorne, in 1965. The gallery was then located in Keene State's Mason Library.
The current gallery, which opened November 1993 to its first exhibit, a retrospective of works by Jules Olitski, continues to fulfill its original mission - to encourage a broader and deeper appreciation of the visual arts.
The environment of the Thorne is welcoming and contemplative. The exhibits honor the scope of artistic expression, providing visitors with refreshing, new experiences, often moving them beyond what they know to new areas of appreciation.
Spacious, skylit exhibit halls, with climate control and a sophisticated security system, allow for shows of national prominence and encourage many more institutional lenders to share pieces from their collections than was previously possible.
A comprehensive community and campus arts complex, the facility has meeting space for programs, lectures, films and slides in concert with exhibits. Opening receptions, hosted by the Friends of the Thorne, are free and open to the public.
