Welcome to a cornerstone for the visual arts in New Hampshire's Monadnock Region, the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery. The 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.

In 1976, the Thorne became the Thorne-Sagendorph Memorial Art Gallery, when a new wing was dedicated to beaTrix's husband, Robb Sagendorph, founder and publisher of Yankee magazine.

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.

This new facility, located on Wyman Way, was made possible through generous gifts to The Gallery Campaign from members of the Timken Foundation, MPB Corporation, the Putnam Foundation, Markem Corporation, the Sagendorph family, Yankee Publishing, Inc., Kingsbury Charitable Fund, and numerous other corporations and individuals. Support also came from the State Legislature, the University System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees, and Keene State College.

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.

For more information, contact us at thorne@keene.edu.

Updated: November 13, 2007