The Swarthmore College Art Collection supports the College mission: to provide learners of varied backgrounds with a transformative liberal arts education grounded in rigorous intellectual inquiry. The Collection preserves, interprets, and makes accessible works of art and objects that facilitate the study of diverse cultures, perspectives, and creative strategies.

The Collection supports classroom study, interdisciplinary inquiry, innovative research, and artistic production. The management and development of the Collection reflects Swarthmore's commitment to cultivating inclusivity, civic engagement, environmental sustainability, creativity, and beauty. Through exhibitions, curricular support, interdisciplinary collaborations, and work study opportunities, the Collection serves students, faculty, staff, and the public at large.

The Swarthmore College Art Collection consists of more than 2,000 paintings, sculptures, ceramics, drawings, prints, photographs, textiles, and other objects representing diverse cultures and historic periods, from the 1st century through the present day. Collection highlights include works that are related to the history of Swarthmore and the surrounding Philadelphia region, including works by Edward Hicks, Benjamin West, James Peale, Thomas Birch, Daniel Garber, Robert Henri, and John Steuart Curry.

The Collection also includes modern and contemporary works in varied media, including WPA-era frescos by James Egleson, Class of 1929; quilts by Mary Lee Bendolph; and photographs by Bruce Cratsley '66. The Collection also includes works on paper by Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden, Toshi Yoshida, Leon Golub H '85, and Joyce Kozloff. Swarthmore's public sculpture collection features works by Steve Tobin, Alexander Calder, and Henry Bertoia.

Above: 
Fern Isabel Coppedge (American, 1888-1951)
Passing Winter, n.d. (detail)
Oil on canvas, 25 x 35 inches
Gift of the artist