Exhibition from June 12 through December 13, 2024. Even from its beginning in 1891, Drexel was a pioneer in promoting education for women. The original Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry consisted of eleven programs . One of these departments was the Department of Domestic Economy, which was one of the first of its kind outside of schools that were dedicated solely to the education of women. This exhibition shows the history of Westphal College from the early years of the Home Economics program to its push into art and design in the latter half of the 20th century to the college today.  Featuring photographs and letters from Drexel University Archive s and pieces from the Drexel Founding Collection, the exhibition highlights the people, programs  and practices that have been pivotal to Westphal’s growth from one of the earliest academic programs for women.  

Exhibition by appointment only on view February 19, 2024 through July 26, 2024. Reunion Tour explores the connections between the 1960s cultural revolution, music and the brain and the creation and interest in merchandise specifically surrounding the music scene. Reunion Tour once again brings together Westphal’s Art & Art History, Graphic Design and Music Industry programs and the College of Arts and Sciences Psychology department, to tell the story of music and its cultural and aesthetic influence. In a companion exhibition Sound – students created screenprint posters in the Screen Print II course with Professor Jen Blazina, showing their interpretation of sound. Electrified Reunion Tour highlights Drexel’s collection materials and faculty connections with the history of the Electric Factory and music in Philadelphia as well as demonstrating the connection between collections and exhibitions with curriculum at Drexel.

This unmissable exhibition will include original posters, photographs, and concert apparel. An American invention, the electric guitar is the signature instrument of rock and visitors will be drawn to Bruce Springsteen’s Fender Telecaster, played in Philadelphia more than any other celebrated guitar; the 6-string bass Jack Bruce used to record Fresh Cream, painted in psychedelic colors for Cream’s 1968 European and US tours; and a late 1950s Gibson Les Paul, regarded by some as the holy grail of electric guitars, played by Mick Taylor at the Spectrum during the Stones’ tour in 1972.

Exhibition from December 1, 2022 through June 1, 2023. Tell Us How You Really Feel! is an exhibition of student, faculty and alumni artwork examining the aforementioned concepts. Contributing artists are asked to consider the following prompt: "Create a visual representation of a time in your life when you felt emotion that was too hard to put into words." The artist's responses will be presented in the Drexel Founding Collection's Rincliffe Gallery in an effort to show the practical application of empathy through art. During the exhibition artists' work will be sold, if they so choose, with half the proceeds donated to The Jed Foundation and The Trevor Project to support ongoing mental health resources for young peoples. For more information please visit Exhibitions | Drexel Founding Collection.