Home | Drexel Founding Collection

Banner with details of letters from Washington and Lincoln and The Steven H. Korman Collection of Presidential Letters & Memorabilia

A Full Time Job title and dates flanks by floral designs

Atwater Kent Collection

Drexel University is stewarding the collection of the former Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent, which closed in 2018. Visit the Atwater Kent Collection virtually.

Exhibitions

Current Exhibition

A Full Time Job

June 12 - December 20, 2024

Rincliffe Gallery

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. Curated by Priya Vaswani, Photography & Art History 2024.

Coming Soon

Drexel Studies

October 11 - December 20, 2024

Peck Alumni Center Gallery

Exploring the artist's process and training, this exhibition displays the studies and copies made in order to refine an artist's skill and finished works.

View Past Exhibitions

Curator Pick of the Month

Title: Reproduction of 5th Century BCE Red Figure Hydria
Artist: Unidentified
Creation Date: 19th century
Origin: Unidentified creation place
Medium: Earthenware

As we welcome new students to Drexel, look at one of our earliest acquisitions at the Drexel Founding Collection! Acquired from a gift in 1892, this vase is a 19th century reproduction of a 5th century BCE Greek hydria depicting a scene from the Fall of Troy. While the original would have been water vessel in our collection, this reproduction is part of a tradition of recreating classical art for appreciation purposes arising from excavations in Greece and Italy.

Guest Curator: Tori Ruth, Arts Administration & Museum Leadership '24

View Previous Picks

New and Conserved Pieces

NEW -
Celadon Dish
Our most recent gift is this ancient Chinese, green glazed stoneware dish carved with a lotus bud and leaf design, known as Yaozhou ware, from the Jin dynasty, 12th century, donated by Brian M. Salzberg, PhD. in 2021

CONSERVED -
Portrait of Ralph Kelly
Conserved last summer by Carole Abercauph, this portrait of Drexel benefactor Ralph Kelly has been returned to its home in Kelly Hall.

Welcome to the Collection

Drexel University, initially Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, was founded on the belief that education should be both practical and cultural—and that art should be not only beautiful, but educational. On that principle, the Drexel Founding Collection—the University’s flagship collection of art—was founded alongside the University in 1891. Today, the Collection remains a resource for historically and culturally significant works of art as Drexel University pioneers a model for the modern, urban university.

Hours

AJ Drexel Picture Gallery:

Mon. - Fri.: 3:30pm - 5pm

Tours by appointment.

Rincliffe Gallery:

Mon. - Fri.: 10am - 5pm

Peck Gallery:

Currently offline

Closed on Sundays and major holidays.

Galleries are free and open to the public.

Plan Your Visit

Other Collections Around Campus