Home

The Western Gallery

The Western Gallery on the campus of Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA, serves as the curator of the university’s visual art collections and the outdoor sculpture collection. Offering rotating international, national, regional, faculty, and student art exhibitions, the gallery provides free access to a wide range of contemporary art to North Puget Sound communities, Western Washington, Bellingham, Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C.

The Western Gallery also hosts significant archives for the works in the outdoor sculpture collection, as well as an extensive collection of works on paper, and a unique collection of historically significant chairs. Primary areas are 19th and 20th century prints and drawings, including the Helen Loggie Archives and the Leese Collection. In 2010 the gallery received over 175 works in various media by Northwest artists, a gift of Safeco Insurance, a member of the Liberty Mutual Group, and the Washington Art Consortium. The Chair Collection focuses on 20th century seating created by international designers, including Eames and Noguchi.

Sculpture and gallery tours are available by request, and the Western Gallery serves the campus community by exhibiting works by graduating Bachelor of Fine Arts Studio Art students, as well as an Art and Design faculty biennials. The gallery hosts symposia and lectures on contemporary art presented by recognized scholars and luminaries on diverse topics related to the exhibition. Speakers have included industrial designers, cybersecurity experts, WWU faculty, and international artists.

The gallery also plays host to related events to augment the art exhibitions and draw in a broader cross-section of community members by hosting contemporary dance performances, jazz and chamber music, and alternative music concerts.