Art in Office
The Van Every/Smith Galleries manage Davidson College’s Permanent Art Collection, which includes over 4,200 works spanning five centuries—from Renaissance prints to modern installations. This diverse collection offers a glimpse into a wide range of artistic styles and cultural moments.
Through the innovative Art in Office program, the Galleries transform the entire campus into a living museum. Staff are invited to select pieces from the Collection to display in their offices, shared spaces, and conference rooms—bringing art into daily life and sparking conversation and inspiration across departments. Artworks are typically loaned for 2–3 years, though staff may request to extend their display for additional cycles. Periodically, gallery staff and interns visit to assess each piece for conservation needs, ensuring the integrity and longevity of the collection while maintaining its accessibility. This program fosters a deeper connection between the campus community and the visual arts—making every hallway, office, and meeting room a canvas for creativity.
Through the innovative Art in Office program, the Galleries transform the entire campus into a living museum. Staff are invited to select pieces from the Collection to display in their offices, shared spaces, and conference rooms—bringing art into daily life and sparking conversation and inspiration across departments. Artworks are typically loaned for 2–3 years, though staff may request to extend their display for additional cycles. Periodically, gallery staff and interns visit to assess each piece for conservation needs, ensuring the integrity and longevity of the collection while maintaining its accessibility. This program fosters a deeper connection between the campus community and the visual arts—making every hallway, office, and meeting room a canvas for creativity.
ArtMate
Imagine transforming your residence hall room into a personal gallery with a piece of art that speaks to you. With ArtMate, you can do just that! This unique art lending program allows the first 125 students to sign up to select an artwork to showcase in their room for the entire academic year. Whether you're drawn to vibrant colors, thought-provoking photographs, mysterious portraits, ArtMate offers a diverse collection to suit every taste. Don't miss your chance to add a touch of inspiration and creativity to your living space!
Belk Visual Arts Center
The artworks listed below can be viewed in the public spaces on first and second floors of the Belk Visual Arts Center.
Campus Sculpture Collection
The Davidson College Campus Sculpture Program is an extension of the college’s permanent art collection. Available for viewing from dawn until dusk, in Richardson Plaza and throughout campus, the campus sculpture collection features outdoor works by significant, internationally-acclaimed artists.
Dr. Joan Huntley Collection
Joan Huntley (1931-2019) never had a Davidson diploma with her name on it hanging in the home she shared with her husband, Bob, Class of 1947, but she enthusiastically adopted the college as her own. Joan served Davidson as a lifetime member of the board of visitors. She attended Mary Washington College (now University) and UNC Chapel Hill, earning advanced degrees in public health during a time when women did not get those kinds of degrees; she was often the only woman in the room. She was famous for bringing people together, a real connector.
Her passion for Davidson and art led to the formation of the Van Every/Smith Galleries’ Art Collection Advisory Committee (ACAC). Amy Clemmons King '97 recalls the founding as, [Joan] knew that if you believed in something, you could make it happen. She had been to museums at other private colleges, and she knew Davidson could attain that kind of collection if enough people got behind it." It is no surprise that Joan became known as the "godmother of the ACAC." Her generosity during her time with the ACAC and her estate gift aid in the group's efforts through the Joan Huntley Art Acquisition Fund, supporting the addition of new works to enhance campus and the curriculum.
Joan’s artistic passion centered on 19th-century works of the Barbizon school. In addition to a superb selection of paintings and works on paper donated through her bequest, the college's Art Collection Advisory Committee purchased works from this era to honor her dedication and legacy. Additional works will be added to this collection thanks to the Dr. Joan Huntley Art Acquisition Endowment.