
1975-2025: Celebrating 50 Years of Collecting
Curated by the Danforth’s Curatorial Fellow, Jennifer Koeller, this exhibition reflects on the Museum’s 50 years of change and growth in exhibition and collecting patterns and strategies. In the earliest years, the Museum accepted works from all art movements and cultures. Over time, collecting strategies shifted focus to American art and its influences, and in this gallery you will see examples representing a changing art world from colonial-era portraiture to Boston Figurative Expressionism. Today, the Museum actively collects and holds nearly 3700 examples of American art from the early 19th century to the present day across a wide variety of media.
The Danforth Art Museum remains an organic and ever-growing entity that reflects the role of the Museum as a component of Framingham State University.

Self-Portrait as a Woman Serving a Meal , 2003, Oil on canvas
Gift of Nick and Dee Adams, 2014.76

Man at Steelworks , c. 1920, Oil on canvas
Gift of Edward L. Shein, 1981.19

Sovereign Nations , 2002, Mixed media, oil on canvas
Museum Purchase, 2004.1

Side View , 2021, Digital Photograph

Near North Conway, New Hampshire , 1860 c., Oil on canvas
Gift of the Waters Foundation, 1977.65

Bowl , 1974, Paint on Clay
Gift of Michael Clow and Lucy Rozier

Dr. Nathaniel Coffin , c. 1820 , Oil on canvas mounted on panel
Gift of Harriot Hopkinson Rive, and Museum Purchase with funds provided by The Gilbert Stuart Society, 1999.17

Mrs. Nathaniel Coffin , c.1820, Oil on canvas mounted on panel
Gift of Harriot Hopkinson Rive, and Museum purchase with funds provided by The Gilbert Stuart Society, 1999.18