Art Galleries

Lake Forest College has been collecting art since the 1950s, but a generous gift of 185 drawings in 1971 from alum Hugo Sonnenschein ’44 inspired the creation of a formal art gallery on campus. The Sonnenschein Gallery opened in 1981 as part of a renovation plan for the Durand Art Institute. It sits on the third floor of the historic 1892 Richardsonian Romanesque structure where the smaller Albright Gallery (named after famed artist Ivan Albright) is also located. Our galleries are used to showcase exhibitions by artists of international, national, and Chicago-area renown. They are also used to showcase noteworthy creative projects from our studio art courses each year. Two dedicated student exhibit spaces include a gallery in the lobby of Deerpath Residence Hall and Gallery 208 in a second floor hallway of the Donnelly and Lee Library.

The College’s art collection numbers over 1200 pieces and is eclectic in nature. It consists of paintings, drawings, 19th and 20th century prints, photographs both digital and printed, modern art glass, Asian ceramics, Meso-American artifacts, African masks, and monumental outdoor sculptures. Works of art are used for teaching purposes through formal exhibitions and informal class visits of the gallery storage facilities. Pieces from the collection are used to aesthetically enhance almost every building on campus. In the true spirit of the liberal arts, we believe in the importance of living with art on a daily basis.

Sign up for our Community eNewsletter to receive monthly updates on upcoming gallery events and to learn more about how Lake Forest College can be a resource for you.

artwork on a wallCandlehands

March 2 - April 1, 2023

Sonnenschein/Albright Gallery
Durand Art Institute
Lake Forest College

Gallery Hours: 
MWF 2 - 5 p.m. 
SAT/SUN 1 - 5 p.m. 
By Appointment: (847)-735-5194 or goldberg@lakeforest.edu

maternal perspectives posterMaternal Perspectives

November 15 - December 10, 2022

Sonnenschein Gallery
Durand Art Institute
Lake Forest College


artwork on a wallfrom: 27th Annual John and Katherine Covington Memorial Art Exhibition

November 15 - December 10, 2022

Sonnenschein Gallery
Durand Art Institute
Lake Forest College

View the Gallery


artwork on a wallMark Hertzberg: 50 Years of Photojournalism/Frank Lloyd Wright in the Abstract

October 7- 30, 2022

Sonnenschein Gallery/Albright Gallery
Durand Art Institute
Lake Forest College


Sonnenschein and Albright Galleries

The Sonnenschein Gallery and Albright Room are the main art galleries at the College. They have featured the works of famous artists including Wafaa Bilal, Thomas Nozkowski and Kate McQuillen as well as alumni Ed West ’71 and Colin Thompson ’71. The galleries have featured artwork of highly acclaimed Chicago-based artists such as Andrew Young, Diane Simpson and Laura Letinsky. A bi-annual faculty exhibit showcases the most recent work of our faculty artists. Admission to these galleries is always free.

Deerpath Student Gallery

The Deerpath Student Gallery features group exhibitions of student work, including an annual show from the Art Club, selected student curatorial projects, and exhibitions of outstanding student coursework. The gallery’s location in the Deerpath Residence Hall across the quad from the Durand Art Institute situates it as an important part of the residential cultural and social scene. Admission to the Deerpath Gallery is also free.

Gallery Hours and Contact

Sonnenschein and Albright Galleries

Durand Art Institute,
North Campus 
MWF 2 - 5 p.m. 
Weekends 1 - 5 p.m. 

Directions to campus

Deerpath Student Gallery

Deerpath Residence Hall,
North Campus 
M-TH 7 - 10 p.m. 

Contact

Rebecca Goldberg
Gallery Director, Lecturer in Art
847-735-5194
goldberg@lakeforest.edu