Art Gallery & Collection

The Widener University Art Gallery & Collection includes the:

• Alfred O. Deshong Collection of 19th and 20th century American paintings.
• 19th century European paintings.
• 18th century and 19th century Asian art. 

Alfred O. Deshong, a wealthy Chester industrialist, acquired his collection at a time when Japanese art and design began to strongly influence the style of Western artists. His holdings include Japanese carved ivory figures, Chinese carved hardstone vessels, Japanese and Chinese lacquerware and numerous large bronze vases.

Paintings Restored

Thanks to a generous grant from the Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Memorial Fund, the entire Deshong Collection of paintings was restored. The paintings in Deshong's collection reflect his era with genre scenes of contemporary life and romantic glimpses of customs in distant lands. The artists he favored were mostly European, trained in the academies of Germany and Italy.

Not only is Alfred O. Deshong’s extraordinary art collection still a part of the Widener community, but one Deshong family home is now a women’s residence hall. Old Main, which houses Widener's administrative offices, is built on land that once belonged to the Deshong family; in addition, part of the Widener's physical education facilities stand on the site of one of the Deshong's family businesses.

Exhibits Throughout the Year

The Art Gallery exhibits the work of contemporary artists from September through May. 

Admission to the gallery is free. The gallery is handicapped accessible. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Art Gallery & Collection
University Center
1st floor

Widener University
One University Place
Chester, PA 19034
tel: 610-499-1189
fax: 610-499-4425

Rebecca M. Warda
Collections Manager
rmwarda@widener.edu

Hours of Operation
Tuesdays
10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

Wednesdays–Saturdays
10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.