David Winton Bell Gallery, Providence

The David Winton Bell Gallery is Brown University’s contemporary art space, housed in the Albert and Vera List Art Building. Named in memory of alumnus David Winton Bell, it opened in 1971 as part of a five-story concrete arts center designed by American architect Philip Johnson. The building also contains studios, classrooms and lecture spaces, placing the gallery within an active academic setting.

Its exhibition program focuses on new commissions and projects by emerging or underrecognized artists. Displays often connect visual art with subjects explored across the university and may be accompanied by performances, public conversations, artist residencies, symposia and publications. Student exhibitions also present painting, sculpture, photography, video and other work created within the campus community.

The permanent collection contains more than 7,000 works dating from the 16th century to the present. It is especially strong in 20th- and 21st-century works on paper, including prints, drawings and photography. Artists represented include Rembrandt, Francisco Goya, Käthe Kollwitz, Andy Warhol, Walker Evans and Deana Lawson. Notable holdings also include Lee Bontecou’s sculptural relief Untitled and Frank Stella’s painting Blue Horizon.