Burchfield Penney Collects Buffalo State

New York Collects Buffalo State illustrated a legacy of artists associated with Buffalo State College. The exhibition celebrated the achievements of alumni artists with more than 170 works by 93 artists who were selected from more than 10,000 alumni of the college’s visual arts programs. Some of the exhibition’s nationally renowned artists include Edwin Dickinson, AP Gorny, Sylvia Hyman, G. Peter Jemison, Robert Longo, Joseph Piccillo, Cindy Sherman, and Bill Stewart. All works selected for the exhibition supported its organizing concept—to examine the impact Buffalo State has had on the art world.

More than 100 lenders participated. Works were lent by public and private collections throughout New York State, including the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University, Fenimore Art Museum of the New York State Historical Association, Grey Art Gallery of New York University, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Arts & Design, National Academy of Design, The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts of St. Bonaventure University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art of the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. The exhibition was curated by former Assistant Professor Diane Koeppel and graduate students from the college’s art education department.

A 16-page catalog coincided with the exhibition’s opening and a larger catalog published later included biographical information about each artist, a color illustration of one of his or her works. In addition, an array of educational programs, interactive displays and teaching aids were offered throughout the summer and early autumn. This exhibition was possible through the support of Muriel A. Howard, Ph.D. Buffalo State College, and Emile C. Netzhammer III, Ph.D., Dean of Arts and Humanities, as well as other generous donors.