Vaulted Gallery
The Vaulted Gallery, located in the Mary Helen Cochran Library, plays host to exhibits by contemporary artists in mid-career from around the United States, as well as exhibits by Sweet Briar Alumnae, and is an occasional site for senior studio art majors’ solo exhibitions.
Benedict Gallery
Benedict Gallery, located in the lobby of Benedict Hall, is the site of exhibits from within the Sweet Briar community as well as work by Central Virginia regional artists. This gallery also offers an outreach opportunity to area educational programs providing exhibit space for local students and teachers.
Pannell Gallery
The Sweet Briar art collection is housed in the award-winning Anne Gary Pannell Center. Formerly the refectory (dining hall), it is one of the four original campus buildings designed by the firm of Cram Goodhue & Ferguson in 1906. Reflecting the architect’s characteristic historicism, the exterior design is a rare collegiate example of Ralph Adam Cram’s Georgian Revival style. The interior was renovated in 1984 to include climate-controlled display and storage facilities appropriate to the scope and quality of the Sweet Briar art collection.
More than a century after its construction, the building’s graceful facade continues to provide a timeless focal point for the College’s quadrangle, serving as a backdrop for activities such as students’ traditional Step Singing and commencement ceremonies. In 1995, the College’s original core buildings, including Pannell, were named to the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places.
For more information about the building and the campus’s distinctive architecture, see “Dreams and Reality: Sweet Briar College and Ralph Adams Cram” by Aileen H. Laing.
GALLERY |
ACADEMIC YEAR HOURS |
LOCATION |
Vaulted Gallery |
Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm |
Mary Helen Cochran Library |
Benedict Gallery |
Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm |
Benedict Hall |
Pannell Gallery |
Thu, Friday and Sat: 1pm-6pm |
Anne Gary Pannell Center |
In addition to these hours, the galleries may be open during some evenings and weekends for special events and College programs as announced.
Please be aware that the galleries are closed to visitors for all College exam periods and vacations.