Anderson Collection at Stanford University

A free museum of modern and contemporary American art

Open Thu – Mon • 11 am – 5 pm

Erika Chong Shuch: 1,000 Ways to Hold

Now Open:

1,000 Ways to Hold

A new work by Erika Chong Shuch

The culmination of a year-long participatory project by Stanford Arts’ 2025–26 Visiting Artist Erika Chong Shuch, rooted in conversation and clay

The 2026 McMurtry Lecture

Featuring award-winning curator Hamza Walker

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

4059.GUSTON-1979

Explore Our Collection

“Impressive… Contemplative… Distinguished” – LA Times

Susan Rothenberg, Blue U-Turn, 1989, oil on canvas

Spotlight

Experience a focused presentation of the work of celebrated contemporary artist Susan Rothenberg.

Upcoming Programs

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Recent News

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10th-anniversary Anderson Collection exhibition redefines the narrative of contemporary art

Stanford Report | April 21, 2025

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Anderson Collection at Stanford University Celebrates 10 Years

Ennead | October 24, 2024

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Modern and contemporary American art including Martin, Nevelson, Pollock, Rothko, and more. The museum is always free!

The Meticulous Expressionist Born on this day in

The Meticulous Expressionist

Born on this day in 1910, Franz Kline was a titan of Abstract Expressionism, famous for his monumental black-and-white gestural paintings. Kline, a traditionally trained artist, shifted toward massive abstract motifs after his close friend, artist Willem de Kooning, introduced him to a Bell-Opticon projector. When Kline projected a small sketch of a rocking chair onto the wall, the enlarged black forms captivated him, helping shape the bold visual language that defined his breakthrough 1950 exhibition at the Charles Egan Gallery.

He worked to the very end of his life, producing massive, horizontally oriented “wall paintings” in the late 1950s. At the height of his career in 1962, Kline died in New York at age 51 from rheumatic heart disease. His legacy remains inseparable from the rise of the New York School.

As part of our Connecting Collections initiative, we have wall labels dedicated to artists represented in both Cantor’s and Anderson’s permanent collections. We have not one, but two Franz Klines on view. Visit both museums to experience these striking paintings in person.

🖼️Franz Kline, “Hoboken,”1950, Oil on canvas

🖼️Franz Kline, “Figure 8,” 1952, oil on canvas

#FranzKline #HappyBirthdayFranzKline

It's World Goth Day! ⚫ Please enjoy this select

It's World Goth Day! ⚫

Please enjoy this selection of works from the Anderson Collection that personify the goth mood.

🖤Louise Nevelson, “Sky Garden,” 1959-1964, enamel on wood

🖤Vija Celmins, “Barrier,” 1985-1986, oil and wax on linen

🖤Martin Puryear, “Dumb Luck,” 1990, wire mesh, wood, and tar

🖤Donald Sultan, “Street Light, February 7, 1982,” 1982, oil, spackle, and tar on vinyl tile on masonite

🖤Nathan Oliveira, “Stage #2 With Bed,” 1967, oil on canvas

🖤Mark Rothko, “Untitled (Black and Gray),”1969, acrylic on canvas

#WorldGothDay

Drop in, settle down. Drop-In Drawing is happenin

Drop in, settle down.

Drop-In Drawing is happening at the Anderson Collection on May 22.

This free, relaxed drawing session invites visitors of any experience level to experiment with pencils and paper while exploring the collection from a creative perspective.

📝Pencils, paper, and gallery stools provided

📍Meet in the museum lobby

🚫No registration required

♥️Always free. All are welcome.

Art break this week? 🎨 Join us for guided tour

Art break this week? 🎨

Join us for guided tours at the Anderson Collection — whether you want a quick 15-minute deep dive or a full walkthrough of the galleries. As always, we are admission-free, and everyone is welcome.

📍 Meet at the top of the stairs
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Spotlight Tours

📅 Thursday, May 21
🕛 12:00 PM & 12:30 PM

Take a 15-minute spotlight tour focused on one object in the Anderson Collection. New works are featured each week.
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Highlights Tour

📅 Saturday, May 23, 2026
🕧 12:30 PM & 2:30 PM

Explore highlights from the Anderson Collection on a free guided tour of the galleries. No registration required.

Each bowl in Erika Chong Shuch's “1,000 Ways to

Each bowl in Erika Chong Shuch's “1,000 Ways to Hold” carries a story. 📖

Formed during a conversation between two people—often strangers—about what they’ve held, each bowl is embedded with a recorded fragment of that exchange.👥

In the gallery, you become part of the experience: Pick up a bowl, place it on the listening station, and hear it come to life.🎶

Watch the video to see how it works.📽️

Do You Know Your Herstory?📚 Long overshadowed

Do You Know Your Herstory?📚

Long overshadowed by the movement’s “macho male painters,” artists such as Helen Frankenthaler, Jay DeFeo, Joan Mitchell, and Louise Nevelson were just as central to the development of Abstract Expressionism, bringing new techniques, materials, and ideas, helping redefine art history. Even today, their work still feels fresh, fearless, and powerful!

🎨Helen Frankenthaler, "Approach," 1962, oil on canvas.

🎨Louise Nevelson, "Sky Garden," 1959-1964, enamel on wood.

🎨Joan Mitchell, "Before, Again IV," 1985, oil on canvas.

🎨Jay DeFeo, "Summer Image (For My Mother)," 1983, oil and acrylic on paper.

#AbstractExpressionism #WomenInArt

Make the Anderson Collection your home away from h

Make the Anderson Collection your home away from home.🏡

International Museum Day is this Monday, May 18. Admission is free all day — and always — so spend your Monday with us. 🙌

🖼️Tony Berlant, “Dutch Landscape,” 1986, metal on plywood

#InternationalMuseumDay
#AndersonCollection

Heads up! 💜 BTS is coming to Stanford Stadium t

Heads up! 💜 BTS is coming to Stanford Stadium this weekend, which means traffic and parking around campus will be limited on May 16 & 17.

We’ll be open all weekend long and would love to see you! We recommend taking public transportation, biking, or walking if possible.

Getting here: @gocaltrain, bike, or walk 🚆🚲

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