The Powerful Vision Behind the Samuel G. Rose '58 Art Collection
A sculpture by world-renowned artist Niki de Saint Phalle (far left) overlooks the future site of the Jim Thorpe Center for the Futures of Native Peoples and the Samuel G. Rose '58 Art Gallery. Photo by Dan Loh.
Video by Joe O'Neill, story by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson
New collection illuminates Native cultures, experiences
Dickinson recently hosted a ceremony to celebrate the college’s Samuel G. Rose ’58 Art Collection, the forthcoming Samuel G. Rose ’58 Art Gallery and the visionary alumnus bringing those state-of-the-art resources to life.
That man is Sam Rose '58, a noted businessman and philanthropist who has donated roughly 180 artworks from his remarkable personal collection to Dickinson. He’s also provided funding to construct a world-class art gallery to house those works, as well as for the forthcoming Jim Thorpe Center for the Futures of Native Peoples, which will serve as a new on-campus home for the Center for the Futures of Native Peoples (CFNP).
Both the art gallery and Jim Thorpe Center are designed to become national destinations for those wishing to learn about and celebrate Native cultures, histories and art.
Native and world-renowned art
During the May 6 ceremony, Amanda Cheromiah, director of the CFNP, spoke about the cultural and historical significance of the construction site, and Betsy Broun, director emerita of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, described Rose as a savvy art collector, masterful communicator and impactful humanitarian.
Shannon Egan, executive director of Dickinson galleries, illuminated highlights from the Rose collection: the glimmering statue La Lune by world-renowned French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle, a painting by the Native artist collective Artist Hopid and a work from Alaska Native Nicholas Galanin’s evocative series Architecture of Return.
Catalysts for understanding
Betsy Broun, director emerita of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, chats with Sam Rose '58 during an on-campus celebration in Rose's honor. Photo by Dan Loh.
Renée Cramer, provost and dean of the college, reflected on the ways that the art collection supports the academic mission of the college by meaningfully enhancing interdisciplinary teaching and learning in the arts, social sciences, cultural studies, environmental science and other disciplines.
In part, that’s because the works in the Rose collection reach into and reflect the collector's consequential passions and values. As Egan noted, Rose's commitment to education, philanthropy, environmentalism, social justice, building community and personal connection shine through the collection as clearly as his love of vibrant color.
Because of this, the collection provides fruitful avenues to engage with vital contemporary issues, added Braun, who collaborated with Rose on a Smithsonian exhibition representing his personal collection. “Sam Rose spots an opportunity and creates something absolutely wonderful. His example inspires us to rise up,” Braun said.
‘Expanding what’s possible’
President John Jones ’77, P’11 closed the ceremony with reflections on the far-reaching effects of this extraordinary legacy.
“By acquiring more than 150 works by celebrated Native American artists alongside historical pieces that help us better understand the Native American experience, Sam has once again expanded what is possible at Dickinson,” Jones said. “He is not only building a home for world-class art but opening minds, inviting new communities into our campus and changing how our students learn and see and engage with the world.”
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Published May 11, 2026