Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art (SDMA)

Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art (SDMA) http://newpaltz.edu/museum

https://www.instagram.com/dorskymuseum/

The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at the State University of New York at New Paltz (The Dorsky) is located at the center of the SUNY New Paltz campus. It is one of the largest museums in the SUNY system, with more than 9,000 square feet of exhibition space distributed over six galleries. Through its collections, exhibitions, and public programs, the Dorsky supports and enriches the academic programs

at the college, presents a broad range of world art for study and enjoyment, and serves as a center for Hudson Valley arts and culture. The Dorsky's permanent collection comprises more than 5,000 works of art, with areas of focus that include American Art, with an emphasis on the Hudson Valley and Catskill Regions, 19th, 20th and 21st century photography and metals. A small but excellent "world collection" of art and artifacts dating back to ancient times and representing diverse cultures enhances the museum's exhibitions and educational programs. The Dorsky's temporary exhibition program includes exhibitions drawn from the museum's collection as well as exhibitions, installations, and projects by nationally and internationally recognized artists. Each summer the Museum sponsors thematic exhibitions of work by Hudson Valley artists, featuring works by artists living in the mid-Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountain regions.

R. B. Kitaj, "O'Neill," 1969–70Before he was a painter, Kitaj went to sea. In the late 1940s, after high school in Troy,...
06/18/2026

R. B. Kitaj, "O'Neill," 1969–70

Before he was a painter, Kitaj went to sea. In the late 1940s, after high school in Troy, New York, he worked as a merchant seaman, an experience that resurfaces again and again across this portfolio. "John Ford's four-star version of Long Voyage Home gave me a dream of seagoing that happened for real," he recalled years later. "The Moon of the Caribbees was out there, just like in this print, during my sailor youth."

The cover of a book of Eugene O'Neill's sea plays, turned back into a memory of open water.

On view in "In Our Time: R. B. Kitaj and Books" through November 8, 2026

Pictured: R. B. Kitaj, O'Neill (from the portfolio In Our Time), 1969–70. Photo: Robert Hansen-Sturm. © R. B. Kitaj Estate, courtesy of PIANO NOBILE, London

Opening June 17"In Our Time: R. B. Kitaj and Books" presents Kitaj's complete 1969–70 portfolio of fifty silkscreen prin...
06/01/2026

Opening June 17

"In Our Time: R. B. Kitaj and Books" presents Kitaj's complete 1969–70 portfolio of fifty silkscreen prints based on books and printed materials from the artist's personal library.

Drawn from the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art collection, the works reveal connections between art, literature, politics, history, and personal memory. Included as a coda to the exhibition is "Forced Omission", a series of paintings by Hudson Valley-based contemporary artist Daria Irincheeva.

Guest curated by Reva Wolf in collaboration with students from her Fall 2025 course, Printmaking, Books, and R. B. Kitaj.

June 17–November 8, 2026

Tomorrow in Kingston.Join us for “Watts per Lumen: A Conversation on the Social and Sensory Perceptions That Light Media...
05/19/2026

Tomorrow in Kingston.

Join us for “Watts per Lumen: A Conversation on the Social and Sensory Perceptions That Light Mediates,” an offsite public program presented in collaboration with Chronogram and Lite Brite Neon Studio.

Artists Glenn Ligon, Rob Pruitt, LJ Roberts, and Erika deVries join curator Sophie Landres and Lite Brite Neon Studio Co-Director matteline deVries-dilling for a conversation exploring light as material, media, perception, and social force.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026
6–8 PM
The Fuller Building, Kingston, NY

Free admission with RSVP. Link in bio.

Image: Glenn Ligon, "Double Mirror", 2015, © Glenn Ligon; courtesy of the artist, Hauser & Wirth, and Thomas Dane Gallery.

Mary Weatherford�“The Wind and the Sail,” 2023While driving through Bakersfield, California, Mary Weatherford became fas...
04/23/2026

Mary Weatherford�“The Wind and the Sail,” 2023

While driving through Bakersfield, California, Mary Weatherford became fascinated by the city’s flickering neon signs, both illuminated and burnt out. She began incorporating neon into her paintings as a gestural element, using electric light the way another painter might use a brushstroke.

In “The Wind and the Sail,” light and painted color begin to shift together as the eye adjusts.

On view in “Watts per Lumen” through July 12, 2026

Courtesy the artist and Gagosian

Nicholas Galanin“Neon American Anthem (red)”Watts Per Lumenthrough July 12, 2026
04/09/2026

Nicholas Galanin
“Neon American Anthem (red)”

Watts Per Lumen

through July 12, 2026

Closing Day Walkthrough with ArtistsHudson Valley Artists: Terrestrial ExtraThank you to the many artists who joined us ...
04/02/2026

Closing Day Walkthrough with Artists
Hudson Valley Artists: Terrestrial Extra

Thank you to the many artists who joined us on the final day of 'Terrestrial Extra', offering insight into their work and the ideas behind the exhibition.

With nearly all of the exhibiting artists present, the walkthrough created a rare opportunity to experience the show through the perspectives of those who made it.

Thank you as well to everyone who came out to spend the afternoon with us.

Address

1 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, NY
12561

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+18452573844

Website

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