The Gund

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About The Gund

We are a teaching museum that connects people with art and artists, new ideas, and each other.

Today, The Gund Is Far More than a Gallery

“The Gund Gallery” began in 2011 as a place to teach, learn, and experience modern and contemporary art at Kenyon College. Over the last 12 years, our vision for connecting people to art, artists, new ideas, and each other has expanded exponentially. The decision to drop “Gallery” from our name is both practical and conceptual: we offer far more programming than a traditional gallery space and nurture a porous relationship to our campus, our community, and the world beyond our walls.

While our building is an architectural destination itself, we are far more than a place to view art. Today, we are a teaching museum—open to all; a creative hub for collective experiences and academic inquiry. Through new and evolving initiatives like the Student Associates program and The Annex in the heart of Mount Vernon, we champion art as a catalyst for self-discovery and crucial community dialogue.

About the Gund

We believe in expanding the museum's role as a nexus of connection, critical learning, and collective imagination. Our growing collection of more than 450 modern and contemporary works spans a range of mediums, narratives, and voices. Through high-quality exhibitions and programming within and beyond our campus, we invite a deeper understanding of ourselves and our society among Kenyon students and the broader community. Along with the Kenyon Review and Kenyon’s Philander Chase Conservancy land trust, The Gund champions the power of art as an agent of change and the college’s vital role in stewarding our local environment as a place to learn, live and grow together.

The Gund is a member of the Ohio Arts Council, the American Alliance of Museums, and W.A.G.E. (Working Artists in the Greater Economy).

The Building

Our institution and main office and gallery space is named for Graham Gund ‘63, a celebrated architect, art collector, and philanthropist who designed the 31,000-square-foot, LEED-certified building. A gift of 80 modern and contemporary works from Gund and his wife, Ann Gund, seeded our growing permanent collection. Their family continues to support the expansion of our collection with enthusiasm and great care.

Funding

The Gund is Kenyon College’s teaching art museum but operates as a separate 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We receive funding and support from the College, our Board of Directors, and the Ohio Arts Council, in addition to annual gifts and project sponsorship from private individuals and foundations.

A Message From Daisy Desrosiers

Director & Chief Curator

“For me, museums and galleries are extraordinary spaces to foster curiosity toward new ideas, people, and experiences, generate knowledge production, and redefine notions of hospitality. I’m inspired and look forward to the creative and collaborative work ahead of us.”

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Who is Graham Gund?

Alumnus and Architect of The Gund

Graham Gund ‘63 is an award-winning American architect, art patron, and philanthropist. In 2011, he and his wife gifted 80 works from their renowned contemporary art collection to help establish The Gund as a beacon of the arts in rural Ohio.

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Board of Directors

The Gund operates as a separate 501(c)3 organization from Kenyon College, and our board provides insight and support essential to the health of our institution. In partnership with our Director and Chief Curator, this rotating group of Kenyon parents, alum, and art advocates serves as trusted advisors and allies in our work by offering a range of perspectives, expertise, and connections in service to our vision.

2023-2024 The Gund Board of Directors

JULIE KORNFELD
President, Kenyon College (ex officio)

AILEEN C. HEFFERREN '88, H'12
Chair, Kenyon College Board of Trustees (ex officio)

PAUL J. GOLDBERGER P'04, H'05

GREGORY V. GOODING '83
Treasurer

GRAHAM GUND '63, H'81

PAMELA HOEHN-SARIC '80, P'10, '14
Chair

DAVID HORVITZ '74, H'98

GILBERT C. MEISTER JR. '74

DAN PATTERSON '74

RON PIZZUTI P'98

LISA BETSON RESNIK '89
Secretary

MARK ROSENTHAL '73, H'98

TIMOTHY WHEALON '88

DAISY DESROSIERS
Director and Chief Curator, The Gund

SAMIE FALVEY '96

halley k harrisburg P'24

KIM DAVIDSON '18

STEWART PECK '74

History of The Gund

2011
The Graham Gund Gallery opens

2015
The Gund Gallery becomes a collecting institution

2016
The Gund Gallery turns 5

2021
Daisy Desrosiers appointed Director and Chief Curator
The Gund Gallery turns 10

2023
We re-brand as The Gund
The Gund launches The Annex, a satellite space in downtown Mount Vernon