The Gordon & Dorothy Carlson Collection

Whitworth alumni Gordon '50 and Dorothy (Leavens) '49 Carlson were instrumental in establishing Whitworth's art collection. The Carlsons first donated art to Whitworth's permanent art collection in the early 1970s, and their additions to the collection year by year filled it with vibrancy. Throughout their lifetime, the Carlsons donated more than 65 artworks to Whitworth. The Carlsons' additions to Whitworth's art collection included a large variety of art by artists of diverse backgrounds, some with controversial ideas and styles. Their intention was that Whitworth's students would be exposed to different kinds of art than they might otherwise be.

During the Carlsons' most active collecting years, they befriended many artists in the relatively intimate arts community of the Puget Sound region. Their foresight resulted in the addition of a significant number of important Pacific Northwest works to Whitworth's holdings, now the core of Whitworth's Pacific Northwest art collection.

• The Carlson biography is available here.
• Carlson Commemoration: Fall 2024-Fall 2025
• View the Carlson Collection here.
• View Whitworth's Pacific Northwest art collection here.