The Gallery was named after Albright trustee and alumna, Doris Chanin Freedman.

On October 31, 1976, the Freedman Gallery was built in a facility forming part of the Campus Center. Perspective was the inaugural exhibit and included works by Jim Dine, Sam Fransic, Nancy Grossman, Al Heid, Robert Morris, Louise Nevelson, and Frank Stella.

Finally in the late 1980s there was a need for more space. In 1990, construction began on a new facility for the Center of the Arts.

It was a $6.5 million project that included a new gallery space with more storage, and new facilities for the music, theater and studio programs. With the assistance of a major National Endowment for the Arts grant, the architect, Adele Santos, collaborated with sculptor Mary Miss to create the a central plaza/amphitheater area linking the three entities.

"Art is one way to sensitize people to their humanity."
-Doris Chanin Freedman

Doris Chanin Freedman
1928-1981

In 1975, Doris Freedman responded to the College's capital campaign and pledged a major donation towards creating an exhibition space on campus. A proviso of her gift was "..that the works exhibited be of consistent highest quality and that [the program] represents, primarily, living American contemporary artists. I believe that is in keeping with the goals of the art department and the school."

Doris Freedman graduated from Albright College in 1950. Her undergraduate studies focused primarily on sociology and she later earned a masters degree in social work from Columbia University. She later focused her attention towards culture and, in particular, the arts.

Freedman was the first director of New York City's Department of Cultural Affairs, president of City Walls, and founder of the Public Art Fund. Each of these organizations focused on making the arts more accessible to the general public.

Doris Freedman's name has become synonymous to philanthropy and advocacy to the arts. It is to her testament that the Gallery has become one of the most widely known college galleries in the country.