Henry Art Gallery

The Henry is a museum for contemporary art and ideas, dedicated to engaging all people in the transformative power of contemporary art and ideas. As the only museum for contemporary art in our region, we are internationally recognized for our groundbreaking exhibitions, commitment to artistic innovation, and community outreach.

Our Mission and Vision

Our mission is to engage all people in the transformative power of contemporary art and ideas. Our vision is to create a world where art leads everyone to discover new possibilities in themselves, others, and the world around them.

Our Collection

The Henry's permanent collection includes both historical and contemporary artworks, collected since the museum's inception in 1926. Our collection now contains more than 28,000 works of art and is a significant cultural resource available to scholars, researchers, and the general public through the Eleanor Henry Reed Collection Study Center-the only facility of its kind in the region.

Our Values

At the Henry, we value collaboration across departments, across campus, and with peers and community partners. We are committed to taking risks with our programming and to a high level of accountability with our finances and operations. We believe that openness to uncertain outcomes provides a supportive place for artists, leading to innovation and discovery.

Land Acknowledgement

We at the Henry Art Gallery live and work on the unceded ancestral lands of the Coast Salish peoples, and the shared waters of all tribes and bands, named and unnamed, including Suquamish, Duwamish, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot nations. The land acknowledgement reminds us of our connections, indebtedness, and responsibilities to the peoples and the more-than-human kin where we live and work. We invite you to join us in paying respects to elders past, present, and future and to consider what paying those respects means within the work that we do as individuals and within institutional frameworks.

Our Commitment to Equity

The Henry acknowledges the historical structures and social dynamics that have continuously oppressed communities of color, and we acknowledge our part in institutional racism. We are actively committed to racial equity and to building a strong foundation of inclusivity and awareness in all we do. We value discourse that brings forward voices and positions that have been-and continue to be-oppressed. We do not tolerate hate speech or actions. We recognize that we are in the process of embodying these values across our exhibitions, programs, and operations; this is our ongoing work.

Strategic Goals

Our priorities and focus are driven by four strategic goals:

• Centering Art & Artists
• Amplifying Diverse Voices & Ideas
• Activating the Henry as a Vibrant Destination
• Engaging & Expanding our Audiences

Henry History

The Henry was founded in 1926 as Washington State's first art museum by Seattle entrepreneur Horace C. Henry on the principle that art stimulates inquiry, fosters knowledge, and builds a healthy community. Henry donated the collection he built with his late wife Susan of 178 works of art, along with funds for construction. The Henry Art Gallery opened to the public on February 10, 1927. From its earliest days, the Henry has been the first in the region to showcase world-renowned contemporary artists, and first in the field to champion emerging talent and premiere new works by established artists.