Lamont Gallery Collection - Phillips Exeter Academy

Although Lamont Gallery is not officially a collecting gallery, we have a small permanent collection that includes paintings, prints, outdoor sculpture, and ethnographic objects.

The collection is housed at the gallery and in buildings across campus. Select pieces are on loan to other institutions.

The collection includes several paintings by Diego Rivera, four large-scale metal sculptures by Gerald Laing, John James Audubon prints, a painting by George Inness, work by Maud Morgan, and photographs by Yousuf Karsh.

Portrait of Irene Estrella by Diego Rivera

Painted on canvas and at a small scale, Irene Estrella is not what one would expect to see from Diego Rivera, due to his reputation as a communist political figure, notoriety for his politically charged, large-scale murals, and tendency to represent groups, rather than individuals. Rivera creates a unique intimacy, which is not present in his murals, by capturing this individual child in the midst of play in Irene Estrella. Irene’s gaze unflinchingly locks with the viewer, a yellow block poised midway to her mouth in her round fingers.

Mystery surrounds Irene Estrella though– who commissioned this work? What is this child’s connection to the artist? Moreover, the sitter for the portrait, Irene Estrella, would be her in her early 70’s. Who is she and what is her story?

Irene Estrella, 1946.
Oil on canvas
Gift of Corliss Lamont ’20, a friend of the artist

From 1954 to 1979, this work of art was here at Phillips Exeter Academy – from the walls of the Lamont Gallery to residing in faculty residences in the dorms. In 1979, it left the gallery to travel beyond PEA, Exeter, and New Hampshire. The painting traveled from Detroit to London with many stops in between. After its global adventure, the painting quietly settled into the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

It stayed there until it resurfaced in the fall of 2014, thanks to consistent inquiry and a persistent intern. From the spring of 2014 until the fall 2015 this painting was included in a major retrospective of the work of Henri Rousseau at the Palazzo Ducale in Venice, Italy.

In September 2015, Irene Estrella arrived on campus for the first time in 36 years. This piece was included in our Hidden Treasures exhibition and was welcomed back to campus by many students, employees, and public visitors. There were even a few former faculty members who came to share their stories of how this painting intersected with their lives.

In March 2016, Irene Estrella once again left the Lamont Gallery and traveled to the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, France where it remained on view through July of 2016.

See the Time Line of how Irene Estrella found her way to Exeter – from 1945-2016.

Check out the article in the Art Guide about this portrait.

Research on Irene Estrella and timeline created by Olivia Knauss, Education and Collections Intern, Lamont Gallery 2015-2016

Gerald Laing Sculptures

Gerald Laing (1936 – 2011) was a British artist who lived in New York in the 1960’s. He worked closely with artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein and is considered to be a significant part of the British Pop art movement.

Laing moved to Northern Scotland in 1969 and it was during this transition that he created the four abstract sculptures that are in the Lamont Gallery collection. Three of these sculptures – Milbuie, Torgorm and Scatwell – are named forlocations in Scotland.

According to Laing, “The four sculptures, made in the Highlands in 1969-1970, are developed from the last phase of my work before I left New York, but are larger, stronger and more roughly made in response to the new environment of the Scottish Highlands. They were, in other words, a response to the landscape and intended to be sited in the landscape.”

During the 1970’s Laing shifted his focus to sculpting the human figure and continued with this subject matter for many years. Some of his most notable public works include Axis Mundi: 5 Wise Virgins – Their Apotheosis and Sherlock Holmes a memorial to Sir Arthur Conan both in Kinkell, Scotland. Laing eventually returned to painting shortly before his death in 2011. More information, and an extensive collection of Laing’s work can be found on his website.

Sculptures on Campus

The four Gerald Laing sculptures on campus were gifted to the Lamont Gallery in December 1991 by Ken Wilson ‘65. In April of 2015, Milbuie, Torgorm, Big Trace, and Scatwell were removed from campus for conservation. The works were conserved and re-installed between 2016 and 2018 thanks to a generous donation by Mr. Wilson ‘65.

Milbuie, 1969-1970
Painted steel
6 units each 12′ long

Milbuie, is the Lamont Gallery’s most visible sculpture by Gerald Laing. Named after the Scottish Highlands’ mountain, “Mill Buie”, this sculpture with its repeating red “peaks” welcomes visitors as they walk across the Academy Lawn toward the Lamont Gallery entrance.

Torgorm, 1969
Painted steel
2 units 10’ high

This sculpture was originally placed at the southeast entrance of Phillips Hall since the “arches echo the windows of Phillips Hall and Wheelwright.” In 2018, Torgorm was installed in the gardens located behind the Phelps Science Center.

Scatwell, 1970
Painted steel
24’ long

Scatwell is made up of “a large pair of bright yellow curves formed by two 5’x2’ steel beams which bend into two 12’ long beams cantilevered off a base.” In 2016 Scatwell was installed on the lawn in front of the Love Gymnasium.

Big Trace, 1969
Painted steel
14’ high

This piece is similar to some of the drawings and prints that Laing created while working in New York before moving to Scotland.

In 2016 Big Trace was installed on the grounds of the Saltonstall house.

Sources: Gerald Laing website and original artist statement from Lamont Gallery archives.

Image credit: Photo of Gerald Laing by Chris Jackson, Getty Images Europe.

Self-Guided Sculpture Tour

Take a walk and learn more about these sculptures with this self-guided tour and map.

Sculpture Coloring Pages

Let’s face it… we all love coloring! Now you can add your own artistic touch to these sculptures with our coloring pages.

Lamont Gallery programs are supported in part by the Michael C. Rockefeller ’56 Visiting Artists Fund.