Collections

Bequeathed by alumnae Dr. Cheryl Olkes ’70 and gifted by Vivian Lowery Derryck ‘67, Chatham’s magnificent Olkes and Derryck Collections contain more than 800 works of African art. Chatham University also houses works from historic and contemporary Pittsburgh artists.

Cheryl Olkes ‘70 Collection

Cheryl Olkes graduated from Chatham College in 1970 after four years that she described as among the happiest in her life. Olkes began to collect African art in Africa in 1977. Well prepared by Chatham’s broad liberal arts curriculum, she then developed connections with African traders, dealers, and collectors in the US and continued to build her collection until her death in 1998. While the Olkes Collection at Chatham University features many works we easily recognize as African art, Olkes was particularly drawn to objects of practical use, such as chairs, stools, spoons, and looms, to musical instruments, and to small figural forms that Westerners might describe as “dolls,” but have much greater meaning related to motherhood, fertility, and marriage among many traditional African cultures.
The Olkes Collection was bequeathed to the University in 2001 by alumna Dr. Cheryl Olkes ‘70. It includes more than 600 objects primarily from sub-Sahara Africa. The works span West, Central, and East Africa, with concentrations in the art of cultures from current-day Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It includes sculpture, masks, musical instruments, jewelry, and other objects of adornment. Current and past exhibitions examine divination, women in West African art, and how to look at African art.

Vivian Lowery Derryck ‘67 Collection

Vivian Lowery Derryck is the founder and president emerita of the Bridges Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening African governance and democracy. Her work has been recognized with numerous honors and awards, including selection as a Purpose Prize Fellow, the African Union’s African Women of Excellence Award, Guggenheim Humanitarian Award, NCNW Martin Luther King Service Award, and a UNICEF Achievement Award.
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The Derryck Collection was donated in 2024 by alumna Vivian Lowery Derryck ‘67, containing over 200 art objects from a breadth of African cultures. There is a concentration of works from West Africa, primarily cultures in Mali, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Democratic Republic of Congo. The works in the collection span from the 19th century to the contemporary, including artists from the Oshogbo School in Oshogbo, Nigeria.

Students & The Collections

Art History and Museum Studies students have unique opportunities to research, preserve, exhibit, and program the Olkes and Derryck Collections. Additionally, students can work with Chatham University’s Collection of eighteenth to twenty-first century prints, paintings, and sculpture by historic and contemporary Pittsburgh artists. Over the years, students have gained hands-on gallery experience, working directly with objects and artists to install exhibitions, appraise works, and market gallery events.

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The Student Experience:

“Working with the collection was a very helpful experience in my research as I got to examine artworks in detail that I wouldn’t be able to see elsewhere. Having that opportunity significantly deepened my understanding of both the purpose of the artwork as well as the culture behind it.”

— Matthew Ostapenko SP‘27, Intro. to Art Museum Studies Student

“My internship experience as a gallery assistant at the Susan B. Gurrentz '56 Gallery has taught me how to inventory and organize permanent collections, how to handle and store artworks, and how to install and de-install exhibitions and package artwork. It has been an honor to work with the African Art collection, which has taught me about the iconography and history behind numerous authentic artworks, instilling a newfound appreciation for this collection.”

— Carmen Shuru FA‘25, Gallery Assistant Intern

“Working with Chatham's African art collections has provided me with foundational skills in art handling, collection management, and curatorial scholarship. By engaging closely with the collections through coursework, independent study opportunities, and more, I have gained valuable professional experience that I have been able to bring with me outside of the classroom — preparing me for internships, graduate studies, and employment in the field.”