mission statement

“To enhance our legacy of personalized visual arts education, outstanding art exhibitions, and children’s community outreach.”

Greenwich Art Society

The Ochtmans discuss painting circa 1912

Image courtesy of the Greenwich Historical Society

Greenwich Art Society Exhibition

Greenwich Art Society Exhibition at the Bruce Museum circa 1917

Image courtesy of the Greenwich Historical Society

Sketching in the Ravine

Ochtmans painting en Plein Air Cos Cob, CT

Image courtesy of the Greenwich Historical Society

The father studies landscape and the daughter "Still Life."

Ochtmans studying paintings.

Image courtesy of the Greenwich Historical Society

HISTORY

Known originally as The Greenwich Society of Artists, an offshoot of the Cos Cob Art Colony, the group was officially established in 1912 at the prompting of one its Greenwich patrons at the time, Louisine Havemeyer. It is one of the oldest arts organizations in Connecticut (and the oldest in Greenwich.) Our founders were pioneer members of the Cos Cob Colony of the American Impressionists. Our first president was Edward Clark Potter, sculptor of the lions at the New York Public Library. Early members include Leonard Ochtman, Elmer MacRae, George Wharton Edwards, J. Alden Twachtman (son of John Henry Twachtman) and many other distinguished artists and art patrons.

Exhibitions of the Society were held in the hilltop house donated to the town by Robert M. Bruce, when it became the Bruce Museum, which held its very first exhibition in 1912 of the Greenwich Society of Artists. In 1928 the prestigious Annual Members' Exhibition moved to the Flinn Gallery of the Greenwich Library.

The Greenwich Art Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

STUDIO SCHOOL and name change

The Greenwich Art Society assumed its present name in 1958 when it incorporated as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization and initiated year-round art classes with professional teachers for both children and adults. Today our Studio School offers students at all skill levels – beginner, intermediate and advanced – classes in drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking. Adult student enrollment tops 300 per year. All classes (save those en plein air) take place in our fully equipped teaching studio on the third floor of the Senior/Arts Center on Greenwich Avenue. We hold classes mornings, afternoons and evenings every day except Sundays and holidays. Our weekly classes are organized into fall, winter, spring and summer terms. Classes last from 1 hour for children to 2- to 3 hours for adults.

GALLERY AND EXHIBITIONS

The Greenwich Art Society Gallery is located on the second floor of the Senior/Arts Center at 299 Greenwich Ave. and showcases exhibitions of works by members, faculty, students and other selected artists. We currently present annual exhibitions in the Bendheim Gallery of the Greenwich Arts Council, the Flinn Gallery of the Greenwich Library, and other local venues. Past venues have included the Gertrude White Gallery of the Greenwich YWCA and at the Garden Education Center of Greenwich and the Nathaniel Witherell Home. Cash prizes are awarded at all major shows.

GALLERY TRIPS

Periodically our students and faculty organize informal trips to New York to visit art galleries and special museum exhibitions