When CT State Norwalk students walk across campus, they are surrounded not only by books and classrooms, but also by original works of art. Since 1972, the college has displayed a permanent collection that turns ordinary hallways into gallery space for students and visitors.

The collection began with the vision of artist and longtime professor Ann Chernow, who wanted students to experience art as part of their daily lives on campus. Over time, the collection expanded to include more than 800 prints, drawings, paintings, and photographs by notable artists of the twentieth century, including Joan Miró, Christo, and Alexander Calder. Today, it is considered one of the most significant permanent art holdings at any community college in the country.

In 2018, the college renamed the collection in Chernow’s honor, a tribute to her decades of dedication to art and education “Ann started this collection because she felt students were often intimidated by museums,” said NCC Art Professor Joe Fucigna, “She wanted art to be part of their daily lives.”

From the West Campus atrium to the third floor of East Campus, students and guests encounter original works of art in the same spaces where they carry textbooks, open laptops, and prepare for class. The collection serves as a daily reminder that education takes place in many forms, and that inspiration can be found in unexpected places.