Susan and Stephanie Amster are twin sisters who spent more than 65 years collecting original artwork from artists around the world. Their collection, more than 150 pieces gathered over a lifetime of looking, traveling, and believing in the power of art, reflects a shared conviction that creative work deserves to be seen, supported, and passed on.

When the time came to find a permanent home for that collection, Susan and Stephanie chose to donate it in support of arts education and access to the arts. The sale of their collection funded Tandem Arts Partnership, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing arts access to underserved communities. A selection of works from the collection remains available for purchase in the Amster Art Gallery. To learn more about Tandem Arts Partnership and the work they do, visit tandemarts.org.

Susan has written about her philosophy of creative living - the idea that making art visible is itself an act of generosity. Her hope has always been that the collection would go on to enrich the lives of people who might not otherwise have access to the arts. That hope is alive in every show, every class, and every artist who walks through our doors.

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"My hope and goal is that our art collection be donated to aid in the furtherance of quality art involvement to enrich the lives of the future." — Susan Amster