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About the Islip Art Museum

A brief History of the Islip Art Museum


In the early 70’s, the Islip Art Museum was initially the Islip Art Gallery. Founded by Elizabeth Vaughn, an art patron from Islip, the original institution was located in a crumbling gate house at the entrance of Brookwood Hall. The gallery featured changing exhibits of contemporary art by Long Island artists, presented with a high level of artistic excellence and professionalism. After the gate house burned, the gallery moved to the south wing of the Brookwood Hall mansion where it is still housed today.

The Islip Art Museum in its current incarnation was created in 1985 in partnerhsip with the Town of Islip. It is currently the leading exhibition space for contemporary art on Long Island. The New York Times has called the Museum the"best facility of its kind outside Manhattan." An ambitious exhibition program features contemporary art by national and international artists, as well as emerging artists from local communities.

The Museum presents a number of exhibitions each year in the galleries of the Brookwood Hall mansion, a landmark estate on Long Island's south shore. Exhibitions are organized to reflect issues and concerns in the current art world. Through its unique Open Call program, IAM invites artists to submit work to an independent curator to consider for inclusion in an annual themed show. This once-a-year event is a showcase for new talent in the tri-state area.

The Museum maintains a growing Permanent Collection of works by leading contemporary artists, with a focus on those with ties to Long Island. IAM also presents lectures, workshops, and tours for all age groups.

Islip Art Museum is a division of the Town of Islip Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and is managed by the Islip Arts Council, a non-profit arts agency with offices in the Brookwood Hall complex.





a day at The Museum / UNAVAILABLE


Spend the day at the Islip Art Museum and create art based on the current exhibit. This is a collaborative program with the Museum and local high schools. Islip Art Museum will provide a guided tour for students and teachers, along with the classroom space required for completion of a project. High school teachers will visit the Museum prior to the field trip to develop a lesson to be incorporated into the school visit. Individual schools will provide materials for projects.




The Museum Gift Shop




The Museum Gift Shop and the Museum have been closed since April 2020.