Native American Art

Purchased from Sotheby's Fine American Indian Art (May 26, 1999: lot 452)

Dr. Deane Penn (1941-2021) was born in NYC and educated at the Horace Mann School, where he learned to appreciate diverse cultures. He was a Renaissance man. A graduate of Cornell University, he earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee, his internship from the University of California, and his fellowship in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology from Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. He founded a successful Gastroenterology practice in Fort Lee, NJ and became chief of Gastroenterology at Holy Name Hospital. Deane was respected for his calm and supportive bedside manner; patients sought his diagnostic acumen and compassionate care. He was an innovator, with a holistic approach to health care and a philanthropist, who gave back to his community by serving on several non-profit boards. 

Deane was a life-long learner, with a passion for Native American cultures. Together with his wife Susan, they became esteemed collectors of historic and contemporary Native American art, traveling annually to Santa Fe and touring Indian reservations. Deane and Susan purchased a home in Scottsdale, Arizona. For thirty years, they studied Native American culture and took a deep dive into the collecting of significant pieces. They attended lectures at the Heard Museum, visited trading posts, and educated themselves in not just the artistry, but also the motivations behind the work they collected. Deane became an expert in weavings and met with weavers, to better understand their craft. They both enjoyed cultivating relationships with prominent and emerging artists, gallery owners, other collectors, and various museums and institutions throughout the Southwest. 

Susan is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Psychology and an MBA in finance and marketing from Columbia University. She took pleasure in browsing Indian markets in Scottsdale and Santa Fe, looking for fanciful and fun glass creations. She met with potters and delighted in discussing their creative process. As a student of religion, Susan became fascinated with the spirituality of Native Americans and how their beliefs impact their spectacular artwork.

Over the years, both Susan and Deane have donated pieces for exhibit at the Heard Museum, the Boca Raton Museum of Art, and other institutions. Susan considers herself a “professional volunteer,” serving in leadership roles on philanthropic boards. Deane and Susan welcome any opportunity to support the Native American Art community and generously have shared their knowledge and collection with others. We are proud to offer the Dr, Deane and Susan Penn Collection of Native American art, and hope that you find as much joy and fulfillment in these special objects as Deane and Susan did.