The Doctor Deane and Susan Penn Native American Art Collection
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 lifelong learner with a passion for Native American culture. 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 30 years, they studied Native American culture and took a deep dive into collecting 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 exhibition 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 have generously 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.