Title: Founder and Director
Company: Savage Godfrey Gallery LLC
Location: Norwell, Massachusetts, United States
Sunne Savage, Founder and Director at Savage Godfrey Gallery LLC, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Artists for dedication, achievements and leadership in Contemporary Art.
Ms. Savage has established herself as a leading expert in contemporary art, with a distinguished career spanning more than five decades. In 2024, she marked a significant milestone by opening a new gallery space in Norwell, Massachusetts, which was renamed Savage Godfrey Gallery at the suggestion of her daughter and longtime collaborator, Christina Godfrey. As the founder and director, Ms. Savage manages the gallery’s financial operations, attends museum events, connects with collectors and continually expands her network within the art world. Her expertise is reflected in her ability to curate exhibitions, advise on acquisitions, and foster relationships with both established and emerging artists.
Since founding the Sunne Savage Gallery in Boston in 1975, Ms. Savage has played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s contemporary art scene. The gallery specialized in contemporary works and advised private collectors on acquiring 19th- and 20th-century American and European art. She frequently traveled to national and international art fairs and participated multiple times in the Boston International Art Fair. Over the years, Ms. Savage has facilitated significant sales, including the notable transaction of Charles Willson Peale’s “George Washington at the Battle of Princeton” for $23 million. As a private dealer, she has sold works by renowned artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso.
From 1971 to 1975, Ms. Savage worked as an art consultant collaborating with Boston and New England artists. She developed corporate collections by presenting to architectural firms and corporate art committees, and installed artwork and commissions in lobbies and outdoor spaces throughout the region. Ms. Savage’s early connections with major architectural firms, such as Welton Beckett, I.M. Pei and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, were instrumental in establishing her reputation for recognizing and promoting local artistic talent.
Between 1970 and 1971, Ms. Savage served as the director of Circuit Artists at the Art Rental Gallery of the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. In this capacity, she catered to both members and corporate clients by curating exhibitions that brought contemporary works into new settings.
Ms. Savage began her professional journey at the mayor’s office of public service in Boston from 1968 to 1970. While working as a liaison with the Institute of Contemporary Art during this period, she decided to pursue a career representing New England artists. This decision set the course for Ms. Savage’s future accomplishments.
Ms. Savage earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in art from Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, in 1966. She also completed one year of law school before embarking on her career in public service and later transitioning into the arts sector. Beyond her formal education, Ms. Savage’s commitment to advancing women- and minority-owned businesses was demonstrated through certifications from the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
Beyond her primary career endeavors, Ms. Savage is an active member of several industry organizations, including as a member of the Boston committee for The Mount at Edith Wharton’s Estate in the Berkshires since 2016, as a member of the program committee and marketing committee at The College Club of Boston since 1999, and through membership with Save Venice Boston since 198. Ms. Savage is also affiliated with the Worcester Art Museum, the Friends of Colby Art Museum at Colby College, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Institute of Contemporary Art.
Among Ms. Savage’s most celebrated achievements was organizing the Monumenta sculpture show in Newport, Rhode Island. She conceived the exhibition and invited art historian Sam Hunter of Princeton University to serve as curator. The event featured 20 sculptures displayed throughout Newport’s historic mansions and public spaces along Ocean Drive. Ms. Savage also arranged for artist Christo to be featured in Newport, further elevating the city’s cultural profile. Additionally, she takes pride in advising Herbert Plimpton on the creation of the Herbert W. Plimpton Collection of Realist Art at the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University.
Ms. Savage remains dedicated to representing emerging artists and elevating their work to broader audiences through placement in corporate collections, private holdings and museum exhibitions. She is currently representing the estate of her late husband, S. Neuman, and is reaching out to museums that hold his work to request they display pieces in honor of his 100th birthday in 2026. Throughout her career, Ms. Savage has demonstrated unwavering dedication to fostering artistic excellence while building lasting relationships within both local communities and international circles, cementing her legacy as an influential figure in contemporary art.
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