Since its early days, the League has collected outstanding works of students and instructors for its permanent collection. Today there are nearly 2,000 works including prints, paintings and sculptures, The collection contains works by Georgia O'Keeffe, Winslow Homer, John Sloan, Vaclav Vytlacil, Burgoyne Diller, Dorothy Dehner and Will Barnet.

Each year, the Board of Control purchases new works from the students Red Dot Exhbition for inclusion. In 2010, Isaac Pelepko, Satoshi Okada, Yukako Ishida, and Antonio Masi, were added to the collection.

The permanent collection works are shown throughout the year in League galleries, including the main Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, but also in the League office and lobby. As curator Pam Koob says, “The Permanent Collection allows the past to speak to the present.” Donations from League supporters help conserve this valuable treasure.