Origins Gallery in Stockbridge, MA. was opened in 1997 by Albert Gordon along with his partner, Judith Schuchalter. Initially containing works of art that were put into storage when he retired from his Manhattan gallery in 1985, the gallery features a wide variety of distinctive masks, statues, and artifacts personally collected in the remote villages of Africa. Some of the collectibles include a diverse selection of ceremonial masks, ritual statues, musical instruments, royal stools and thrones from all parts of Africa. Recent trips have also brought beautiful stone sculptures from Zimbabwe.

In 1968 Gordon opened Tribal Arts Gallery in Manhattan, the culmination of a life-long fascination with African art; he was soon placing African sculpture in galleries, museums, �and private collections. Many of the pieces are now found in museums throughout the world.

Originally from Belgium, Gordon became interested in African art as a student at the Sorbonne in Paris. He taught history in New York City after receiving his Master's degree from Columbia University. Continued interest in the history, culture, and art of Africa eventually led to his first extensive collecting trip through Africa in 1963, followed by over fifty collecting trips. Joined by Schuchalter on several collecting trips, it is she who now principally directs the busy gallery's daily operations.

Today Gordon is semi-retired in order to pursue his many personal interests. In the intervening years he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, ran a presidential primary campaign in New Hampshire, published the Peace Divided Newsletter, worked on a book about collecting art in West Africa and a film documentary on Mali, set up a craft cooperative in Vietnam, and travels extensively. He maintains residences in New York City and the Berkshires. His grandson Eli, 6, will happily demonstrate the dancing use of African masks.