Ruhe was the first person to exhibit a privately owned collection of Aboriginal art in the United States, which toured more than twenty venues between 1966 and 1977.

In 1938, James Cheek of Nashville bought the property and hired master architect Benjamin Charles Baker to build the current colonial revival style house.

The Kluge-Ruhe Collection aims to expand knowledge and understanding of Indigenous Australian art and culture to cultivate greater appreciation of human diversity and creativity.

One of its core institutional priorities is to build and sustain collaborative relationships to deepen their impact and extend their reach with the Indigenous people of Australia.

Past visiting artists include Judy Watson, Reko Rennie, Nici Cumpston, Djambawa Marawili, Vernon Ah Kee, David Bosun, Ricardo Idagi, Janet Fieldhouse, Yhonnie Scarce, Jason Wing, Ricky Maynard, James Tylor, Jenni Kemarre Martiniello, Carol McGregor, Kent Morris, Raymond Bulambula, Mrs Gorriyindi, and many others.