Exhibits & Events

At PAFA, experience American art through the eyes of artists themselves. Rooted in PAFA’s legacy as the nation’s first museum and school of fine arts, the exhibition unfolds within the newly reopened Frank Furness and George Wattson Hewitt designed Historic Landmark Building. Through bold thematic groupings, the presentation reveals how artists emerge—shaped by study, mentorship, community, experimentation, and innovation—bringing generations of creative practice into conversation.

Historical artists with deep connections to Philadelphia, such as Horace Pippin, Mary Cassatt, and Charles Willson Peale appear alongside contemporary figures including Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Rina Banerjee, María Berrío, Mickalene Thomas, and Kara Walker. Together, historical and contemporary voices challenge conventions, surface underrecognized perspectives, and offer new ways of seeing the American story.

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A Nation of Artists brings together three remarkable collections—the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Middleton Family Collection—for a once-in-a-generation presentation celebrating 250 years of American creativity. Spanning centuries, stories, and artistic traditions, this landmark exhibition unfolds across two iconic Philadelphia institutions.

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This extraordinary collaboration invites everyone to experience America’s story through its visual language—and to leave with a deeper connection to the creativity and resilience that define our collective history.

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At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, immerse yourself in a world-class panorama of American art from 1700 to 1964. Organized around bold, distinctive themes, the installation traces the evolution of American identity—revealing dynamic exchanges between Native American, African American, European, and immigrant traditions. Across painting, sculpture, photography, decorative arts, fashion, ceramics, and more, the galleries illuminate the creative forces that have shaped the nations visual culture.

Iconic masterpieces by Thomas Eakins, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Winslow Homer, Georgia O’Keeffe, Alexander Calder, and others appear in striking juxtapositions that broaden the canon and deepen understandings of the American story. Set within the iconic Beaux-Arts building, this presentation celebrates the museum’s 150th anniversary and its role as a cultural beacon—offering a powerful, inspiring, and expansive look at American art.