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Executive Dean Clint Jukkala Serves as Juror for AXA Art Prize

The AXA Art Prize shines a spotlight on the re-emergence of figurative art and the undiscovered stars of its future.

"We're pleased to introduce Regional Juror, Clint Jukkala. Jukkala is the Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and previously served as the…

In the News
Maggie Bosco in her studio on Open Studio Night

MFA Student Marguerite Bosco Reflects on Open Studio Night

MFA student Marguerite Bosco reflects on this year's Open Studio Night:

"On February 25th, PAFA students opened their studio doors to welcome hundreds of visitors to a behind the scenes look at their creative process. This annual event presents an invaluable opportunity for students to make…

Stories
Eric Pryor in Museum

6ABC | Meet Eric Pryor, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 1st Black president & CEO

As part of their Black History Month series on "Visions" 6ABC reports on Eric Pryor's appointment as President & CEO, with video and article introducing his background and vision for PAFA.
In the News
Graphic Novel lecture

Illustration Student Emily McLaughlin Reflects on Greg Niedt's Graphic Novel Course

The (Near) Infinite World of the Graphic Novel: Greg Niedt Breaks Down the Medium in the Liberal Arts Course "Deconstructing the Graphic Novel"
Stories
Painting Les derniers jours d'enfance by Cecilia Beaux of young boy on mother's lap

Smithsonian Magazine | "Letters to Cecilia Beaux..."

"These amusing letters implied and enhanced so many intricacies in the maternal relationship depicted in Beaux’s Les dernier jours d’enfance, and they continue to make my understanding of the portrait that much richer. Beaux’s subjects were not merely symbols of a mother and child—they were a real…
In the News
Rhoden Arts Center

Thoughts on 100 Rejections from Career Services

An excerpt from last month's Career Services newsletter to current college students, from Assistant Dean of Student Life and Career Services, Greg Martino:

“A few years back, my colleague at the time, Morgan Hobbs, embarked on the 100 rejection project. The idea behind this is that you submit your…

Stories
Joan Semmel sits in studio between two paintings

New York Times T Magazine | "Joan Semmel Takes an Unflinching View of Her Own Body"

"SEMMEL’S RETROSPECTIVE AT the PAFA is a thoughtfully curated (by Jodi Throckmorton), beautifully hung presentation of an entirely ravishing collection of her work."
In the News
installation view of two walls of paintings by Joan Semmel

New York Times | "Joan Semmel: Skin in the Game" in Best Art Exhibitions of 2021

Co-chief art critic of The New York Times, Roberta Smith, included PAFA's Joan Semmel retrospective in the "Best Art Exhibitions of 2021."
In the News
Eric Pryor in Museum

PAFA Appoints Eric Pryor as Its Next President

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is pleased to announce that Eric Pryor has been appointed president of the historic museum and college, beginning January 18, 2022. One of Philadelphia’s cornerstone cultural institutions, PAFA is poised to move forward into its next significant…
Press Release
Athena Scott with back turned works on large painting of figures

A “Year of Yes” for MFA Student Athena Scott

“An artist enrolled in a school such as PAFA finds their practice transitioning from one realm of exploration to another until discoveries are made.” So begins the description of the Paths exhibit, which displayed works by PAFA’s Master’s of Fine Art Class of 2022 this past summer and early fall…

Stories
Kristy Jane smiles, doing the splits in front of a large PAFA sign

Graduate Students Lead Visiting Artist Program to Benefit PAFA Community

This academic year Lily Jane Brown, Kristy Jane, and Marley Massey Parsons lead PAFA’s Visiting Artist Program. With untold opportunities for attendees and coordinators alike, the program is entirely student-run—Lily and Marley are enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program and Kristy participates…

Stories
Joan Semmel's Centered Oil on canvas 48 x 53 in

"Joan Semmel: Skin in the Game" is First-ever Career Retrospective of Iconic Painter

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) presents the first-ever retrospective of iconic painter Joan Semmel in a career-spanning exhibition, Joan Semmel: Skin in the Game, October 28, 2021 through April 3, 2022. With over 50 works that will trace the artist’s career from early abstract…
Press Release

 

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About PAFA

Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the United States’ first school and museum of fine arts. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, PAFA offers a world-class collection of American art, innovative exhibitions of historic and contemporary American art, and educational opportunities in the fine arts. The PAFA Museum aims to tell America's diverse story through art, expanding who has been included in the canon of art history through its collections, exhibitions, and public programs, while classes educate artists and appreciators with a deep understanding of traditions and the ability to challenge conventions. PAFA’s esteemed alumni include Mary Cassatt, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, William Glackens, Barkley L. Hendricks, Violet Oakley, Louis Kahn, David Lynch, and Henry Ossawa Tanner.