News

Installation view of the Making Strange wall label.

Broad Street Review | Spiritual art … with a twist—PAFA presents Making Strange: Sacred Imagery and the Self

Jesus appears perturbed. In Albert Van den Berghen’s Ecce Homo (c. 1886-1889), on view in Making Strange: Sacred Imagery and the Self, Christ narrows his eyes, surveying those clamoring for his crucifixion. This is not the patient stoicism believers have come to expect.

Which is exactly the point.…

In the News
Image of a person standing in a gallery

Documentary | The Legacy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts: Faculty Recollections

The recently premiered documentary, The Legacy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts: Faculty Recollections, celebrates the personal and professional journeys of six esteemed faculty members. Created as an independent study project by Nina Byerly (BFA ’24) and Raffi Zarzatian (BFA ’24) as…

Stories
Maia in front of her artwork

Painting to Change the World: Art, Advocacy, and the Passions that Inspire Maia Palmer

“I recently cleaned out my parents' garage and stumbled upon my old college essay. I had written about how I wanted to be an artist and change the world.”

Several years later, Maia Palmer is an artist, and she is changing the world. 

Originally from Delaware, Maia has  journeyed across the world, from…

Stories
People standing in a gallery featuring historic objects on display.

Drexel | How Drexel University is Seen in ‘Philadelphia Revealed’

By Alissa Falcone, November 6, 2024

"In Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic, the newest exhibition from the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University, there are multiple Drexel University connections found in the more than 600 objects showing 350 years of Philadelphia history.

Some of those…

Press Release
Harry Philbrick

Harry Philbrick, PAFA’s interim museum director, is optimistic about the future

"Casual observers would be forgiven if they thought the longest-running art museum and school in America had given up the ghost. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts announced in January that it was ending its college degree program, and a few months later it closed its historic landmark…

In the News
Photographer taking photos of PAFA from the Grand staircase.

The Philadelphia Inquirer | The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is choosing works for its first new permanent exhibition in two decades

"Hailing the Ferry, Daniel Ridgway Knight’s richly hued rural scene of two women standing beside a river, is one of the stars at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Widely reproduced and recognized, the 1888 canvas is the kind of work that art museums strive to own: a beloved friend that…

In the News
Al Gury posing with a group of students with artwork in the background

Celebrating 30 Years of PAFA's After-School Studio Arts Program

PAFA celebrates the 30th anniversary of the After-School Studio Arts Program, highlighting its impact on underserved youth in Philadelphia by providing free, accessible art education and fostering a supportive community for young artists to thrive.
Stories
Phebe Hemphill

The Philadelphia Inquirer | The 2024 Celia Cruz Quarter Was Made in Philadelphia

"Phebe Hemphill has been molding history for nearly 20 years. As a medallic artist at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, Hemphill has crafted the portraits and landscapes adorning countless coins, from Congressional Gold Medals to commemorative coins. Her designs mark legacies across generations, from…
In the News
Harry pointing at the Historic Landmark Building

Welcoming Back Harry Philbrick: A Friend and Visionary Returns to PAFA

“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.”* This sentiment perfectly captures our excitement and gratitude as we welcome back Harry Philbrick to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) as…

Stories
Anne Minich, Vermillion, 1991, mixed media including polychrome wood and metal, 29 ¾ x 20 x 1 ¾.

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Opens 'Making Strange: Sacred Imagery and the Self'

PAFA opens Making Strange: Sacred Imagery and the Self, an exhibition featuring paintings, sculpture, and works on paper from the collections of PAFA and the Brodsky Center that highlight the art historical concept of "making strange.” The exhibition opens November 14, 2024 and is on view through…
Press Release
Cast of the sculpture Laocoön featuring the titular figure at center flanked by his sons.

Five Influential Figures in PAFA’s Cast Hall

PAFA's Cast Hall preserves a collection of over 120 fine plaster casts, including replicas of iconic sculptures such as Michelangelo’s David and the Nike of Samothrace. These casts serve as vital educational tools, connecting students to classical art traditions. Originally sourced from Paris in…
Stories
Curator Ali Printz behind a conservator working on Henry Carter's Coal Mine.

Behind the Canvas: The Art Conservator's Magic Touch

Behind the Canvas: The Art Conservator's Magic Touch showcases the restoration of key artworks for PAFA’s Layers of Liberty exhibition and the 2026 re-installation. Collaborating with Flux Art Conservation, pieces like Henry McCarter’s Coal Mine and John Carroll’s Agatha were carefully cleaned and…
Stories

 

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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.