News

photo of a woman in front of foliage and stone structures

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 4, 2025) – The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), the first museum and school of fine arts in the United States, today announced Lea Stephenson as the next Kenneth R. Woodcock Curator of Historical American Art, effective Feb. 10, 2025. In this role, Stephenson will…

Press Release
Lea in front of PAFA's Historic Landmark Building

"The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts has named a new curator of historical American art. Lea C. Stephenson, a specialist in 18th and 19th century American art who was partially trained in Philadelphia, comes to PAFA’s museum...

Stephenson, who is finishing up her doctorate in art history at the…

In the News
William Villalongo, Specimen, 2023. A circular artwork made with stenciled linen pulp paint, black abaca, and collaged inkjet prints on a black cotton base sheet. Diameter: 21 inches. Part of the Grinnell College Museum of Art Collection.
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) has received a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grants for Arts Projects award to support William Villalongo: Myths and Migrations. This exhibition features 20 years of Villalongo’s work, exploring identity, race, and visibility through thought…
In the News
Justine Ditto holding Philadelphia Pachamama, standing beside Kukuli Velarde, April 27, 2024. Photo by PAFA Staff.

In April 2024, artist Kukuli Velarde joined printer Justine Ditto for an engaging conversation about the creation of Philadelphia Pachamama, a vibrant eleven-color lithograph published by the Brodsky Center at PAFA. Attendees were given a behind-the-scenes look at the intricate lithographic process…

Perspectives
Tony Rosati sitting in a chair in an open room with a fireplace

Join us for an enlightening lecture on printmaking by print scholar and PAFA Printmaking Professor Anthony (Tony) Rosati organized by the Brodsky Center at PAFA and funded through a generous grant from the International Fine Print Dealers Association Foundation (IFPDA).

IFPDA Foundation Logo

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Press Release
Eric Pryor having lunch with students

As the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) reflects on recent accomplishments and prepares for a promising future and the re-installation of our permanent collection, we must honor the leadership of Eric Pryor. Since stepping into the role of President and CEO in January 2022, Eric has…

Perspectives
Detail view of the gilded florets in HLB.

Next year, we’ll celebrate PAFA’s 220th Anniversary, ahead of the nation’s sesquicentennial in 2026. While PAFA’s not quite as old as the United States, it has played a significant role in the country’s artistic and cultural development since its founding in 1805. As the first museum and art school…

Perspectives
view of christmas decor in the museum store

Nobody can believe it’s the end of 2024, yet the holidays are here, and there’s more shopping to do! Instead of turning to big-box retailers, why not give a unique and meaningful gift that supports the very first art school and museum in the United States? Whether you're shopping for an artist, an…

Perspectives
Installation view of the Making Strange wall label.

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

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…

Perspectives
Maia in front of her artwork

“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…

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

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

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.