News

Interior of dorm room in Stiles Hall

Getting to Know Stiles Hall From the Student Perspective

Making the transition from living at home to sharing space in a dormitory can be daunting for many newly enrolled college students. Questions like ‘Will I get along with my roommates?’ or ‘How will I cook for myself?’ or ‘What if I need help?’ are likely to arise for anyone embarking on a new…

Perspectives
Eric Wagner in his studio sharing marble sculpture

A BFA program built to expand one's art practices

For Eric Wagner (BFA ‘23), studying at PAFA is about having the space and time to try

“It's been a pretty wild ride. I’ve gone through times of painting, and other times of drawing more and writing and all kinds of things. More recently I broke into sculpture so now I do sculpture all the time too.”

C…

Perspectives
Anna Hoppel in her studio posing with her paintings.

Journey through the PAFA/Penn program with well-traveled student

On any given day, Anna Hoppel (BFA ‘23) could be anywhere  

She might be painting in her Center City studio at PAFA, taking archaeology classes in University City at the University of Pennsylvania, hanging out at home in West Philadelphia, or painting the epic hills of Manayunk, the Philadelphia…

Perspectives
Katya Dennison Share their pieces exhibiting in the ASE.

Making the most of the PAFA/Penn BFA Program

Since high school, Kathryn “Katya” Dennison (PAFA-Penn Coordinated BFA ’23) has found her passion in traditional oil painting and drawing

She entered PAFA in 2020 with a focused aesthetic at the front of her mind, knowing she could use the PAFA-Penn Coordinated BFA to craft a fine arts and liberal…

Perspectives
Safiya Wharton working on their Annual Student Exhibition film “Dance To The Grave” .

From Summer Academy student to ASE exhibitor

As a high school Summer Academy student in 2018, Safiya Wharton was a dedicated, serious painter.

She spent the school year at CAPA, Philadelphia’s public high school for creative and performing arts, surrounded by creative peers. But she wanted more. So she spent a summer studying with PAFA’s…

Perspectives
Headshot of Jonathan Lyndon Chase

Back in PAFA’s studios as Visiting Critic, a conversation with Jonathan Lyndon Chase (MFA '16)

In the last few years, Jonathan Lyndon Chase (MFA ‘16) has been all over the world, showcasing their work in London, New York, Switzerland, China, and more. But one of their favorite places to be is in Philadelphia visiting student studios as a Visiting Critic at PAFA.
Perspectives
student pulls out Andy Warhol prints in archives

Annie Thompson (MFA '24) Works in Collection Archives and High School After School Program

It’s one thing to see Andy Warhol’s work in a museum but Annie Thompson (MFA ‘24) says it’s an entirely different experience to hold the icon’s work in your hands. 

“It kind of blinded me a little bit. It was kind of wild to see some of his pieces in person and understand how strong the pigments were…

Perspectives
Jeshima walking through installation

BFA student Jeshima Lee DeVine responds to Rising Sun exhibition and museum programs

Being able to study art up close is one thing, but being able to engage with it deeply is another.
Perspectives
Saya Woolfalk projection

New York Times | What Would Ben Franklin Say? Artists Weigh the Dream of Democracy

"It’s just a few blocks on Arch Street between the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the oldest art school and museum in the United States, and the African American Museum in Philadelphia, founded in 1976 to celebrate the achievements of African Americans from pre-colonial times to the…

In the News
graphic with arcs of red-orange, light orange, light pink, light green

Collaborative Exhibition “Rising Sun: Artists in an Uncertain America” Debuts Art From 20 Artists at Two Philadelphia Museums

Open to the public on March 23, the new exhibition hosted by the African American Museum in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts will explore a reoccurring question in American history.
Press Release
Ellie's Art from Summer Academy

Ellie Zahorik's Journey from Pre-College Summer Academy to BFA candidate

Callie Coccia, Pre-College Coordinator and PAFA Alum (PAFA-Penn BFA ’21), sat down with Ellie Zahorik, a first year BFA student at PAFA, to talk about Ellie’s high school experience at Summer Academy in 2021 and how it impacted her path to art school. 

This interview has been lightly edited for…

Perspectives
Woman in helmet welds metal on table

International Travels and Local Connections Come From the Heart for Kelly Lawler (MFA ’23)

Kelly Lawler leads with her heart. Returning to art studies after 25 years in technology and project management, much of Kelly’s practice and output now focuses on the connections that draw us together as humans. "I stepped away from one really intense industry into something completely different…
Perspectives

About PAFA

Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is America's first school and museum of fine arts. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, PAFA offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the fine arts, innovative exhibitions of historic and contemporary American art, and a world-class collection of American art. PAFA’s esteemed alumni include Mary Cassatt, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Thomas Eakins, William Glackens, Barkley L. Hendricks, Violet Oakley, Louis Kahn, David Lynch, and Henry Ossawa Tanner.