PHILADELPHIA (November 13, 2018) -- The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is pleased to announce a $1 million gift from Nancy Winkler and Jay Bryan to name the Anne Bryan Gallery, a new facility currently under construction on the lower level of PAFA's Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building at 128 North Broad Street.

Nancy and Jay's daughter, Anne Bryan, was a first-year PAFA student at the time of her unexpected passing in June 2013. In 2015, Nancy and Jay endowed the Anne Bryan Memorial Award to support graduating PAFA students on the next steps of their artistic careers.

Nancy and Jay's generous gift to name the Anne Bryan Gallery will enable PAFA to establish an even more meaningful tribute to Anne's life and artistic talents. The new gallery will open in early 2019, and feature ten to twelve exhibitions annually, showcasing the work of PAFA students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, through new coursework and programming facilitated through the gallery, PAFA students will acquire creative and professional opportunities to curate, exhibit, and learn about all aspects of mounting and promoting exhibitions.

"Anne loved her time as a student at PAFA where she was supported and encouraged by her wonderful teachers and was inspired by the art making in the school and the masterpieces in the museum," Nancy Winkler said. "Most of all, she loved the PAFA community and so we hope to help in a small way to enhance the student experience in Anne's memory."

"Anne was a special student who added to the strength of the PAFA community, challenging her faculty and uplifting her fellow students to be their best," said PAFA President and CEO David Brigham. "We are delighted that her parents have chosen to create opportunities in her honor for students at PAFA to exhibit their work and to think about how best to organize art exhibitions. This is both an important legacy for Anne and a way for her presence to have a long-term impact at PAFA."

The Anne Bryan Gallery will be located adjacent to the new John and Richanda Rhoden Arts Center Auditorium. In 2017, PAFA acquired the estate of the artist John Rhoden (1918-2001), which included over 320 works by the under-recognized African-American sculptor. The Center is a 15,000 square foot multidisciplinary facility that includes a 265-seat auditorium and new Collection storage vaults for 20^th- and 21^th- century works of art.

The construction of these new facilities has been made possible by funds raised in support of the PAFA First capital campaign. To date, the campaign has raised over $22.2 million toward an overall goal of $25 million.