In the News

Philadelphia Inquirer | Sculptor John Rhoden’s first retrospective will be on view at PAFA

"John Rhoden's sculptures have long adorned Pa. institutions. About 70 of his works will be on view this fall."

From Oct. 5 through April 7, his work will be on display in “Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden” at PAFA. Through about 70 of his works in bronze, stone, and wood, as well as archival materials, the exhibit will seek to tell the story of an artist some people say is unsung, yet ahead of his time.  

The exhibit is the first retrospective of this expansive artist who once summarized his work saying: “I put every feeling, every passion — everything I have — into sculpting. Someone asked me why I do it: there are so many easier things. I can only say this: sculpting is my life.”

Read the full article "Sculptor John Rhoden’s first retrospective will be on view at PAFA" in The Philadelphia Inquirer (September 13, 2023). Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden opens October 5, 2023.

Image:Black and white photograph of John Rhoden working on Nesaika, his sculpture for the African American Museum in Philadelphia, in the studio, ca. 1976. The John Rhoden Papers at PAFA, MS.2019.01.0706. Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia.

 


 

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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.