Founded in 1805 as the first school and museum of fine arts in the United States, PAFA is a National Medal of Arts recipient that celebrates the transformative power of American art and art-making through its collections, exhibitions, and education programs.
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is pleased to announce that Philadelphia philanthropist and longtime PAFA supporter Marguerite Lenfest will be the honoree at the 118th Annual Student Exhibition (ASE) Preview Party. Marguerite and her late husband, H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest, have been…
In 2018 PAFA added over 500 historic, modern and contemporary works to its permanent collection of American art. The newest acquisitions and gifts—many of them by women, artists of color, and artists not frequently seen in museums—include works by painter Joan Brown, a mixed media installation by…
PAFA is pleased to present "From the Schuylkill to the Hudson: Landscapes of the Early American Republic," on view June 28 through December 29, 2019. Philadelphia's key role in the growth of American landscape painting has never been the subject of a major museum exhibition before. Delving into the…
The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation has selected the PAFA to receive ten Frankenthaler prints, up to ten proofs by the artist and a $25,000 grant to exhibit and study the works over three years. The gifts—spanning etching, lithography, monotype or monoprint, and more—will reflect the variety of media…
PAFA is proud to present "Zanele Muholi & The Women's Mobile Museum," one of four exhibitions of a year-long artist residency connecting acclaimed South African photographer Zanele Muholi and the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center (PPAC) with ten Philadelphia women. The exhibition, which also features…
PAFA is pleased to announce a $1 million gift from Nancy Winkler and Jay Bryan to name the Anne Bryan Gallery, set to open in the Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building in early 2019. The Anne Bryan Gallery will allow PAFA students to acquire creative and professional skills in creating exhibitions through…
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) announces the addition of nine artworks to its permanent collection of American art, including works on paper, paintings and a monumental outdoor sculpture.
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is pleased to announce the election of Andrew Kress to its Board of Trustees. Kress is the CEO and founder of HealthVerity, a healthcare technology company.
PAFA is pleased to present its major fall exhibition, "Rina Banerjee: Make Me a Summary of the World," the first mid-career retrospective on the contemporary practice of Bengali-born, New York-based artist Rina Banerjee, co-organized with the San Jose Museum of Art.
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) congratulates artist Martin Puryear (b. 1941) for being chosen to represent the United States at the 2019 Venice Biennale. PAFA currently has 25 works by the 77-year old African American artist and sculptor in its permanent collection, including 23…
PAFA mourns the loss of H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, 88, the philanthropist and civic leader, who died Sunday morning. Gerry and his wife, Marguerite, have been longstanding leaders within the PAFA community and since 2002 Marguerite has served as a member of the Board of Trustees.
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ashley R. Lomery as Chief Development Officer. Lomery, who has more than 20 years of fundraising experience in higher education and the arts, most recently served as Assistant Vice President of Development at…
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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.
