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.
As construction continues on the John and Richanda Rhoden Arts Center, PAFA is accessioning eight John Rhoden sculptures to serve as the focal points for the new auditorium space, opening this winter. Dr. Brittany Webb, the curator of the collection, says the eight sculptures chosen for the arts…
Judith Brodsky addressed the second graduating class of PAFA's Low-Residency MFA program at the intimate August commencement ceremony. In her commencement speech, she thanked the graduating class for the artwork they make, as well as sharing in her own path to becoming an artist.
For most of his life, Mark White (MFA '18) has kept his artwork on the sidelines. Although he majored in art in college, his career path took him another way. After a career in the army, he retired and enrolled in the Low-Residency MFA Program at PAFA.
An art education at PAFA can begin long before students enroll. For students looking to strengthen their art practice, PAFA’s Summer Academy offers high schoolers a five-week, college-level art-making experience. Many students see Summer Academy as the opportunity to "try out" art school or an art…
Growing up in the New York City area, MFA student Melanie Delach thought she already was where she needed to be as an artist. But her undergraduate professors encouraged her to branch out. Now about to enter her second year in the MFA program, Delach spoke about how a change of scenery has impacted…
The Currents summer studio residency program, hosted by the graduate program at PAFA, provides an intensive summer learning opportunity for rising undergraduate seniors. Thalia Hernandez, who is attending this year's Currents program, was attracted to the residency because of its unique location of…
To infuse art into the construction process of the John and Richanda Rhoden Arts Center, PAFA commissioned Matthew Chapman (MFA '15) to paint a temporary mural in the Frances M. Maguire Gallery around what will become the entrance of the new space. To create the geometric design, he drew inspiration…
Ahead of PAFA's Rina Banerjee exhibition this fall, the museum is activating several of its gallery spaces with Banerjee’s work. During the installation of Banerjee's 18-foot bright pink recreation of the Taj Mahal, the artist discussed the significance of the building, the role of marriage in…
After an encounter with Jane Golden of the Mural Arts program, David McShane has had the opportunity to share his art with the city, as well as help people leave their own mark on Philadelphia. The sports lover recently completed the mural at the Eagles Playground at the Horatio B. Hackett…
Currents, a six-week summer residency program at PAFA provides undergraduate students from across the country with a rigorous art-making experience that includes individual studio space and student housing, lectures and critiques, museum and gallery visits. "You see students who are very used to the…
Artists Nestor Armando Gil and Didier William met at the Experimental Printmaking Institute. The meeting led to a friendship and the two-person exhibition SWARM., currently being shown at PAFA.
Low-Res MFA student Beth Cody is in her final year of PAFA's Low-Res MFA program. “It was great for me because I wish I could do this forever,” said the California native. “It’s so special to be here.”
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at visitorservices@pafa.org — we’d love to help!
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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.
