News

A solitary house stands against a dramatic seascape with crashing waves under a gray sky, painted in oil on canvas.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and The Middleton Family Present a Landmark Exhibition of American Art Celebrating the Nation’s 250th Anniversary | Opens April 12, 2026

Philadelphia, June 17, 2025 – Two of America’s most esteemed cultural institutions—the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)—today announced A Nation of Artists, a historic collaboration with the private Middleton Family Collection that will unite…

Press Release
A textured mixed media artwork by William Villalongo depicting a silhouetted Black figure surrounded by intricate cutouts and symbolic elements in acrylic, velvet flocking, and paper on wood panel.

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) Presents William Villalongo: Myths and Migrations

William Villalongo: Myths and Migrations is on view at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) from May 15 to August 31, 2025. This mid-career survey highlights over 20 years of Villalongo’s work exploring themes of Black presence, identity, and cultural memory through richly layered…
Press Release
Abstract landscape by Arthur Dove, ca. 1941–1946, featuring organic shapes and muted tones suggestive of nature.

“I look at nature, I see myself”: The Abstract Vision of Arthur Dove

Of all the American artists inspired by nature, perhaps Arthur Dove provides us with the most intimate, visceral and modern translation of the elements of the environment around him. While the world Dove inhabited early in his career was increasingly industrialized, Dove consistently turned toward…

Stories
Artist William Villalongo in front of his mixed-media paintings "Zero Gravity 1" (top) and "Zero Gravity 2."

The Philadelphia Inquirer | African mythology and folklore collide in William Villalongo’s entrancing velvety portraits

"Much has been written about Henry Box Brown’s body. The 33-year-old enslaved man from Virginia was 5′10″ and around 200 pounds in the spring of 1849 when he forced himself into a wooden box not much bigger than an oven. It was addressed to the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia…

In the News
photo of a woman in front of foliage and stone structures

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Names Lea C. Stephenson as New Historical Curator

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 4, 2025) – The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), the first museum and school of fine arts in the United States, today announced Lea C. Stephenson as the next Kenneth R. Woodcock Curator of Historical American Art, effective Feb. 10, 2025. In this role, Stephenson will…

Press Release
Lea in front of PAFA's Historic Landmark Building

The Philadelphia Inquirer | PAFA’s new curator, Lea C. Stephenson, comes with Philadelphia roots

"The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts has named a new curator of historical American art. Lea C. Stephenson, a specialist in 18th and 19th century American art who was partially trained in Philadelphia, comes to PAFA’s museum...

Stephenson, who is finishing up her doctorate in art history at the…

In the News
Justine Ditto holding Philadelphia Pachamama, standing beside Kukuli Velarde, April 27, 2024. Photo by PAFA Staff.

Kukuli Velarde and Justine Ditto on 'Philadelphia Pachamama'

In April 2024, artist Kukuli Velarde joined printer Justine Ditto for an engaging conversation about the creation of Philadelphia Pachamama, a vibrant eleven-color lithograph published by the Brodsky Center at PAFA. Attendees were given a behind-the-scenes look at the intricate lithographic process…

Stories
Tony Rosati sitting in a chair in an open room with a fireplace

Learning to be a Printmaker, a Philadelphia Tradition: A Lecture by Anthony Rosati

Join us for an enlightening lecture on printmaking by print scholar and PAFA Printmaking Professor Anthony (Tony) Rosati organized by the Brodsky Center at PAFA and funded through a generous grant from the International Fine Print Dealers Association Foundation (IFPDA).

IFPDA Foundation Logo

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC…

Press Release
Eric Pryor having lunch with students

Eric Pryor’s Leadership Brought Forth a Promising New Era for PAFA in Art and Education

As the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) reflects on recent accomplishments and prepares for a promising future and the re-installation of our permanent collection, we must honor the leadership of Eric Pryor. Since stepping into the role of President and CEO in January 2022, Eric has…

Stories
Detail view of the gilded florets in HLB.

Honoring PAFA's Legacy: A Founding Day Reflection

Next year, we’ll celebrate PAFA’s 220th Anniversary, ahead of the nation’s sesquicentennial in 2026. While PAFA’s not quite as old as the United States, it has played a significant role in the country’s artistic and cultural development since its founding in 1805. As the first museum and art school…

Stories
view of christmas decor in the museum store

PAFA Holiday Gift Guide: Unique Gifts for Art Lovers

Nobody can believe it’s the end of 2024, yet the holidays are here, and there’s more shopping to do! Instead of turning to big-box retailers, why not give a unique and meaningful gift that supports the very first art school and museum in the United States? Whether you're shopping for an artist, an…

Stories
Installation view of the Making Strange wall label.

Broad Street Review | Spiritual art … with a twist—PAFA presents Making Strange: Sacred Imagery and the Self

Jesus appears perturbed. In Albert Van den Berghen’s Ecce Homo (c. 1886-1889), on view in Making Strange: Sacred Imagery and the Self, Christ narrows his eyes, surveying those clamoring for his crucifixion. This is not the patient stoicism believers have come to expect.

Which is exactly the point.…

In the News

 

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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.