Flag, 1960-66, Jasper Johns
The PAFA Experience: New Stories of American Art
A Nation of Artists at PAFA marks a special moment—the reopening of the Historic Landmark Building, a masterpiece of 19th-century architecture by Frank Furness and George W. Hewitt. As the first structure in the U.S. designed specifically for both exhibition and art education, its legacy as a museum and school for artistic innovation continues.
At PAFA, experience American art through the eyes of artists themselves. Rooted in PAFA’s legacy as the nation’s first museum and school of fine arts, the exhibition unfolds within the newly reopened Frank Furness and George Wattson Hewitt designed Historic Landmark Building. Through bold thematic groupings, the presentation reveals how artists emerge—shaped by study, mentorship, community, experimentation, and innovation—bringing generations of creative practice into conversation.
At PAFA, the exhibition is curated thematically, grouping artworks as never before assembled to explore new ideas, connections, and interpretations of American art. Through these dynamic juxtapositions, visitors will see centuries of American art through a powerful, new lens.
The installation will also include contemporary art from the 21st century, placing today's most exciting living artists in dialogue with those of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Throughout 2026 and 2027, artist talks and public programs will further enrich the experience of the exhibition, offering opportunities to engage with the artists shaping American art now.
Historical artists with deep connections to Philadelphia, such as Horace Pippin, Mary Cassatt, and Charles Willson Peale appear alongside contemporary figures including Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Rina Banerjee, María Berrío, Mickalene Thomas, and Kara Walker. Together, historical and contemporary voices challenge conventions, surface underrecognized perspectives, and offer new ways of seeing the American story.
Curated by: Leah Triplett, Curator of Contemporary Art, Lea C. Stephenson, Kenneth R. Woodcock, Curator of Historical American Art, and Paola Morsiani, Director of the Brodsky Center.