Opening Day: A Nation of Artists

Celebrate the opening of A Nation of Artists at PAFA, marking the reopening of the Historic Landmark Building. This landmark exhibition reimagines the story of American art, featuring iconic paintings, decorative arts, and contemporary works from the 18th century to today.
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, the exhibition highlights five themes — including Prosperity and Inequity, Internationalism, Western Expansion, Landscapes and Horizons, and Geometry and Modern Design — showcasing how American artists have shaped and challenged our culture.
Experience artist talks, public programs, and immersive displays, and see works from the Middleton Family Collection in dialogue with today’s leading contemporary artists.
This exhibition is part of a collaboration with the Philadelphia Art Museum, showcasing a simultaneous exhibition in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Together, the two institutions feature more than 1,000 works, including over 120 iconic paintings and decorative arts from the Middleton Family Collection, offering fresh perspectives on the evolving story of American art.
Featured Artwork: “Flag,” Jasper Johns, 1960-66. Encaustic and printed collage on paper laid down on canvas, 17 1/2 x 26 3/4 (framed 34 3/4 x 44 inches), 1894.4. The Middleton Family Collection.