A Nation of Artists Exhibition

Opening April 12, 2026, A Nation of Artists celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with a landmark exhibition presented across two of Philadelphia’s premier cultural institutions: the Philadelphia Museum of Art (on view through July 5, 2027) and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (on view through September 5, 2027). Featuring more than 1,000 works spanning over 300 years, this expansive exhibition explores American creativity from the early 1700s to today. Visitors will encounter paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, textiles, ceramics, photography, and contemporary installations that reflect how artists have interpreted American life across generations. Presented as one exhibition in two locations, each museum offers a distinct perspective. The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents a chronological journey through American art history, while PAFA takes a thematic approach, connecting artists across time through ideas such as identity, innovation, and social change. Together, they offer complementary ways to experience the evolving story of American art. A major highlight is the debut of more than 120 works from the Middleton Family Collection—one of the nation’s most significant private collections—many on public view for the first time. Featured artists include Mary Cassatt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, and Andrew Wyeth, alongside influential figures such as Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins, Mark Rothko, and Kara Walker. Located just 1.5 miles apart, the two museums can be visited in any order. Guests receive 50% off admission to the second museum within seven days, making it easy to experience the full exhibition. As one of Philadelphia’s signature Semiquincentennial events, A Nation of Artists offers a rare opportunity to explore the depth and diversity of American art in a single, citywide experience.

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