woodmere art museum sues trump administration canceled imls grant 1234750513

Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the unlawful termination of a $750,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The grant, awarded in 2024 through the IMLS's 'Save America's Treasures' program, was intended to revamp the museum's catalog system and digitize works for its 'America 250' exhibition honoring the nation's 250th anniversary. After President Trump signed an executive order calling for the IMLS to be eliminated, the agency ceased distributing funding, leaving Woodmere with only about $195,000 of the grant received and scrambling to fulfill contracts already in place. The museum is seeking an injunction to stop the IMLS and the Office of Management and Budget from following the executive order.

Gallery 50 hosts opening reception for “Here Comes the Sun” art show on May 8

Gallery 50 in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, will host an opening reception for its new exhibition “Here Comes the Sun” on Friday, May 8, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The show features 11 local artists—Jonathan Frazier, Robyn Jacobs, Sarah Maclay, Pat McCleary, Mary Moores, Judy Pyle, Jayne Shord, Anne St. John, Lindsay Tozier-School, Anita Williams, and Marti Yeager (also the gallery’s curator)—with works in oil, acrylic, pastel, photography, watercolor, and enamel on copper. The evening includes free refreshments, live music from Sons of Pitches, and the unveiling of a new mural by California-based artist Nigel Sussman, whose large-scale, hand-drawn murals feature fantasy architecture and imaginary machines.

New works by oil painters Betz Green and Jim Green at Stover Mill Gallery

Oil painters Betz Green and Jim Green will showcase their work at the Stover Mill Gallery in Erwinna, Pennsylvania, on weekends from May 9 through May 31, with an opening reception on May 9. Betz Green creates representational, portrait-oriented still lifes with whimsical narratives, while Jim Green works in an impressionistic and expressionistic style with vibrant colors and exaggerated forms. Both artists have won top awards at local venues such as Phillips Mill and Stover Mill.

‘Shaun the Sheep’ exhibit to open at Reading Public Museum [Spotlight]

An interactive exhibit titled “Shaun the Sheep: Flock This Way!” will open at the Reading Public Museum in Pennsylvania on May 16 and run through September 6. Created by the Minnesota Children’s Museum in partnership with Aardman, the hands-on experience is designed for children ages 3 to 9 and features activities inspired by the popular film and television character, including balance boards, costume play, stop-motion animation, and problem-solving challenges. The exhibit is sponsored locally by the Berks County Community Foundation.

In Philly, artists are using ‘Radical Americana’ to challenge patriotic nostalgia

The Clay Studio in Philadelphia has launched "Radical Americana," a citywide initiative involving 24 arts organizations and 45 artists to mark the United States' 250th anniversary. The project features 25 exhibitions across the region, showcasing new works that engage with American craft heritage and material culture. Participating artists were tasked with researching historical objects—ranging from Federal-period furniture to Pennsylvania Dutch fraktur—to create contemporary responses that reflect on the nation's complex history.

Jazlyne Sabree at Rowan University Museum of Contemporary Art

Philadelphia-based artist Jazlyne Sabree has debuted her solo exhibition, "The Spectrum of Resilience," at the newly rebranded Rowan University Museum of Contemporary Art (RUMOCA) in Glassboro, New Jersey. The show features large-scale, textured collages that utilize paint, paper, and found materials to portray members of the African Diaspora as spiritual figures and vessels of memory. The exhibition includes three new works and is scheduled to run through July 30, 2026.

New Colorado Springs exhibit features yard art by more than 30 artists

The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College has launched "Where I Learned to Look: Art from the Yard," an exhibition featuring works by more than 30 artists. Curated by artist and art historian Josh T. Franco, the show explores how residential yards serve as creative spaces between the private home and the public world. The display includes a diverse range of objects, from a functional windmill and an oversized cornhole set to a decorated Volkswagen Beetle and sculptures inspired by real estate signs.

Gallery 50 hosts opening reception for new art exhibition on February 6

Gallery 50 in downtown Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, will host an opening reception for its new exhibition “Faces and Places” on Friday, February 6, 2026, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event features free refreshments and live music from Reckless Mo & the Backseat Drivers. Ten local artists—Joan Carroll, Jonathan Frazier, Paul Gallo, Katrina Hoopes, Eric Hyne, Penny Knobel-Besa, Melissa Libertini, Laurie McKelvie, Paula Saneaux, and Steve Wetzel—contribute works in oil, colored pencil, acrylic, pastel, and photography, depicting people, animals, and landscapes. The gallery, operated by the Arts Alliance of Greater Waynesboro, also offers fine art and crafts such as pottery, wood carvings, jewelry, and stained glass. The exhibition runs through April 18, 2026, and will be available for online purchase.

Penn Museum opens Native North America Gallery after two-year overhaul

The Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia will open its new 2,000-square-foot Native North America Gallery on Saturday, November 22, after two years of planning. The long-term exhibition replaces the 2014 show "Native American Voices: The People—Here and Now," which was curated by Lucy Fowler Williams with around 80 Native consultants but felt fragmented. This time, Williams and co-curator Megan C. Kassabaum worked closely with eight Native American curators—not just advisors—to determine the stories told. The gallery highlights moments of rupture, loss, and betrayal alongside resilience, and includes an empty vitrine to acknowledge repatriation efforts and culturally sensitive objects that tribes prefer not to display.

Palmer Museum announces call for juried exhibition to celebrate America’s 250th

The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State has announced a call for entries for a juried exhibition titled "Dreaming American Futures: Invitational 250," running from summer through fall of 2026. The exhibition marks the United States' 250th anniversary and is open to Penn State students, faculty, staff, alumni residing in Pennsylvania, and local artists within 50 miles of State College. Submissions must address themes of activating change, bridging the divide, the pursuit of happiness, and a more perfect union, which were developed from community input gathered during a summer 2025 installation. Digital submissions of up to three works are due by February 15, 2026, with no entry fee, and a jury including artist Folayemi Wilson, curator Janine Yorimoto Boldt, and artist Roberto Lugo will adjudicate the entries.

‘When you’re working with clay, you’re working with the earth’: Studio’s new exhibition offers ‘Clay as Care’

The Clay Studio in Philadelphia has opened a new exhibition titled "Clay as Care: Ceramic Art and Wellbeing," which explores the therapeutic and restorative benefits of working with ceramics. The show features four artists—Adebunmi Gbadebo, Jennifer Ling Datchuk, Ehren Tool, and Maia Chao—each using clay to address personal healing journeys, from fertility struggles to military trauma. The exhibition includes interactive elements like communal clay for visitors and is part of a research project in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania Center for Neuroaesthetics, Jefferson University Art Therapy Department, and Drexel University Art Psychotherapy team, collecting data on the show's impact on wellness.

Artist in Residency recipient exhibits “Americana” at ArtWRKD

Bucks County-based multimedia artist Greta Karr, the inaugural recipient of ArtWRKD's Summer Artist in Residency program, presents a solo exhibition titled "Americana" at ArtWRKD in Newtown, Pennsylvania, from August 1-31. The show features oil paintings on unconventional canvases such as a truck door, saddle, and cigarette packs, along with sculptural and performative works. Events include an Art Noir Opening Night with performance art on August 1, an artist reception on August 9, and a farm-to-table dinner led by Karr and chef Gladys Nyoth on August 24. The residency is funded by an $18,000 donation from The Newtown Music Arts and Culture Donor Advised Fund through the Newtown Community Foundation.

A Journey to Distant Memories, a solo-exhibition of works by Pennsylvania- based painter O’Neil Scott.

The Zillman Art Museum at the University of Maine in Bangor announces a new solo exhibition, "A Journey to Distant Memories," featuring works by Pennsylvania-based painter O'Neil Scott. Running from May 16 to September 6, 2025, the show includes never-before-seen paintings and some of the artist's largest compositions. Scott, born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, draws inspiration from memories of his youth, exploring themes of community, migration, and the passage of time through works such as "In Case of Emergency" and "Fading Promises." Admission to the museum is free in 2025 thanks to sponsor Birchbrook.

58th Annual Art of the State 2025 Exhibition Winners Announced

The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission and the State Museum of Pennsylvania have announced the winners of the 58th Annual Art of the State 2025 exhibition. From over 2,300 entries, 96 works were selected across five categories—painting, craft, sculpture, photography/digital media, and work on paper—with cash awards totaling $5,300. First-place winners include Polly Bech (Craft), Judith Pekala Hawkins (Painting), Mary Elizabeth Kulesa (Photography/Digital Media), Brynn Hurlstone (Sculpture), and Libby Soffer (Work on Paper). The exhibition runs through September 14, 2025, at The State Museum of Pennsylvania.

State Museum Announces Finalists for 58th Annual “Art of the State” Exhibition

The State Museum of Pennsylvania has announced the finalists for the 58th annual "Art of the State" exhibition, featuring 96 artists from over 30 counties across the Commonwealth. Selected from 2,344 entries submitted by 696 artists, the finalists' works span five categories: paintings, photography/digital media, crafts, sculptures, and works on paper. A panel of selection jurors—Brenton Good, Shin-hee Chin, and Lauren Whearty—chose the finalists, while awards juror Denise Ryner will determine first, second, and third place winners in each category. Cash prizes totaling $5,300 will be awarded, including the Art Docents’ Choice Award. The exhibition opens June 8, 2025, with free admission on opening day, and runs through September 14, 2025.

New Kensington Art Gallery to open Eddie Adams photography exhibit May 8

Penn State New Kensington Art Gallery will open "Eddie Adams: Vietnam" on May 8, featuring over 50 photographs by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist. The exhibit includes his iconic "Saigon Execution" (1968) and "Boat of No Smiles" (1979), with a reception on May 28 featuring Adams' widow Alyssa Adams and former Associated Press photo editor Hal Buell. The free show runs through August 27.

From Comics to TV: Quino's Legendary Mafalda Becomes an Animated Series

Dal fumetto alla tv: la mitica Mafalda di Quino diventa una serie animata

Netflix has announced a new animated series based on the iconic comic strip Mafalda, directed by Academy Award-winner Juan José Campanella. Produced by Mundoloco CGI, the project coincides with the 60th anniversary of the character's debut and marks a transition from the traditional black-and-white print medium to a dynamic, colorized digital format. The series aims to preserve the sharp social commentary and rebellious spirit of the original illustrations created by the late Argentine cartoonist Quino.

The Office Exhibition | Scranton, PA | NEPA Events

The Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, is launching a major two-year immersive exhibition dedicated to the hit sitcom *The Office*. Opening on October 31, 2025, the four-room installation explores the show's evolution from a mockumentary into a global cultural phenomenon, featuring interactive displays, behind-the-scenes narratives, and fan tributes.

‘A Nation of Artists’ exhibition opens April 12 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and PAFA

The Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) are launching a major collaborative exhibition titled 'A Nation of Artists,' set to open on April 12. The exhibition explores the foundational role of Philadelphia in shaping American art history, drawing from the deep permanent collections of both historic institutions to showcase a diverse range of American creative expression.

Gallery 50 welcomes spring with “Here Comes the Sun”

Gallery 50 in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, is hosting an opening reception for its new spring exhibition, “Here Comes the Sun,” on May 8 from 5:30–8 p.m. The show features 11 local artists—Jonathan Frazier, Robyn Jacobs, Sarah Maclay, Pat McCleary, Mary Moores, Judy Pyle, Jayne Shord, Anne St. John, Lindsay Tozier-School, Anita Williams, and curator Marti Yeager—presenting works in oil, acrylic, pastel, photography, watercolor, and enamel on copper. The evening also includes the unveiling of a mural by California-based artist Nigel Sussman, live music from Sons of Pitches, and new fine art and crafts for sale. The exhibition runs through August 1, 2026.

Pennswood Art Gallery exhibit features plants and animals of the Poconos

Pennswood Art Gallery in Newtown announces the May 10 opening of its new exhibit, “Contemplative Observation,” featuring the work of artist Albina P. Herron. Herron paints plants and animals native to the Pocono Mountains, using gouache on cotton paper to emphasize texture and presence. The exhibit includes works such as “Bleeding Heart” (Dicentra eximia) and runs until July 1, with an artist talk and reception on opening day.

Local artist Shauna McChesney hosting solo art exhibition in Cranberry in June

Local artist Shauna McChesney will host a solo exhibition titled “Colors of Nature” from June 5th to June 30th at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. The opening reception runs from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 5th, and McChesney is the Cranberry Artists Network’s featured artist for June. Her work draws inspiration from the colors and textures of the natural world and incorporates a variety of media.

Bob’s Art Blog: Arts Spring To-Do List—Millworks, the AAH and the JNS Gallery and CALC

The Millworks Art Studios in Harrisburg has introduced a new cohort of resident artists dubbed "The New Guard," featuring a diverse range of local talent. This group includes photorealistic racecar painter Annika Koser, found-objects sculptor and former architect Jeff Scorza, and woodworker Kelly Anoka, alongside the recent addition of narrative artist Marina Radanovic. Each artist brings a distinct material focus—from industrial glass and metal to upcycled local timber—strengthening the collaborative creative community within the studio complex.

SRU art students celebrated at Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition

Slippery Rock University recently concluded its Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition at the Martha Gault Art Gallery, showcasing the diverse creative output of its student body. Out of 90 submissions, guest juror Clayton Merrell selected 49 pieces for the three-week installation, spanning mediums such as sculpture, painting, printmaking, fiber art, and ceramics. The exhibition culminated in an awards ceremony where senior Kayla Stallings took first place for her sculpture titled "Fur."

Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum and Art Gallery’s exhibition to open Jan. 22

A new student-curated exhibition titled “Through Different Eyes: Industrial Worlds by Women Artists” will open on January 22 at the Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum and Art Gallery at Penn State University Park. The exhibit, curated by undergraduates Alexis Woodring and Gabriella Heidorn, features works from the EMS Steidle Collection of American Industrial Art, highlighting women artists in 20th-century industrial Pennsylvania. The opening reception runs from 4 to 6 p.m. and is free to the public.

Centre LGBT+, Local Congregations Partnering for Art Exhibition

Centre LGBT+ and several faith communities in Centre County, Pennsylvania, are partnering for a new art exhibition called “Rainbow Creation,” inviting local artists to submit original works exploring and celebrating LGBT+ identity. Submissions are open until March 15, with no fee required, and works by children, youth, and adults in any medium are welcome. Selected pieces will be displayed from April 12 to June 30 at Centre LGBT+’s community center and multiple faith spaces across State College and the Centre Region. Participating congregations include Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Congregation Brit Shalom, Grace Lutheran Church, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation, University Baptist and Brethren Church, State College Friends Meeting, and State College Presbyterian Church.

With Gallery Opening, Local Artist Creates Masterpieces from Places Right Under Our Noses

Local artist Fred Jackson, whose work focuses on the alleyways and one-way roads of West Chester, Pennsylvania, is opening a solo exhibition at the Church Street Gallery on January 9, 2026. Jackson, who grew up on Franklin Street and began painting only about ten years ago, creates his works en plein air and in his studio, drawing inspiration from the borough's often-overlooked backstreets and architecture. The exhibition will feature dozens of oil paintings and run until February 28.

How Delaware’s ‘King of Transit’ turned a lifelong love of buses into an art exhibit

Geraldo Gonzalez, known as the 'King of Transit,' has turned his lifelong passion for public transportation into an art exhibition titled 'Artist of Life' at the Mezzanine Gallery in Wilmington, Delaware. The show features 11 artworks that capture the charm, history, and culture of buses and trains, including detailed depictions of bus wraps and transit scenes. Gonzalez, a Puerto Rican artist, began sketching buses as a teenager after moving from Pennsylvania to Delaware, and his work reflects both realism and psychedelic colors. The article also recounts a 2010 incident where Wilmington police detained him for photographing near an Amtrak station, highlighting the tension between artistic inspiration and public suspicion.

Darkness takes center stage at Eclipse C³ 'Bella Oscurità' art exhibition, opening Saturday in Lansdale

Eclipse Center for Creative Community (Eclipse C³) in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, is opening its annual 'Bella Oscurità: Beautiful Darkness' exhibition on Saturday, October 26, 2025, at 6 p.m. at 30 Vine Street. The free public reception features over 50 works by 26 local artists, with attendees encouraged to wear spooky or costume attire. The exhibition runs through November 1 and includes light refreshments, a boutique, and opportunities to purchase art through the 'Shop the Show' program. Donations are welcomed to support the center's community arts mission.

Atithi Studios Opens New Creative Lab and Plans New Events

Atithi Studios in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, has opened a new Creative Lab featuring five dedicated rooms for ceramics, painting, photography, digital media, and crafting, along with a membership program for artists and content creators. The studio is also hosting a series of upcoming events including the Color Stories exhibition (closing September 13), the Pittsburgh Latin American Art Festival (September 20), Art Battle (September 25), and the Fresh Air Festival: Art in Recovery (September 26).