Peter Paone, a renowned artist, educator, and mentor from Mt. Airy, died on May 14 at age 89 at Jefferson Abington Hospital after a brief illness. His work has been exhibited in prestigious institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. Recently, Woodmere Art Museum displayed 30 of his gouaches, called "Snowpeople," as part of the grand opening of its new Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art & Education. A series of 40 still lifes was also on view at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown in the exhibition "Peter Paone: Not so Still Life." Paone established the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts' printmaking department in 1980, taught there from 1978 to 2009, and served as its first chairperson. He was also vice president of the Print Club (now the Print Center) and served on Woodmere's collection management committee.
Paone's death marks the loss of a major figure in the Philadelphia arts community who influenced generations of artists through his teaching and mentorship. His legacy is significant because he helped shape the city's art scene over more than five decades, with many leading Philadelphia artists having been his students at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. His work, which combined imaginative still lifes and figurative pieces, continues to be celebrated in museum exhibitions, underscoring his lasting impact on American art.