News

Finding A Voice at PAFA

The BFA program at PAFA may be a traditional fine arts curriculum but for student Raven Squire '20, she's been able to combine those foundational skills with her contemporary interests. Whether it's working on her podcast or collaging photographs, Squire has been trying out as many new types of…

February 28, 2019

Etchings From a 130-Year Old Exhibition on View This Summer

The first annual exhibition of the Philadelphia Society of Etchers was held at PAFA in 1882 and at the time was the largest print exhibition organized in the United States. The exhibition helped establish the Etching Revival in the United States in the late 1800s. Several of those etchings return to…

February 21, 2019

A Student’s Rebellion Leads Straight Back to Art

Natalie Klett '19 rebelled against her artist family by studying geology. But the idea of a desk job gave Klett pause. Pursuing an MFA seemed out of the question for her, until a family member suggested she give a post-baccalaureate program a try to build up her portfolio. Klett chose PAFA because…

February 12, 2019

Art Gives Former Nurse A Fresh Start

After getting a BFA, Joe Rodriguez '19 moved into a career in medicine, All the while keeping up his personal practice. But long days in a hospital don't leave much time for the studio, so Rodriguez decided to devote himself full-time to his artwork. He came to PAFA’s MFA program expecting to work…

February 8, 2019

Laura Deliz '21: From Puerto Rico to Philadelphia

Laura Deliz '21 attended an arts-focused high school in Puerto Rico but always felt a little different than her fellow students and knew her path would be different. She took a gap year to study at an atelier and shore up her fine art skills, which is where she learned about PAFA. Philadelphia was…

Perspectives

January 30, 2019

Drawing Student Lets Insects Infest Her Art Practice

During a museum trip to see an exhibit of dinosaur and fossil illustrations, Drawing student Gillian Cavoto '19 realized she could perhaps make a career out of her love or art and science. Cavoto now spends time at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University as a visiting artist where she…

January 28, 2019

A New Spin on Old News

Headline after headline, the news of the day left an impact on Painting student Bethann Parker '19. She started painting issues of The New York Times in November of 2017 and soon realized she wanted to dedicate an entire year to exploring her perception of current events. With the help of PAFA’s…

January 23, 2019

Before the Hudson River School There Was the Schuylkill

Though many learn that American landscape painting begins with the Hudson River School, looking back a little further reveals that Philadelphia—and PAFA—is at the heart of this tradition. Coming to PAFA this June, "From the Schuylkill to the Hudson: Landscapes of the Early American Republic," tells…

January 18, 2019

Kat Martinez '21: Cuban-American Artist Paints Her Family’s Story

The idea of things not always being what they initially appear to be resonates with Kat Martinez (BFA '20). As a first-generation Cuban-American, she has a complicated relationship with the island and expresses it through her art. After meeting MFA Chair Didier William, Martinez knew she wanted a…

Perspectives

January 2, 2019

Making a Political Statement in His Paintings

After two years spent at the University of Pennsylvania through the PAFA-Penn program, Nicolas Tomlinson '19 is back in his studio at PAFA and turning those concepts into art. Tomlinson looks to historical figures in the black community and music as a source of inspiration and personal expression.

Perspectives

December 28, 2018

Child's Play Leads to Inspiration for MFA Student

Like many artists, she’s using the drawings of another artist to spark her creativity and create something new. But MFA student Sam Dominik pulls her inspiration from her young nephew’s scribbles. She came to PAFA after meeting MFA Chair Didier William, who set her on a different path.

December 20, 2018

Memorial Award Helps Graduates as They Begin Their Professional Careers

The Anne Bryan Memorial Award was established in 2015 to support PAFA students on their artistic journey. The annual award is given to a select student each year to develop their professional careers. Previous award recipients Fang Fang Ren (BFA '17) and Aubrey Brown (Cert. '18) discuss how they…

December 18, 2018

About PAFA

Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the United States’ first school and museum of fine arts. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, PAFA offers a world-class collection of American art, innovative exhibitions of historic and contemporary American art, and educational opportunities in the fine arts. The PAFA Museum aims to tell America's diverse story through art, expanding who has been included in the canon of art history through its collections, exhibitions, and public programs, while classes educate artists and appreciators with a deep understanding of traditions and the ability to challenge conventions. PAFA’s esteemed alumni include Mary Cassatt, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, William Glackens, Barkley L. Hendricks, Violet Oakley, Louis Kahn, David Lynch, and Henry Ossawa Tanner.