News

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PAFA has appointed Amy Lee Ketchum faculty and Chair of Digital and Time-based Media. Following a national search, Ketchum will lead the development of this new area of study at the school, as well as develop PAFA's current digital media offerings. Ketchum begins her new role on August 1, 2019.
Press Release
In the studio with Daniel Flinchbaugh (BFA '19).
As he prepares for the Annual Student Exhibition, the impact Philadelphia's landscape on Daniel Flinchbaugh's (BFA '19) artistic work is apparent—the city is deeply reflected in the subject matter and presentation of his work. After graduating from PAFA this May, Daniel plans to attend UPenn for…
Perspectives
John C. and Richanda Rhoden in their home.
On view in the Maguire Gallery are a series of prints by John and Richanda Rhoden. The Rhodens may have shown their individual work together during their lives, but not much is known about the collaborative prints they produced during their marriage. As stewards of John Rhoden's legacy, PAFA's…
Perspectives
Ash-Bob (BFA '19) in the studio.
After spending 3 years out of the country, Ash-Bob initially wanted to stay in California to pursue art. Her art teacher and PAFA alumnus Andrew Walker Patterson '07 encouraged her to look east. Even though she expected to be a figure painter at PAFA, the desire for connection and to share with…
Perspectives
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PAFA has been awarded $75K from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in order to process, catalog, digitize, and make publicly available an archival collection documenting the life and career of the late African American artist John W. Rhoden.
Press Release
PAFA News
At PAFA, first-year undergraduate student Aimee Liriano '22 is more than a thousand miles away from home, but she’s keeping the Dominican Republic close to her every day. Liriano transferred to PAFA as a graphic design student but quickly realized illustration is where her true passion lies. Outside…
Perspectives
Nasir Young '21 poses in Lenfest Plaza
As a student ambassador, Nasir Young ‘21 can’t help himself when it comes to sharing his excitement about art and PAFA. Young said he’s excited about the school because it took him a few years to finally get here. As a transfer student, Young found that experiencing community college first was…
Perspectives
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PAFA is pleased to present "Multitudes: Walt Whitman at 200" (May 3–September 1, 2019), an exhibition curated by PAFA's Youth Council program. To celebrate the poet Walt Whitman’s 200-year legacy, this exhibition will juxtapose figurative works of Whitman with a medley of historic, modern, and…
Press Release
estelle rubens
The late Estelle Barenbaum Rubens has given nearly $8 million to PAFA school officials have announced. The bequest gift will support student scholarships and tuition for PAFA students. Rubens passed away at the age of 88 and spent almost 15 years guiding museum tours at PAFA as a docent.
Press Release
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PAFA is pleased to announce its 118th Annual Student Exhibition (ASE), May 10–June 2, 2019, in the Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building. The exhibition opens to the public with a reception on May 10 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Preceding the ASE will be the school's 214th Commencement on May 10 at 3 p.m. in the…
Press Release
PAFA News
PAFA is full of artists. From our accomplished faculty to students who are poised to be the next generation of great American artists, it’s hard to not bump into someone on campus with an art background. "Insider Art," on view in the Tuttleman Gallery, showcases the artwork of staff members who work…
Perspectives
PAFA News
On view this summer at PAFA, "From the Schuylkill to the Hudson: Landscapes of the Early American Republic" is as much an exploration of how Philadelphia influenced the Hudson River School painters as it is a celebration of Philadelphia’s roots as a modern city and its place on the world stage in…
Perspectives

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.