April 01, 2026

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

The joint exhibition spans three centuries of American art, with different experiences at each museum.

By PhillyVoice Media Events

Thom Carroll/For PhillyVoice

“A Nation of Artists” brings more than 1,000 works to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and PAFA, offering a look at how American art has evolved over three centuries.

A new exhibition opening April 12 will be on view at two of Philadelphia’s major art institutions, offering a shared look at how American art has evolved over time.

“A Nation of Artists” is a joint exhibition between the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, created in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Across both museums, the exhibition will include more than 1,000 works, including more than 100 paintings and decorative arts from the Middleton Family Collection.

Together, the exhibitions aim to show how American art and identity have developed over the past three centuries, with each museum offering a different way to experience the work.

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the exhibition is organized in chronological order, guiding visitors through key periods in American art. The show draws from the museum’s collection alongside the Middleton Family Collection and includes a range of mediums, from painting and ceramics to woodwork and fashion.

The exhibition highlights a broader range of artists who have shaped American art, including Indigenous and African American artists.

At PAFA, the exhibition takes a thematic approach, grouping works across time periods to highlight connections and new interpretations. The show also includes contemporary pieces, placing current artists in conversation with those from earlier centuries.

The exhibition at PAFA also marks the reopening of its Historic Landmark Building, originally designed as a space for both art education and exhibitions.

Admission to “A Nation of Artists” is included with regular museum entry at each location.