Philadelphia is glowing with art this year: the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and the Philadelphia Museum of Art have joined forces for “A Nation of Artists,” a landmark exhibition celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, on view from April 2026 through September 2027.
Across the two museums, more than 1,000 works trace the story of American creativity — including over 100 iconic paintings and decorative objects from the celebrated Middleton Family Collection, many of them rarely seen in public. From 18th-century landscapes to bold contemporary voices, the show offers a fresh look at how American art was shaped by creativity, exchange, and innovation.
At PAFA, the exhibition also marks a special milestone: the grand reopening of the academy’s Historic Landmark Building, a 19th-century architectural masterpiece by Frank Furness and George W. Hewitt — the first building in the United States designed for both art exhibition and art education. Its dazzling interiors now host thematic displays that pair centuries of American art in unexpected, delightful ways, with living artists in dialogue with the masters of the past.
The celebration continues well beyond the galleries: artist talks, public programs, guided tours every Saturday at 1 PM at PAFA, and an immersive audio tour on Bloomberg Connects will run through 2026 and 2027 — offering countless ways to experience 250 years of creativity.
Edward Hopper, The Lee Shore, 1941. The Middleton Family Collection, on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo: A Nation of Artists / The Middleton Family Collection
