Opening Celebration – Making American Artists: Stories from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1776-1976

Oct 25, 2025 – 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of art, music, and celebration as we kick off the nationally acclaimed exhibition, Making American Artists: Stories from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1776–1976.

The Taubman Museum of Art is proud to be the only museum in the southeastern United States to host this extraordinary traveling exhibition.

Event Highlights

Live Music by Cinematheque: Surf rock, exotica, afrobeat, and Ethiopian jazz – get ready to meet your new favorite band.
Performances by Southwest Virginia Ballet: Experience original new dance compositions choreographed just for this event.
Roving Tarot Card Readings: Discover your destiny with a touch of mysticism.
Roanoke Symphony Youth Orchestra: Be serenaded as you enter the party and get your red carpet photos taken.
Live Painting Demonstration: Chat with local artist Kay Sutherland as she captures the evening in a beautiful painting that you can bid for during a weekend-long auction.
Art-Making Activities: Unleash your creativity with hands-on art projects that you can take home after the evening is over.

Explore the Galleries

Featuring iconic works by celebrated artists like Mary Cassatt, Winslow Homer, Georgia O’Keeffe, Alice Neel, Barkley L. Hendricks, and more, this collection tells the story of American art through the lens of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see masterpieces that shaped the nation’s artistic identity.

Food & Drinks

Delicious bites from local favorites will be available for purchase:

Phillin’ Phillys: Indulge in mouthwatering cheesesteaks.
chocolatepaper: Treat yourself to decadent desserts.
Tim Russell’s Chestnuts: Enjoy the warm, roasted goodness of chestnuts.

Get Your Tickets Now!

Don’t miss this one-night-only celebration of art and culture.

Member: $25
General Public: $35
Designated Driver/Under 21: $25

Tickets include 1 drink ticket and additional drink tickets will be available throughout the evening for purchase.

Want to party like a VIP?
Purchase a VIP ticket for special access to a VIP lounge and outdoor balcony with heavy hors d’oeuvre, open bar, and live music. You’ll also enjoy an exclusive, small group guided tour of the galleries with exhibition curators and organizers. VIP tickets are $250 each.

Want to take advantage of the Member pricing?
JOIN TODAY, and you’ll also get a number of other benefits – unlimited free admission to Making American Artists, invitations to Member-exclusive events, discounts on classes, free reciprocal membership at select museums, and more.

To become a sponsor of the Opening Celebration and/or Exhibition, please contact development@taubmanmusuem.org.

VIP TICKETS

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS

Making American Artists: Stories from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1776-1976 is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Lead support was provided to PAFA by the William Penn Foundation, with additional support from the Richard C. von Hess Foundation and donors to PAFA’s Special Exhibitions Fund.

In-kind support is provided by Christie’s and Gill & Lagodich Fine Period Frames, New York.

EXHIBITION PREVIEW

Gilbert Stuart (American, 1755-1828), George Washington (The Landsdowne Portrait), 1796, oil on canvas, 96 x 60 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Bequest of William Bingham, 1811.2. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Attributed to Joshua Johnson (American, active 1796-1824), Unidentified Woman, ca. 1810, oil on canvas, 32 1/2 x 24 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Gift of Mrs. Edgar L. Smith, 1980.5.1. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Charles Willson Peale (American, 1741-1827), The Artist in His Museum, 1822, oil on canvas, 103 3/4 x 79 7/8 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Gift of Mrs. Sarah Harrison (The Joseph Harrison, Jr. Collection). 1878.1.2. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Margaretta Angelica Peale (American, 1795-1882), Strawberries and Cherries, ca. 1813-1830, oil on canvas, 10 1/16 x 12 1/8 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, source unknown, 1924.11. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Thomas Moran (American, 1837-1926), Two Women in the Woods, 1870, oil on canvas, 20 x 30 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Orton P. Jackson Fund in memory of Emily Penrose Jackson, 2015.19. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Mary Cassatt (American, 1844-1926), Baby on Mother’s Arm, ca. 1891, oil on canvas, 25 x 19 ¾ in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Bequest of Peter Borie, 2003.15. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910), Fox Hunt, 1893, oil on canvas, 38 x 68 1/2 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Joseph E. Temple Fund, 1894.4. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Edward Hopper (American, 1882-1967), Apartment Houses, 1923, oil on canvas, 24 x 28 15/16 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, John Lambert Fund, 1925.5, © Heirs of Josephine N. Hopper / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Georgia O’Keeffe (American, 1887-1986), Red Canna, 1923, oil on canvas, 12 x 9 7/8 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, The Vivian O. and Meyer P. Potamkin Collection, Bequest of Vivian O. Potamkin, 2003.1.8, © 2023 Georgia O’Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Alice Neel (American, 1900-1984), Investigation of Poverty at the Russell Sage Foundation, 1933, oil on canvas, 24 1/8 x 30 1/8 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia. Art by Women Collection, Gift of Linda Lee Alter, 2010.27.2, © The Estate of Alice Neel, Courtesy of The Estate of Alice Neel and David Zwirner. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Horace Pippin (American, 1888-1946), John Brown Going to His Hanging, 1942, oil on canvas, 24 1/8 x 30 1/4 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, John Lambert Fund, 1943.11. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Edward L. Loper (American, 1916-2011), Sunday Afternoon, 1948, oil on canvas, 20 x 24 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, and Edward Loper Sr., Gift of Dr. George J. Roth, 1970.34. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Andrew Wyeth (American, 1917-2009), Young America, 1950, egg tempera on gessoed board (“Renaissance Panel”), 32 1/2 x 45 5/16 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Joseph E. Temple Fund, 1951.17, © 2023 Andrew Wyeth / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.

Barkley L. Hendricks (American, 1917-2009), J. S. B. III, 1968, oil on canvas, 48 x 34 3/8 in., courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson Dilworth, 1969.17, © Barkley L. Hendricks, Courtesy of the Estate of Barkley L. Hendricks and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York. Photograph by Adrian Cubillas.