A Nation of Artists
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
April 12, 2026 - September 2027
The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and The Middleton Family Present a Landmark Exhibition of American Art Celebrating the United States’s 250th Anniversary.
Flag, 1960-66
Encaustic and printed collage on paper laid down on canvas,
17 1/2 x 26 3/4 (framed 34 3/4 x 44 inches)
The Middleton Family Collection
George Washington (The Lansdowne Portrait), 1796
Oil on canvas, 96 x 60 inches (243.84 x 152.4 cm)
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts,
Bequest of William Bingham
What is an American?, 2001-2003
Lithograph, chine collé, monotype,
68 x 40 inches (172.72 x 101.6 cm)
Gift of Ofelia Garcia
J. S. B. III, 1968
Oil on canvas, 48 x 34 3/8 inches (121.92 x 87.3125 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson Dilworth
Two of America’s most esteemed cultural institutions—the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)—announced A Nation of Artists, a historic collaboration with the private Middleton Family Collection that unites three extraordinary collections of American art. This unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime exhibition will be presented exclusively at both PMA and PAFA to honor America’s 250th anniversary. It will open for public enjoyment from April 2026 to September 2027.
Featuring more than 1,000 works across the two museums, A Nation of Artists will be the most expansive presentation of American art ever mounted in Philadelphia. Though shaped by distinct curatorial visions at the PMA and PAFA, the exhibition is unified by shared themes exploring the richness of American art. Selections from The Middleton Family Collection—one of the country’s most significant private holdings—will be interwoven at both venues to offer fresh insight into the story of American art and experience.
“Our aspiration is that this exhibition is for everyone—no prior knowledge of art or history required,” noted John S. Middleton. “We believe in the power of storytelling to connect people and are thrilled to partner with these two storied institutions to share the works that have brought our family so much joy and inspiration. Like baseball, art has the power to bring people together and surprise us when we least expect it. With every viewing, there’s something new to discover. It’s an honor to help bring American art to life in a new way during this very special 250th commemoration of our country’s founding.
Untitled, 1939
Oil on panel 36 x 19 ¾ inches (91.4 x 50.2 cm)
A.E. Gllatin Collection, 1952
Philadelphia Museum of Art
John Brown Going to His Hanging, 1942
Oil on canvas, 24 1/8 x 30 1/4 inches (61.2775 x 76.835 cm)
John Lambert Fund
Spanning three centuries of diverse mediums—from portraiture and sculpture to furniture, textiles, decorative arts, and photography—A Nation of Artists will trace the ever-evolving story of American creativity. Visitors will experience everything from the early realism of Charles Willson Peale to the shimmering brushwork of John Singer Sargent, the expressive intensity of Horace Pippin, and the impressionist elegance of Mary Cassatt—all shaped by the crosscurrents of cultural exchange, historic events, and imagination. The exhibition will further spotlight modern and contemporary artists whose work provides differing perspectives and interpretations of life in America today, including sculptural installations and multimedia works by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Rina Banerjee, and Mickalene Thomas.
Pichincha, 1867
Oil on canvas 31 × 48 3/16 inches (78.7 × 122.4 cm);
Framed: 63 × 46 × 6 inches (160 × 116.8 × 15.2 cm)
125th Anniversary Acquisition
Gift of the McNeil Americana Collection, 2004
Philadelphia Museum of Art.
“What makes American art so powerful is not only where it was created but also who made it—and why,” said Sasha Suda, the George D. Widener Director and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. “A Nation of Artists will present a broad and vibrant picture of artistic expression that was happening across the country through both familiar icons and voices that have historically been overlooked. We couldn’t be more excited and inspired to partner with PAFA and The Middleton Family on this extraordinary cultural milestone, and we look forward to welcoming everyone—from neighbors down the street to visitors from across the region, the country, and around the world—to be part of this celebration.”
As the birthplace of American democracy, Philadelphia will serve as a cultural and historic hub for the America 250 semiquincentennial celebrations, hosting global events including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the PGA Championship, and the MLB All-Star Game, among many other exhibitions, sports events, and major conventions. A Nation of Artists will place the city at the heart of the nation’s creative legacy, reflecting both the historic depth and the city’s continued influence on American culture.
“This historic collaboration places Philadelphia’s artistic legacy on full display—offering the world a celebration of creativity, identity, and nationhood that can’t be experienced anywhere else,” said Angela Val, President and CEO of Visit Philadelphia. “Only in Philadelphia—where our independence was declared, our constitution debated and established, and our first states united—could an exhibition of this scale and significance come to life.”
Portrait of Dr. Samuel D. Gross (The Gross Clinic), 1875
Oil on canvas, 8 feet × 6 feet 6 inches (243.8 × 198.1 cm)
Gift of the Alumni Association
to Jefferson Medical College in 1878
and purchased by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
and the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 2007 with the generous
support of more than 3,600 donors, 2007
Staircase Group (Portrait of Raphaelle Peale
and Titian Ramsay Peale I), 1795
Oil on canvas, 7 feet 5 1/2 inches × 39 3/8 inches
The George W. Elkins Collection, 1945
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Library Ladder Steps with Elephant
and Donkey Shaped Finals, 1935
Hickory, Oak 34 ¾ x 18 x 23 ¼ inches
125th Anniversary Acquisition
Gift of Rachel Bok Goldman and Allen S. Goldman, M.D., 2001
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Artist/maker unknown
Magenta silk satin with black silk satin and black cotton lace
Center Front Length (Skirt): 41 inches (104.1 cm), Waist (Bodice):
23 inches (58.4 cm), Waist (Skirt): 22 inches (55.9 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Keen Butcher, 1997.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Bringing together two world-class institutions, A Nation of Artists will be a collaborative, two-venue exhibition with distinct perspectives, curated by the teams at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, in partnership with The Middleton Family. Highlighting the richness and diversity of American art, the exhibition spans generations and artistic traditions, featuring contributions from Indigenous, African American, immigrant, and historically underrepresented artists who have helped to shape the nation’s cultural story.
Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2026, PMA’s installation will offer a sweeping panorama of American art from about 1700 to 1960. Through iconic masterworks and bold juxtapositions, visitors will trace the evolution of American identity and visual culture—exploring tensions between high and low, elite and common, abstraction and realism. Set within PMA’s Beaux-Arts building, the installation will affirm the museum’s civic role in shaping the future of art and culture.
This exhibition will also mark the reopening of PAFA’s fabled Historic Landmark Building, designed by Frank Furness and opened in 1876, unveiling a bold new installation of the museum’s permanent collection, enhanced by numerous works from The Middleton Family Collection. The reimagined installation will offer a contemporary lens on American art, grounded in PAFA’s legacy of inclusion and innovation. As the nation’s first art museum and school, founded by Charles Willson Peale in 1805, PAFA continues to shape how American artists evolve—through formal study, experimentation, community, and creative risk—supported by its exhibitions, certificate programs, and public initiatives.
“This is a transformative moment for PAFA and for Philadelphia,” said Harry Philbrick, Interim Director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. “As we reopen our Historic Landmark Building, we invite audiences into a renewed experience—one that reflects both our storied legacy and our forward-looking vision. This exhibition, enriched by rarely seen works from The Middleton Family Collection, will offer a compelling and inclusive narrative of American art. It’s a powerful expression of PAFA’s ongoing commitment to education, artistic excellence, and public engagement—especially meaningful in a landmark year for our nation.”
The Lee Shore, c. 1941
Oil on canvas; 28 1/4 x 43 in. (71.8 x 109.2 cm)
The Middleton Family Collection
Up the Avenue from Thirty-Fourth Street, 1917
Oil on canvas, 36 in × 29.93 in (~91.4 × 76.0 cm)
The Middleton Family Collection
Group with Parasols (A Siesta), c. 1904
Oil on canvas; 26 1/8 × 34 1/4 in. (66.4 × 87 cm)
The Middleton Family Collection
The Middleton Family Collection
Presented publicly for the first time, more than 120 works from The Middleton Family Collection, assembled over five decades, will bring added depth and dimension to A Nation of Artists. John S. Middleton, widely admired as the managing partner of the Philadelphia Phillies, and his wife Leigh Middleton, a champion in the fight to end homelessness, have been passionate art collectors throughout their nearly 50-year marriage. Masterworks not previously available for public exhibition will offer fresh perspectives on the story of American creativity and history.
A Nation of Artists is organized by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130
