Nicole Lampl: Curator of American Art at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg, PA

Nicole Lampl Joins The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, in Greensburg, as Curator of American Art

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art announces the appointment of NICOLE LAMPL as Curator of American Art. With 16 years of experience across museums, galleries, academic institutions, and arts education, Lampl’s curatorial work is rooted in scholarly research, interdisciplinary thinking, and a deep commitment to public engagement. In this role, she will work to give voice to diverse perspectives and expand the traditional canon of American art through the presentation of innovative exhibitions and by guiding the Museum’s new art acquisitions.

“I am honored to join The Westmoreland and excited to collaborate with the team to shape a curatorial vision that makes art more inclusive, resonant, and engaging for diverse audiences,” said Nicole Lampl. “At the heart of this work is my commitment to creating meaningful audience-centered experiences and ensuring the Museum is welcoming and relevant to all.”

Nicole Lampl most recently served as the inaugural Director and Curator of the Reeves House Visual Arts Center in Atlanta, where she launched the visual arts program from the ground up—curating over 20 exhibitions and shaping the institution’s identity through strategic planning, community partnerships, and immersive programming. Her past exhibitions have explored intersections of art, science, identity, and social justice, and combined conceptual rigor with accessible storytelling. She has also held curatorial roles at the New Orleans Museum of Art and worked independently on a range of curatorial projects.

Her writing has been published in academic journals, and she has presented her work at conferences across the country. Nicole Lampl holds an MA in Art History from Tulane University and a BA with honors from UC Berkeley, where she double-majored in Art History and Studio Art. Her graduate research on Gustav Klimt was supported by a year-long fellowship at Freie Universität in Berlin.

“We’re excited to welcome Nicole to The Westmoreland in this lead curatorial role,” said Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO Silvia Filippini-Fantoni, PhD. “She brings a forward-thinking approach that aligns with our strategic initiatives to grow our audience, foster belonging, and deepen community engagement.”

THE WESTMORELAND MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

221 N Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601

thewestmoreland.org

Works by Aaron Gorson, Words by Maxwell King @ The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg

Works by Aaron Gorson, Words by Maxwell King

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg

Through November 9, 2025

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art presents Works by Aaron Gorson, Words by Maxwell King, an exhibition highlighting the industrial landscape paintings of artist AARON HARRY GORSON accompanied by insightful text by author Maxwell King. Featuring a selection of works on loan from private collections, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore Aaron Gorson’s popular depictions of Pittsburgh’s steelmaking industry. 

The text included in the exhibition is drawn from King’s research into Gorson’s life and career, which he will expand upon in an upcoming biography on the artist, Fire in the Night Sky (Lyons Press, spring 2026). An excerpt from the biography is presented within the exhibition, providing a preview of the publication. Maxwell King has authored two other biographies, one on self-taught artist John Kane and a New York Times-bestselling book about Mister Rogers. 

“It was such a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to work with The Westmoreland on this exhibition of the work of Aaron Gorson, and to appreciate—as Gorson did—Pittsburgh’s great steel-industry legacy,” stated King. “I moved from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh almost exactly 100 years after Gorson made the same journey; both of us fell in love with the culture, character, and creativity of western Pennsylvania.” 

In addition to providing the written commentary for the exhibition, King selected the paintings featured and assisted with choosing the arrangement of the works. On October 23, King will give a lecture on the exhibition with further insights into Gorson’s life and artistic practice. Registration for this event will be available through the Museum’s website in mid-May. 

“We are delighted to present this exhibition showcasing Gorson’s works from private collections, as well as one from our own collection, and to pay tribute to the strong steelmaking history of our region,” commented The Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO Silvia Filippini-Fantoni, PhD. “We enjoyed the partnership with Max on this project and look forward to hosting his lecture this fall, as well as the publication of his forthcoming book.” 

About Aaron Harry Gorson 

Aaron Harry Gorson (1872–1933) was a Lithuanian-born American artist who found his calling in capturing the industrial transformation of Pittsburgh. Initially trained as a portrait artist in Philadelphia, Gorson was drawn to the dynamic energy of Pittsburgh’s steel mills and became famous for his paintings of nighttime scenes depicting the glowing riverside mills. Aaron Gorson is considered one of the foremost industrial artists of his time.

About Maxwell King 

Maxwell King is the former editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer and president of the Heinz Endowments. He is the author of the poetry collection "Crossing Laurel Run", a biography on self-taught artist John Kane "American Workman: The Life and Art of John Kane", and the New York Times-bestselling Mister Rogers biography "The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers". King also served as chairman of the board of the National Council on Foundations. His most recent job was president of The Pittsburgh Foundation. 

The works in the exhibition are on loan from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Duquesne Club, and several other private collections. 

THE WESTMORELAND MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

221 N Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601

thewestmoreland.org

Works by Aaron Harry Gorson, Words by Maxwell King

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg, Pennsylvania

February 19, 2025 — November 9, 2025

Our Own Work, Our Own Way: Southern Modern Women Artists @ The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg + Year of Women Artists

Our Own Work, Our Own Way: 

Southern Modern Women Artists

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg

Through May 18, 2025

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art presents Our Own Work, Our Own Way: Southern Modern Women Artists. This exhibition highlights the significant contributions of women artists whose legacies were shaped by their experiences in the American South. The presentation of this exhibition also marks the launch of The Westmoreland’s Year of Women Artists, a yearlong initiative dedicated to celebrating the significant and often underrepresented contributions of women artists to American art history. 

Drawn from the exceptional holdings of The Johnson Collection, Our Own Work, Our Own Way brings together works by over 40 artists, including Anni Albers, Elaine de Kooning, Alma Thomas, and Ida Kohlmeyer, and spans the 1940s to the 2000s. The artists represented in the exhibition transcended the boundaries of their time, creating powerful work that challenged traditional gender roles and broke artistic conventions. While the South was slow to embrace gender equality, many of these artists found a supportive and nurturing environment within creative communities there. Despite the challenges they faced, these women helped define modernism and left their mark on the South’s artistic landscape. 

Year of Women Artists at The Westmoreland

Today, women remain vastly underrepresented in the art world, with studies showing that their work makes up only 13% of major American museum collections. The Year of Women Artists at The Westmoreland brings attention to this imbalance through a dynamic roster of exhibitions and events throughout 2025 centered on American women artists from a variety of backgrounds and eras.

In addition to Our Own Work, Our Own Way, the Museum will present A Fountain of Forms: The Rise of the American Woman Sculptor, 1910–1929 (April 11–December 31, 2025), showcasing bronzes by Harriet Whitney Frishmuth, Malvina Hoffman, and Janet Scudder from the collection of Dr. Michael L. Nieland. These sculptors used representations of the female form to assert their individuality and autonomy in an age of increasing patriarchal control. 

The Museum also hosts the following: Pennsylvania in Progress (January 18, 2025–November 2, 2025), including photography by Aaronel deRoy Gruber and works by other women artists; Cecilia Beaux: Inventing the Modern Portrait (opening June 14, 2025), which unpacks Beaux’s path-breaking approach to crafting the modern portrait; The Art of Elizabeth Catlett from the Samella Lewis Collection (September 7, 2025–January 4, 2026), celebrating Catlett’s achievements in sculpture and printmaking; and Brynn Hurlstone: Resonance (opening September 7, 2025), a large-scale immersive installation by Hurlstone.

THE WESTMORELAND MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

221 N Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601

thewestmoreland.org

Our Own Work, Our Own Way: Southern Modern Women Artists

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg, Pennsylvania

February 9, 2025 — May 18, 2025