Philadelphia Museum of Art

Asian American and Pacific Islander stories are woven into the fabric of American history—and this May, we’re honoring those histories, voices, and legacies at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. To help guide our celebration, we’re collaborating with artist, designer, and poet Cynthia Zhou. Her current work is concerned with the myth of the American cowboy, the legacy of Chinese railroad workers, and how historical archetypes are deliberately created. Stop by the museum this month to join us for programs and performances spotlighting AAPI artists and communities all month long: https://bit.ly/4m3f9yX About this work: Using the shape of a Chinese kite, "Every Railroad Runs West" honors the thousands of Chinese immigrants who built the transcontinental railroad, labor that connected the country but left little surviving history. The painting reimagines that missing record, with figures carrying the railroad like a dragon in parade. Zhou even mixed some of the paint with crushed railroad spikes found in the Schuylkill River, rooting this national story in the soil of Philadelphia. 🖼️ "Every Railroad Runs West," 2025, by Cynthia Zhou © Cynthia Zhou 📸 Photo by Iza Hu

Join us for AAPI Celebration Night on Friday, May 9 and enjoy Pay What You Wish admission from 5 - 8:30 p.m. In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, we invite you to: - Explore printmaking techniques and decorate your own Chinese-inspired kite in a special pop-up studio led by Cynthia Zhou, our AAPI Month artist collaborator. - Enjoy food from Baby’s Kusina and Market, offering a delicious taste of Modern Filipino cuisine. - Experience a live performance by Casual Fifth, a Taiko and modern dance ensemble focused on creating innovative work rooted in the traditions of Japanese Taiko drumming and American modern dance. Now celebrating their fifth anniversary, Casual Fifth draws inspiration from across NYC, Philadelphia, Boston, Japan, Hawaii, and beyond. Celebrate the richness of AAPI creativity and culture through art, food, and performance.

"George Nakashima, Woodworker" tells the story of the famed woodworker and furniture designer whose handcrafted works are featured in Boom: Art and Design in the 1940s. Join us for a special screening of this short documentary, followed by a Q&A with two special guests: Mira Nakashima, daughter of George and creative director of George Nakashima Woodworkers, and John Nakashima, the filmmaker and George’s nephew. 🎬 Friday, May 2 at 5:30 p.m. 📍 Eli Kirk Price Room, Main Building 🎟️ Free with admission, registration required: https://bit.ly/42wSe5X Photo courtesy of Ezra Stoller/Esto.

“When I first came to New York in 1974, I straight went to Philadelphia to see his last piece, Étant donnes and then also Large Glass. And it’s quite inspired me. I didn’t understand quite well what he’s trying to do, but, same as the Mozart music…I felt something. He’s guiding me to somewhere.” - Hiroshi Sugimoto Watch the latest episode of "Under the Influence" from Artforum International Magazine, featuring artist, photographer, and architect Hiroshi Sugimoto as he reflects on the enduring influence of Marcel Duchamp: https://bit.ly/4cJp1cR 📍 Come see what inspired Sugimoto—Étant donnés and The Large Glass are both on view in our galleries.

Henry Ossawa Tanner’s "The Annunciation" has a new home in Gallery 358. Painted in 1898, this quietly powerful work reimagines the biblical moment with emotional depth and restraint: Mary as a young woman, startled by the sudden presence of a divine light in her room. When the Philadelphia Museum of Art acquired the painting in 1899, it became the first work by an African American artist, and only the second by a contemporary artist, to enter the collection. More than a century later, The Annunciation continues to resonate. Now on view in a new gallery, it invites visitors to reflect on Tanner’s singular approach to storytelling, spirituality, and representation. 🖼️ "The Annunciation," 1898, Henry Ossawa Tanner 📍 Gallery 358, European Art 1500-1850

Our visitors are as iconic as the art on our walls. From first-time guests to longtime members, you bring the museum to life. We're grateful for every shared moment, every perspective, and every post that helps tell our story. Take a look at a few recent highlights from our community—and thank you to everyone who continues to make this space feel vibrant, creative, and alive. 📸 Featuring our friends on Instagram: @Rudy.hq @larryosseimensah & @raelis @jeffinp.bsky.social on Bluesky @jenicainphilly @kailey.beerman @pinsesa_aimee @snowsdesign

Julian Abele, the pioneering architect behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s main building, helped define a cultural landmark that continues to awe visitors nearly a century later. “Abele’s love of the classical Beaux Arts style… made strides in elevating Philadelphia’s profile as an American city equal to Paris or other European cities,” writes Evan Nicole Brown of Architectural Digest That legacy is still felt today. “The monumentality of the museum is wonderful, people don’t build buildings like this anymore,” says David Barquist, H. Richard Dietrich Jr., Curator of American Decorative Arts. “It creates a sense of drama when you walk in the door that sets you up for the fact that you’re in a special place about to have a special experience.” Read the full story on Abele’s influence and enduring vision: https://bit.ly/42jOuWD

A rare opportunity for art lovers and Eakins enthusiasts: now through May 19, a major work by Thomas Eakins, on loan from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art ,is on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In this video, Kathleen A. Foster , The Robert L. McNeil, Jr., Senior Curator of American Art and Director of the Center for American Art, shares why this moment is so special and what makes Eakins’ approach to portraiture so deeply human. Don’t miss the chance to see this work displayed alongside The Gross Clinic, a powerful pairing not often seen together. "Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand," 1874, Thomas Eakins, American 1844–1916. Courtesy Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

“It was extraordinarily fun putting together,” Jessica Smith, director of curatorial affairs said. “There is so much going on and obviously there’s no way we could tell all of the stories of the 1940s. But we tried to create a sense of the zeitgeist, the feeling of the time.” All 250 objects on view come from the Art Museum’s collection. Smith pulled in nearly every department, including prints and photography, craft, decorative arts, fashion, furniture and housewares. Read more from WHYY : https://bit.ly/4joVVRW #ArtMuseum #Boom1940s #ArtandDesign

Join PBS's ANTIQUES ROADSHOW Senior Producer, Sam Farrell, and several of the show exhibitors, Eric Hanks, Betty Krulik, Arlie Sulka, and David Walker, who have also appeared on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW as specialists in their fields, and Alasdair Nichol, Deputy Chairman of Freeman's I Hindman. They will discuss with Sam their behind-the-scenes experiences on the show. The panel will take place in the tent before the show opens on Saturday. Saturday, April 26, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.