A Nation of Artists

Albert Bierdstadt, The Short of the Turquoise Sea (detail), 1878, 1830-1902, The Middleton Family Collection.

Highlighting the richness and diversity of American art, A Nation of Artists traces the evolving story of American creativity across three centuries, featuring works of art from the Philadelphia Museum of Art collected over the past 150 years and the Middleton Family Collection, one of the country’s most significant private holdings of American art. Presented chronologically around distinctive themes, the exhibition explores art making of all types, from ceramics to wood carving and painting to fashion, and includes works by Indigenous, African American, and historically underrepresented artists who have shaped the nation’s visual culture.

The exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art is mirrored by a simultaneous presentation at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts’ Historic Landmark Building in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Across the two museums, "A Nation of Artists" features more than 1,000 works, including more than 120 iconic paintings and decorative arts from the Middleton Family Collection. Together, these works offer fresh perspectives on the evolving story of American art and experience.

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, "A Nation of Artists" includes the early American portraiture of Charles Willson Peale, the impressionist elegance of Mary Cassatt, the realism of Thomas Eakins, the expressive intensity of Horace Pippin, and the glowing color of Mark Rothko, all shaped by the crosscurrents of cultural exchange, historic events, and imagination. The museum’s exhibition is especially noteworthy for the predominance of the finest American decorative arts including furniture, ceramics, metals, textiles, and architectural elements that broaden the presentation and range of America’s artists.

Through acclaimed masterworks and surprising discoveries, visitors will trace the evolution of American identity and visual culture.