A Celebration of Philadelphia Artists Sculpture & Landscapes:
Opening Reception: Thursday, May 22, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
After school, family crafts inspired by the collection starting at 3:30 pm
Exhibition Dates: May 2025 - May 2026
in conjunction with World Heritage Week
Above image: "Morning Clouds – Villa Window," Diane Burko, oil on canvas, 1994
Structural Sculpture
Robert Engman
May 2025 - May 2026
Massachusetts-born Robert Engman (1927-2018) is best known for creating structural sculptures where he contorts various metals into unique, geometric shapes. He realized his passion for sculpture at Yale University’s graduate school, where he worked under his mentor Josef Albers (1888-1976). Albers, who was an influential abstract painter and theorist, was a source of both inspiration and education for Engman. Engman continued to experiment with abstract shapes and metal throughout his life, saying that a sculpture “answers one question and then asks the next question.” He eventually settled in Philadelphia and founded the sculpture program at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught sculpting techniques to his students that also inspired his own working process. Engman most commonly made use of bronze, aluminum, and steel to create his sculptures, while also venturing into working with acrylic plastic. He is well known in the Philadelphia area for creating Triune (1975), a bronze sculpture of interlocked circles that sits outside of Philadelphia’s City Hall. Later in his life, Engman also made a foray into sculpting precious metals and jewelry. He continued creating art until his death in 2018.
This exhibition was curated by Ava Crosby ‘26.
Transcending Nature
Selections from the PAFA Collection
May 2025 - May 2026
Transcending Nature: Emily Brown, Diane Burko, Nanette Acker Clark, Neysa Grassi, Georgia O'Keeffe & Elizabeth Osborne, explores the role of nature as a platform for artistic explorations ranging from abstraction to environmental justice. The pieces are on loan from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts through the generous support of the Art Bridges Foundation.
