Palmer Museum of Art facts for kids
Sandstone facade of the new Palmer Museum of Art on Bigler Road
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| Established | October 10, 1972 |
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| Location | Bigler Road, University Park, PA 16802-2507 |
| Type | Art museum |
| Collection size | Over 10,500 works |
| Architect | Allied Works |
| Owner | Penn State |
| Nearest car park | Parking on campus |
The Palmer Museum of Art is an exciting art museum. It belongs to Pennsylvania State University, often called Penn State. You can find it on the University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania. The museum is a great place to explore art from different times and places. It has a huge collection of artworks for everyone to enjoy.
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What You Can See: The Collections
The Palmer Museum of Art has a growing collection of over 10,500 artworks. This means there are more than ten thousand pieces of art! The collection includes paintings, drawings, photos, and sculptures. You can see art from America, Europe, and Asia. There are also objects from ancient African, European, and American cultures.
American Art
The American art collection is very special. It features early portraits by artists like John Brewster, Jr., Rembrandt Peale, and Gilbert Stuart. You can also see beautiful landscape paintings from the 1800s. These were created by artists such as Sanford Robinson Gifford and George Inness.
The museum also has works from the Ashcan School. These artists, like Robert Henri and John Sloan, showed everyday life in their art. Later art includes pieces by Alexander Calder and Arthur Dove. You can even find sculptures by Dale Chihuly and Alex Katz. Plus, there are many photographs by the famous artist Andy Warhol.
Prints and Photos
The museum has a large collection of prints. These include American prints and Japanese woodblock prints. There are also many interesting photographs. One unique part of the photo collection is "hidden mother photographs." These old photos show a baby or child with a hidden adult, often the mother, covered by a blanket or curtain. This was done to help the child stay still for the long exposure times needed for early photography.
Art from Around the World
The European collection has older paintings and drawings. It also features photos and ceramics from the 1900s. The museum also displays art from other parts of the world. You can see works by artists like Fernando Botero and Yinka Shonibare. There are also Japanese woodcuts, Asian sculptures, and African art.
Right next to the museum building, there is a sculpture garden. Here, you can see outdoor sculptures by artists like Seymour Lipton.
The Lion Paws
One of the most popular sights at the museum is a huge pair of bronze lion's paws. These giant paws are at the front steps of the building. They were made by sculptor Paul Bowden in 1993. They are a fun nod to the lion statues often seen at grand old buildings. They also honor Penn State's mascot, the Nittany Lion.
Museum History
The museum first opened its doors in 1972. Its original building was a simple "box" shape with three galleries. In 1993, a famous architect named Charles Willard Moore made the building much bigger. He turned the old "box" into an auditorium. Then, he added eleven new galleries around it. He also created a lively entrance area with brick arches.
The museum was later renamed to honor James and Barbara Palmer. They gave a large gift in 1986 to help expand the building.
The first director of the museum was William Hull. One of the galleries is named after him. Today, the director is Erin M. Coe.
The "Friends of the Palmer Museum of Art" group started in 1974. This group helps the museum raise money and connect with the public.
A New Home
In 2023, the museum began moving to a brand new building. This new facility is much larger, with 73,000 square feet of space. It has new areas for learning and almost twice as much space for showing art. The new museum is located at the Arboretum at Penn State.
The museum is currently closed while it moves to its new, modern home. It is planned to open to the public on June 1, 2024.
