Founded in 1919 by Joseph G. Butler, Jr., The Butler Institute of American Art is the first museum of American art. The original structure is a McKim, Mead and White architectural masterpiece listed on the National Register of Historic places. Known worldwide as “America’s Museum”, the museum’s collection totals over 20,000 pieces in all media, and spans four centuries of work. Plan a visit!
EXHIBITIONS
The Pastel Society of America
January 12, 2025-March 9, 2025
The Butler Institute is pleased to present a selection of award winners from the 52nd annual Pastel Society’s exhibition: Enduring Brilliance! The participants are some of the best pastel artists working in the world. This exhibition, drawn from The Pastel Society of America’s annual fall exhibition, features works by some of the nation’s premier pastel painters. The Pastel Society of America (PSA) is the oldest organization of its kind in the country. A primary mandate of the PSA is to provide a forum for the exhibition of works by the most accomplished pastel artists in the United States and abroad.
85th Area Artist Annual
January 5, 2025-February 23, 2025
Opening Reception & Awards: January 5, 2025 | 1:00pm-3:00pm
The Butler’s 85th Area Artist Annual was juried by Tom Acosta from Laeger, West Virginia. He is a self-taught artist who explores his identity as an American outsider, reflecting on his experiences as a Mexican-American in coal mining country and as a person from the Appalachian Mountains navigating mainstream culture. This year’s exhibition consists of 119 works by 101 artists. It is a wonderful cross-section of the work the artists in this area are producing.
Charlee Brodsky: The Audacity of the Mundane
December 22, 2024-March 2, 2025
Meet the Artist: January 5, 2025 | 1:00pm-3:00pm
Charlee Brodsky, a fine art/documentary photographer and emeritus professor of photography at Carnegie Mellon University, describes her work as dealing with social issues and beauty. A selection of her awards includes the Tillie Olsen Award with writer Jim Daniels for their book, Street; an Emmy with the film team that created the documentary, Stephanie, which is based on her friend’s life with breast cancer; two Pennsylvania Council on the Arts fellowships; an Honored Educator award given by the Society for Photographic Education, Mid-Atlantic Region. Among the books she’s authored are Knowing Stephanie and I Thought I Could Fly. Learn more
Sally Weber and Craig Newswanger: ENTANGLED ATTRACTION, 2022 with Soundscape composed and produced by Jonathan Crawford
October 27, 2024-February 16, 2025
Meet-the-Artists Reception: Sunday, October 27, 1-3pm
Like galaxies spinning through space or the chaotic interactions of fundamental particles in the core of stars, Entangled Attraction was inspired by nature’s patterns and complexities, and their effects on the entire system.
Gazing up to watch the spiraling dance of 300 lights, each trail fills our field of vision and leaves traces of their paths suspended in the air. Glints of color, invisible to a camera, are occasionally seen following these arcs of light. “Persistence of vision”, our visual system’s ability to remember light’s image for up to a tenth of a second, captures details the camera cannot see and holds the orbiting trails of light suspended, weightless in the air.
As viewers watch and wonder at the lights, a 7-hour, non-repeating Soundscape by composer, Jonathan Crawford, encourages the viewers to relax submerged in the moment.
Stay tuned for new and exciting exhibitions and events!
Browse Guides & Discover Mahoning County
Packed with insider tips and curated recommendations, our guides unlock the secrets of the city, ensuring you experience its hidden gems and iconic landmarks to the fullest. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie eager to explore local cuisine or simply seeking unique experiences, we have a guide for you!
Request Visitor Guides
