Woodmere Art Museum

05/31/2026

Why would the same artist paint the same model twice, with wildly different results?

Angele and Woman with Red Hair are both undated works by the same model, Angele, depicted by Arthur B. Carles.

Angele’s bright red tresses are the focus of these portraits, in which they contrast sharply with her pale skin and the cool blues of the background.

Carles renders the figure more abstractly in Angele (slide 1) than in Woman with Red Hair (slide 2), prioritizing the drama of color. Here, he engages the French Fauvism movement through his use of powerful colors and strong brushstrokes.

Further, Carles’s work departed increasingly from naturalism throughout his lite, and Angele witnesses a middle ground between the realistic landscapes and portraits of his early career and his later, fully abstract compositions.

Born in Philadelphia, Carles had a staggering impact on the development of American modernism and abstract painting both through his own work and his role as a teacher. He was a powerful and controversial instructor at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts () who embraced the modern age and introduced his students to the work and ideas of the European avant-garde.

Paintings by several of his students are in Woodmere’s collection, including Quita Brodhead, Jane Piper, Faye Swengel Badura, Bernard Badura, Jessie Drew-Bear, Elizabeth Godshalk Burger, Morris Blackburn, and Leon Kelly.

Want to learn more about modernism in Philadelphia? Check out our free digital guide on !

05/29/2026

Let the celebrations commence!!
We're kicking off June with the birthday of the one and only Violet Oakley with FREE special guided tours at Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art and Education.

A pioneering Philadelphia artist, muralist, and cultural leader, Oakley became one of the leading figures of the American Renaissance through works that explored civic life, education, equality, and peace.

Visitors will explore a selection of her artworks and discover how she used symbolism, storytelling, and imagination to create art that continues to inspire audiences today.
With family-friendly tours at 11 am, 12:30 pm, 2 pm and 4 pm on Wednesday, June 10, don't miss this opportunity to learn more about one of the women central to Woodmere's (and Philadelphia's) history!

05/29/2026

Debunking the myths about Woodmere!!

It’s also true that you don’t NEED to get a treat in Chestnut Hill on your way to or from Woodmere, but it sure feels that way when I’m passing and too 🤪

Did we miss anything here??

05/27/2026

Standing at the entrance to Charles Knox Smith Hall, this compelling, close to life-size sculpture of a young black woman is inspired in part by the male kouros figures of ancient Greek sculpture.

Christopher Smith was drawn to the potential movement in the ancient figures whose feet were positioned in a walking pose, though both flat on the ground and with arms symmetrically placed at their sides. Traditionally, a woman kore (maiden) was clothed and stood with her feet together, arms at her sides in the manner of a column.

In titling this work, Sankofa Kore, Smith references the Adinkra symbol of the Akan people of Ghana. The literal translation of “sankofa” means “return and get it.” It’s associated proverbial phrase is interpreted as taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present. Sankofa Kore is a powerful sculpture whose presence connects with a different time.

The sculpture was a collaboration of sorts between fine art model, Kelicia Pitts, and artist, Christopher Smith.
After meeting at Fleisher Art Memorial, Smith booked Kelicia to model for a life drawing group held at his studio. When she saw his work, she asked if he would do a sculpture of her if she were to pose for free and in turn receive a plaster cast.

(Find this and other insights about our outdoor sculpture on our website under ’sOutdoorWonder!)

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Image: Sankofa Kore, 2011, by Christopher Smith (Gift of the artist and Stephen Robin, 2015), Photo by Darryl Moran

05/26/2026

One last look… make it count! ✨👀

We’re saying farewell to Bodies & Souls: The Robert and Frances Coulborn Kohler Collection with a closing reception on Thursday, June 4, from 2–3 pm, followed by an in-depth guided tour with an expert docent through the exhibition at 3 pm.

Bodies and Souls traces the imaginative and ethical force of representational art while celebrating the growth of Woodmere’s collection through the generous underwriting of Robert and Frances Coulborn Kohler.

Your ticket to this event is FREE with admission and open to all, kindly pre-register online (Admission to Woodmere is $15/adult | $10/senior | FREE for Members)

05/25/2026

This , we remember heroes whose stories were almost lost to history. 🎺

During World War I, the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the Harlem Hellfighters, were refused a place in New York’s farewell parade because, as they were told, “black is not a color in the rainbow.” Yet when assigned to fight alongside the French army (because white American soldiers refused to serve beside them), they proved their bravery beyond all doubt, becoming one of the most decorated units of the entire war.

Off the battlefield, bandleader James Reese Europe transformed these soldiers into a groundbreaking ensemble that brought jazz to Europe and lifted Allied spirits at a pivotal moment in history.

This Friday, June 5 at 6pm, experience the music that made them legends — from Castle House Rag to Memphis Blues — in a live concert honoring the Harlem Hellfighters’ extraordinary legacy.

🎟️ $18 Members | $28 Non-Members
Link in bio to reserve your tickets.

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05/21/2026

05/21/2026

There’s a reason jazz heads and musicians still talk about Max Roach like he’s in the next room.

Swipe to see why he’s one of the most beloved and recorded jazz percussionists in the world, then come feel his rhythms and inspirations for yourself at Woodmere.

On May 29th, you can hear styles popularized by Max Roach (1924-2006) live inside Woodmere’s galleries performed by The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble featuring percussionist John Coley (), surrounded by art on the walls.

🎶 Heartbeat of Rhythm: A Max Roach Tribute | Friday, May 29 · 6pm · Woodmere’s Smith Hall. Link in bio for tickets.

05/20/2026

Arc of Promise explores how Philadelphia’s artists have envisioned “America” as an idea, from the nation’s founding to today.

Open from June 20, 2026 - January 10, 2027, and in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Arc of Promise draws largely from Woodmere’s collection.

The exhibition spans the 1790s to the present, with painting, sculpture, and works on paper that reflect the ever-renewed ideal of the American experiment. Art with depictions of maps and flags, as well as social and allegorical representations from the 18th through the 21st centuries, is placed in dialogue, revealing how Philadelphia’s artists across generations have grappled with questions of national identity and freedom.

The exhibition’s title is inspired by Philadelphia-born artist Jerry Pinkney (1939–2021), whose notion of the “arc of promise” acknowledges America’s painful histories—slavery, displacement, injustice—while affirming its capacity for renewal.

Pinkney’s vision, grounded in optimism and equity, frames the exhibition’s central idea: that the promise of America is not fixed, but continuously reimagined by those who believe in its unfolding potential.

Join us for an opening reception on Saturday, June 20, from 2-4 pm. Free with registration via our website.