Palmer Museum of Art

Palmer Museum of Art Free-admission art museum at Penn State, serving the University and Central PA!
(278)

The new building for the Palmer Museum of Art is nearing the end of construction and will open to the public in spring 2024. Located on Bigler Road at the Arboretum at Penn State, the new state-of-the-art facility will replace the 51-year home on Curtin Road. The much larger building will feature first-time education and study spaces, flexible event spaces, and nearly twice as much gallery space,

allowing for expanded student, faculty, and public access to Penn State’s growing collection of 10,500 works of art. With its world-class collection and programs, the free-admission Museum will be a welcoming, inclusive, and vibrant forum for authentic arts experiences, cultivating meaningful dialogue about today’s most potent ideas and pressing concerns.

Join us this June as we celebrate the start of summer with two new exhibitions! 🗓️☀️ For more information or to find reg...
06/01/2026

Join us this June as we celebrate the start of summer with two new exhibitions! 🗓️

☀️ For more information or to find registration forms for select events, visit the Programs page on our website.



🖼️ George Tooker (American, 1920–2011), “Window II,” 1956, Egg tempera on gesso panel, 25 x 19 inches, Bequest of James R. and Barbara R. Palmer, 2019.115

🖼️ John Rogers (American, 1829–1904), “Neighboring Pews,” 1883, painted plaster, 18-1/2 x 17-1/8 x 12-3/8 inches; Gift of Phyllis Sobel and William Totten from the estate of Dorothy Barnes Totten, 2012.22

Turn down the brightness with us during Sensory-Friendly Hours at the Palmer! Our next session is this Sunday, May 31 fr...
05/29/2026

Turn down the brightness with us during Sensory-Friendly Hours at the Palmer! Our next session is this Sunday, May 31 from 3–5 p.m. 💡

Twice a month this summer, the Palmer is dimming the lights and turning off audio throughout the galleries. 🔇

While all visitors are welcome, these sessions are especially appropriate for individuals with sensory sensitivities, for neurodivergent visitors, disabled visitors, or anyone who prefers a calmer museum experience. For questions, please contact [email protected].

To see future sessions, visit the programs page on our website.

This week's forecast: sunny with a chance of visiting the museum! ☀️
05/27/2026

This week's forecast: sunny with a chance of visiting the museum! ☀️

05/24/2026

We got scared just thinking about these...😧

What’s new in Global Contemporary? You’ll have to come see for yourself!
05/21/2026

What’s new in Global Contemporary? You’ll have to come see for yourself!

05/19/2026

250 years of the United States. 50 Pennsylvania artists. Four themes:

🌱 Activating Change
🌁 Bridging the Divide
☀️ Pursuit of Happiness
🌎 A More Perfect Union

The juried special exhibition marking the country’s 250th anniversary, “Dreaming American Futures: Invitational 250” opens Saturday, June 13.

Meet the works of Penn State students, faculty, and staff; Penn State alumni who reside in the state of Pennsylvania; and local artists who live within a 50-mile radius of State College, PA.

💭 Featuring recent paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, prints, and ceramics, the exhibition invites us to reflect on the past, ponder our present moment, and dream of future possibilities.

Which gallery color is your favorite? 🎨SW = Sherwin WilliamsBM = Benjamin Moore
05/17/2026

Which gallery color is your favorite? 🎨

SW = Sherwin Williams
BM = Benjamin Moore

Every few years, the Palmer Museum of Art schedules an exhibition that allows us to celebrate our most recent collecting...
05/15/2026

Every few years, the Palmer Museum of Art schedules an exhibition that allows us to celebrate our most recent collecting efforts. 🖼️

"Expanding the Collection: Recent Acquisitions," is on view for one more month through Sunday, June 14.

05/14/2026

Your MBTI—your work on view: Introverts Edition 💭

Celebrate the 100th birthday of artist Betye Saar this summer, with the Palmer's new special exhibition, "Constellations...
05/13/2026

Celebrate the 100th birthday of artist Betye Saar this summer, with the Palmer's new special exhibition, "Constellations: Celebrating the Legacies of Betye Saar."

🎁 Explore the exhibition and the constellation of legacies inspired by her work, on view through Sunday, September 13. Before you leave, write a birthday card that the Palmer will forward to the artist!

Address

650 Bigler Road
University Park, PA
16802

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 8pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+18148657673

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Palmer Museum of Art posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category