Palmer Museum exhibitions showcase faculty, student curators through collaborative inquiry

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — What is it like to plan and pull off a special art museum exhibition? At the Palmer Museum of Art in the College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State, both faculty and students often partner with the museum to co-create exhibitions from start to finish.

This fall, two such collaborative exhibitions are on view: "America Works: Building and Sustaining the Nation" was curated with faculty from the School of Labor and Employment relations and "Out of the Shadows: Drawings and Watercolors by American Women" was curated by two summer student interns at the Palmer.

'America Works: Building and Sustaining the Nation'

On view in the Barbara and Lee Maimon Teaching Gallery upstairs is special exhibition "America Works: Building and Sustaining the Nation," which traces the deep connections shared between work, power and nation-building in the United States. The exhibition looks at the definition of work and highlights three major themes: how working conditions have differed by race, gender and immigration status; the important labor history of Pennsylvania and the role of unions; and the role of labor in nation-building for the country.

The Teaching Gallery show is a culmination of years of interdisciplinary collaboration between the Palmer and faculty curators Kate Ragon, Carla Lima Aranzaes and Arthur Matthews from Penn State’s School of Labor and Employment Relations in the College of the Liberal Arts. Collectively, the professors have engaged over 15 of their courses in guided visits to the Palmer’s galleries and Object Study Room since fall 2024.

“Work is central to American culture,” said Ragon, assistant clinical professor and labor coordinator with the LABOR School in the Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations. “‘What are you planning to do after you graduate?’ ‘What do you do for a living?’ These are some of the most common questions we ask when we are getting to know someone. And for good reason — the work we do often deeply shapes our individual identity."

“'America Works' asks us to consider the many kinds of labor that built and continue to sustain this nation,” said Keri Mongelluzzo, educator for academic engagement and access at the Palmer, who helped the faculty in organizing and curating the exhibition. “It also examines the complex identities of those workers and whether and how their efforts were compensated and valued.”

Different kinds of work and how well that work is paid also affect the social status or value assigned to workers, including their class, racial and gender identities, suggests the exhibition. "America Works" explores the tense history of work through art objects from the collections of the Palmer Museum and the Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery at Penn State.

According to Ragon, engaging with the museum allows students to practice a different kind of critical thinking and to ask questions that aren't always possible through reading and writing for class. One of the first things student say they are asked by guides when they come into the gallery to stand and engage with an object is simply, “What do you see?”

“That simple question requires students to slow down, to focus, to be present with themselves and with the object. I have found that experiencing labor history and working-class culture through art can be really powerful for students,” building empathy and meaning for them, Ragon said.

"America Works: Building and Sustaining the Nation" closes on Dec. 13.

'Out of the Shadows: Drawings and Watercolors by American Women'

“Where are all the women artists?” asks special exhibition "Out of the Shadows: Drawings and Watercolors by American Women."

Many visitors may be surprised to learn that women artists comprise less than 20% of the Palmer Museum’s permanent collection, but of that small group, around 70% of the objects are works on paper. This presents a challenge for the museum because those works — drawings, watercolors, pastels, original prints — are sensitive to light, meaning the majority of the Palmer’s women artists must remain in unlighted conditions.

"Out of the Shadows" brings together a selection of works by American women artists from the 1820s to the 1950s. All the curation, research, and decisions for the exhibition were made by Apollo Barron, Silver Trout Curatorial Graduate Intern, and Emma Knisely, class of 2026 in art history and Annie Gooding Sykes Intern, who worked throughout the summer to organize the show. With guidance from Janine Yorimoto Boldt, curator of American art, the students literally and figuratively brought women artists into the light, illuminating works from the Palmer’s collection that are often overlooked yet are fundamental to understanding the history of American art.

“There were a significant number of works on paper by women artists that have never been on view or had not been exhibited in a long time,” said Boldt. “With an opening in the exhibition schedule in the Greider gallery, it seemed like a great opportunity to exhibit work by women.”

She also thought the opening would make a great opportunity for students to curate an exhibition and offered Barron and Knisely the chance to do original research, finalize the themes and checklist, and write didactic texts to go along with the 26 artworks.

“One of my favorite things about getting to work on this exhibition was getting to know the people behind the art,” said Knisely, whose favorite artist to research was Eliza Susan Quincy, whose work appears ten times throughout the exhibition.

Until the 1900s, art institutions largely barred women artists from receiving formal artistic instruction, though women tried to participate in public exhibitions and even referred to themselves as “professional” artists, including Quincy and others in the show.

“When I first started the research process for her and her works, there was pretty much nothing in the Palmer’s files,” said Knisely. It became a sort of scavenger hunt to figure out who she was and why she painted and sketched what she did.”

As Knisely researched, she found out Quincy was "an art historian’s dream.” Not only was she a talented artist, but she was also a writer who wrote daily journals, recording who influenced her, the styles of art she preferred, the methods she was taught in her lessons and more.

“I feel a sort of odd connection to her because, when doing gallery talks, I get to speak about her as if she were a close friend that I'm boasting about,” said Knisely. “Although she has long since passed, she was around the exact same age as I am now when she was working. There is something uniquely special about her that I will remember fondly anytime I look back on this experience.”

Boldt said, “I believe it is important for our students to have opportunities to learn about curation and be involved in exhibitions from start to finish."

With her support, Knisely and Barron spent months of their internship working on "Out of the Shadows," and their expansive experience shows in the knowledgeable curation and gallery talks they have done about the show.

"Out of the Shadows: Drawings and Watercolors by American Women" closes on Dec. 6.

Working with collaborators outside the Palmer

"America Works" and "Out of the Shadows" are this fall’s exhibitions created alongside faculty and students, but they are two of many such shows curated in collaboration with groups or individuals across Penn State.

“By collaborating with campus and community partners, including students, we put the Palmer's mission into action, honoring a diversity of expertise and lived experiences and ensuring that our exhibitions and interpretive strategies are responsive to our communities' interests and needs,” said Mongelluzzo, whose role is focused on helping University audiences familarize themselves with the museum and help them use it to their learning and benefit.

“For those of us who didn’t grow up with access to art museums in particular, it can be really intimidating to go to one and know what to do,” said Ragon, which is why they wanted to work in conjunction with the Palmer on an exhibition and bring their students to have experiences in the museum.

“Whether art or natural history or science, museums contain precious examples of the collective work of humanity, an inheritance that we should all feel comfortable accessing.”

Other exhibitions and programming

Also on view this fall are two ongoing special exhibitions that opened in June. "Dreaming American Futures: Invitational 250," features selected works from the last two years created by fifty contemporary artists, including Penn State students, faculty, staff, and alumni who reside in the state of Pennsylvania, plus local artists who live within a 50-mile radius of State College. Second-floor installation "Telling Stories: Rethinking American Art at the Palmer" is on view in the Jason D. Kogan Gallery upstairs. The installation invites the community to visit, reflect, discuss and share their thoughts on new interpretations and perspectives on the American collection at the Palmer ahead of reinstallation plans for the first-floor galleries in fall 2027. Both close on Nov. 29.

A variety of public programs related to special exhibitions and the Palmer’s collection, including collaborative programs with faculty and students from across the University, have been running throughout the fall and will continue through the end of the semester. Find more information on upcoming programs below or visit the Palmer Museum's Programs Page for a full calendar.

Penn State Family Weekend: Discover the Palmer Museum of Art

Saturday, Oct. 17 — Free, drop-in, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Get to know the Palmer Museum of Art along with the Penn State students who help make it a vibrant place for learning, creativity and community. Explore the museum’s world-class collections and special exhibitions. Enjoy hands-on artmaking activities, gallery experiences like dance performances and live sketching and art talks and opportunities to learn about projects developed by Palmer interns, student employees and volunteers. From program development to supporting exhibitions, collections and visitor engagement, students play an important role in shaping the museum experience. Join us for an afternoon of art, conversation and behind-the-scenes stories while exploring the Palmer’s exhibitions and collections.

Find the full schedule for Family Weekend at the Palmer here.

Drop-in Tour: Penn State Family Weekend – Meet the Museum

Sunday, Oct. 18 — 1 p.m.

Curious about the Palmer Museum of Art? Start in the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby to join a Palmer guide for an introduction to the museum's collections, exhibitions and spaces. Discover highlights from across the galleries, learn about the stories behind selected artworks and explore how the museum serves as a center for learning, creativity and community at Penn State and beyond. Perfect for first-time visitors and returning guests alike, this drop-in tour offers an opportunity to get to know the Palmer and its world-class collection while exploring current exhibitions.

Artist Talk: Penn State Faculty + Staff Artists

Friday, Oct. 23 — 1 p.m.

Explore special exhibition "Dreaming American Futures: Invitational 250" and hear from Penn State faculty and staff artists as they speak about their works featured in the Invitational.

Slow Down and Look: Visual Engagement Strategies to Enhance Student Learning

Tuesday, Oct. 27 — 2-3:15 p.m.

Discover how slow looking and object-based learning can enhance student learning across disciplines! Join the Palmer Museum of Art and the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence for a workshop to explore object-based learning strategies in support of your curricular goals. The workshop will provide experience in slow looking exercises, shared-inquiry models, visual thinking strategies and activity-based learning modalities to promote curiosity, observation, descriptive language and visual literacy.

Register here for Slow Down and Look.

Art After Hours: Halloween Spooktacular

Thursday, Oct. 29 — Free, drop-in, 5-8 p.m.

Dare to get spooked at the Palmer with this year’s edition of the Halloween Spooktacular! Bring your own MONSTERpiece to life, immortalize your visit in the Phantom PhotoBOOth and take a haunting jaunt through the galleries during the Ghost Adventure Tour of the collection (6 p.m.). Arrive by 6:30 p.m. to compete for scary good prizes in the costume contest (separate judging for adults and children under 15). Tricks and treats will be provided.

Gallery Conversation: America Works

Thursday, Nov. 5 — 6 p.m.

Explore special exhibition "America Works: Building and Sustaining the Nation" through an interdisciplinary gallery conversation with faculty curators and professors Kate Ragon, Carla Lima Aranzaes, and Arthur Matthews from Penn State’s School of Labor and Employment Relations in the College of the Liberal Arts.

Please note: Sign language interpretation will be provided for this artist talk.

Faculty Talk with Cathleen Cahill: The Unknown "Hollywood Indian" Paintings of Kathryn Woodman Leighton

Friday, Nov. 6 — 2 p.m.

Primarily known for her portraits of Blackfeet people commissioned by the Great Northern Railroad, like the painting "Wife and Child of Bull Plume (Maggie Bull Plume)" currently on exhibit at the Palmer Museum, Kathryn Woodman Leighton was also part of the vibrant Los Angeles art scene. She painted a number of Indigenous entertainers in LA colloquially know as “Hollywood Indians.” These paintings, many held in private collections, are an overlooked part of her oeuvre. Cathleen Cahill, associate professor of history, will discuss how those portraits reveal a broader picture of Native American life in the early twentieth century as well as Leighton’s connection to the art scene in the city.

Art of Healing Workshop

Saturday, Nov. 7 — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In collaboration with Mount Nittany Health, the Palmer presents a pop-up exhibition featuring a selection of works from the permanent collection that explores themes of loss, grief and healing. View the exhibition and participate in a brief facilitated group discussion session. Following the discussion, enjoy a creative and therapeutic art session led by artist and educator Sarah Zappe, director of the Leonhard Center and research professor and assistant dean for teaching and learning in the Penn State College of Engineering.

Register by Nov. 2 to participate. All art supplies are provided by Mount Nittany Health. Free with advanced registration. Register here for the Art of Healing.

Artist Talk: Penn State Faculty + Staff Artists

Wednesday, Nov. 11 — 11:30 a.m.

Explore special exhibition "Dreaming American Futures: Invitational 250" and hear from Penn State faculty and staff artists as they speak about their works featured in the Invitational.

Gallery Conversation: Out of the Shadows

Friday, Nov. 13 — 3 p.m.

Explore special exhibition "Out of the Shadows: Drawings and Watercolors by American Women" through a gallery conversation with exhibition curators and summer 2026 curatorial interns Apollo Barron and Emma Knisely, class of 2026 in art history).

Family Day: Build Together

Sunday, Nov. 15 — Noon to 4 p.m.

Discover how artists transform everyday materials into extraordinary works of art. Built around the "Dreaming American Futures: Invitational 250" exhibition, explore the creative process of assemblage through hands-on art-making, gallery experiences and conversations with exhibiting artist Rebecca Horwitt. Presented in collaboration with The Arboretum at Penn State, families will discover how artists collect, combine, layer and transform everyday materials into meaningful works of art. Gather and combine unexpected materials to create an artwork inspired by who you are or the future you imagine. Join us for an afternoon of creativity for all ages!

About the Palmer Museum of Art

The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State is the largest art museum collection between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and the most significant academic art museum in the state of Pennsylvania. A key element of Penn State’s land-grant mission of teaching, research and public service, the Museum is a vital and accessible cultural resource for Penn State’s students, faculty and scholars, as well as for all visitors to and from the entire central Pennsylvania region. Through its world-class objects, programs and outreach, the free Museum is a welcoming, inclusive and vibrant forum for authentic arts experiences that cultivates meaningful dialogue about today’s most potent ideas and pressing concerns.

An expansive 21st-century teaching museum, the Palmer Museum is a beacon for advancing the arts and humanities on Penn State’s University Park campus and throughout its diverse communities. The Palmer is dedicated to catalyzing groundbreaking research, scholarship and publications and providing impactful, object-based learning for students of all ages. Its rewarding and thought-provoking exhibitions and programs promote visitor participation, belonging and discovery. In 2025, the Palmer was voted one of ten winners in the USA Today 10Best contest for Best New Museums in the country.