Upcoming Exhibitions

A bronze sculpture of Lord Shiva Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, surrounded by a ring of flames, set against a black background.

Sculpture In Bronze: Highlights from the Permanent Collection

Opening January 21st, 2026

This exhibition spotlights some of the most significant sculptures in the Museum’s collection, focusing on the medium of bronze. Since ancient times, bronze has been melted and poured into molds to make durable objects, including fine art. Featured works range from Greco-Roman and Indian sacred statuary to 20th-century European and American works, including pieces by Erie native John Silk Deckard (whose Eternal Vigilance keeps watch in front of the Customs House). The core of this collection is the James D. Baldwin bequest, which exemplifies his passion for collecting, dedication to scholarship, and keen aesthetic sense. Viewers will have the opportunity to travel the globe in a search for timeless beauty, in the classic setting of the Customs House galleries.

NPAA Student Scholarship Art Show

January 28th — February 8th, 2026

Now in its 52nd year, the Northwestern Pennsylvania Artists Association (NPAA) is a professional organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the work of visual artists in the region. For more than two decades, NPAA has proudly awarded over $112,000 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors, supporting their aspirations to study art in college. This special exhibition in the Customs House offers scholarship recipients the opportunity to showcase their work in a professional setting.

Reflections

SARAH JACOBS

Opening February 12th, 2026

Sarah Jacobs is a contemporary artist whose work spans maximalist and surrealist traditions, expressed through both canvas and large-scale mural projects. She is represented by Fremin Gallery in New York City and Zynka Gallery in Pittsburgh. Her artistic practice has been shaped by international residencies across North and South America, as well as Europe. Join us for an opening reception of Reflections at 6 pm February 12th.

A woman with short brown hair, wearing headphones, gloves, and paint-splattered clothes, sitting on a wooden chair in front of a colorful abstract painting of a sunset and cloud formations, in an art studio.

Kids as Curators

Opening February 27th, 2026

The Erie Art Museum is thrilled to relaunch Kids as Curators, a beloved program originally developed in 2005 by former Education Manager and Teaching Artist Kelly Armor following a residency at J.S. Wilson Middle School. Centered on giving students true creative control, the program empowers young people to collect, curate, and design exhibits around ideas that matter to them, demonstrating that museums are living, breathing spaces for fresh perspectives. Revived by popular demand, the Museum is bringing back this impactful program. This year, the Museum is collaborating with Dafmark Art Center and rostered Erie Arts & Culture Teaching Artist Nicholas Gore, marking the first official reboot of this community favorite.