At the heart of Allentown's art scene is the ever-evolving Allentown Art Museum. The Museum is home to works from the European Renaissance and Baroque eras, as well as modern-day and local artists and new exhibitions with a wide range of artifacts within its collection. Step into the Library of the Francis Little House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Other aspects of the permanent collections focus on America Painting & Sculpture, Non-Western Art, Textiles and Costume, and more.
Along with permanent collections, the Museum features new and exciting exhibitions, like this summer's Marcus Jahmal: Higher Animals, Scarlet Poppies and Ultramarine Butterflies: The Language of Color, and Structure and Lyric: Prints by Stanley Whitney. Read more about the exhibit below, along with info about admission (free for all, always!) and parking information to plan your visit today.
Marcus Jahmal: Higher Animals
June 1 through September 29, 2024
Experience the thought-provoking world of Marcus Jahmal in "Higher Animals," his first solo museum exhibition in the United States. Marcus Jahmal explores the intersections of nature, mythology, and the human condition through dynamic and colorful paintings. Each piece invites viewers into a fantastical realm where animals and humans merge, questioning the boundaries between the wild and the civilized. Jahmal's bold use of color and form captures the essence of his subjects, offering a fresh perspective on contemporary life and its primal roots.
Marcus Jahmal, Grizzly and Fish, 2024, oil on canvas. © Marcus Jahmal, image courtesy of Anton Kern Gallery, New York
Marcus Jahmal, Moose Color Study, 2024, oil on canvas. © Marcus Jahmal, image courtesy of Anton Kern Gallery, New York
Marcus Jahmal, Gold Ochre, 2024, oil on canvas. © Marcus Jahmal, image courtesy of Anton Kern Gallery, New York
Marcus Jahmal, Noir (detail), 2022, oil on canvas. © Marcus Jahmal, image courtesy of Anton Kern Gallery, New York
Scarlet Poppies and Ultramarine Butterflies: The Language of Color
June 1 through September 29, 2024
Delve into the emotional and symbolic power of color in "Scarlet Poppies and Ultramarine Butterflies: The Language of Color." This exhibit features a diverse collection of artworks that use color to convey deep meanings and evoke powerful feelings. The exhibit presents a selection of artworks in which color predominates and invites viewers to experience the world through a kaleidoscope of hues, each telling its own unique story in which we each see the world.
Joseph Stella, Tropical Floral, c. 1928, oil on canvas. Philadelphia Museum of Art: Gift of Charles K. Williams II, 2023
Georgia O'Keeffe, Red and Orange Streak, 1919, oil on canvas. Philadelphia Museum of Art: Bequest of Georgia O’Keeffe for the Alfred Stieglitz Collection, 1987
Structure and Lyric: Prints by Stanley Whitney
June 1 through September 29, 2024
"Structure and Lyric: Prints by Stanley Whitney" showcases the intricate interplay of form and rhythm in Whitney's black-and-white prints. Known for his colorful paintings, Whitney here emphasizes the foundational role of drawing in his work. His compositions feature improvisational lines that create freehand grids, evoking the ancient ruins of Rome and Egypt. Influenced by jazz, Whitney's prints invite viewers to imagine the colors and sounds that inform his abstract explorations, blending structure with lyrical spontaneity.
Stanley Whitney, Untitled, 2016, sugar lift aquatint and open bite, from a series of 8 etchings, BORCH Editions, Copenhagen, Denmark. Allentown Art Museum: purchase, gift of Paul K. Kania, 2022
Exhibition programing:
- June 1, Opening Day of Exhibits
- June 1, 1-2 p.m.: Guided tours of Scarlet Poppies and Ultramarine Butterflies: The Language of Color exhibition
- June 1, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Nature's Palette Workshop: Paper Making
- June 2, 1-2 p.m.: Guided tours of Scarlet Poppies and Ultramarine Butterflies: The Language of Color exhibition
- June 8, 1-2 p.m.: Guided tours of Marcus Jahmal: Higher Animals exhibition
- June 9, 1-2 p.m.: Guided tours of Marcus Jahmal: Higher Animals exhibition
- June 15, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Nature's Palette Workshop: Paper Making
- July 6, 1-2 p.m.: Guided tours of Scarlet Poppies and Ultramarine Butterflies: The Language of Color exhibition
- July 6, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Nature's Palette Workshop: Watercolor
- July 7, 1-2 p.m.: Guided tours of Scarlet Poppies and Ultramarine Butterflies: The Language of Color exhibition
- July 13, 1-2 p.m.: Guided tours of Marcus Jahmal: Higher Animals exhibition
- July 14, 1-2 p.m.: Guided tours of Marcus Jahmal: Higher Animals exhibition
- July 20, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Nature's Palette Workshop: Watercolor
- August 3, 1-2 p.m.: Guided tours of Scarlet Poppies and Ultramarine Butterflies: The Language of Color exhibition
- August 3, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Nature's Palette Workshop: Fabric Dying
- August 4, 1-2 p.m.: Guided tours of Scarlet Poppies and Ultramarine Butterflies: The Language of Color exhibition
- August 10, 1-2 p.m.: Guided tours of Marcus Jahmal: Higher Animals exhibition
- August 11, 1-2 p.m.: Guided tours of Marcus Jahmal: Higher Animals exhibition
- August 17, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Nature's Palette Workshop: Fabric Dying
- September 7, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Nature's Palette Workshop: Anthotype Printmaking
- September 21, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Nature's Palette Workshop: Anthotype Printmaking
Admission is Free for All, Always
Admission to the Allentown Art Museum and galleries is Free for All, Always, thanks to generous sponsors. Hours are Thursday through Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Third Thursdays 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Parking is free in the Museum lot at Fifth and Linden Streets.
Parking at Allentown Art Museum
Planning on checking out this exhibit? Parking for Allentown Art Museum is free in the Museum lot at Fifth and Linden Streets. You'll also find metered parking on Fifth & Linden Streets, as well as nearby parking decks.
