NATIONAL TRENDS

Road to the 250th Anniversary of the United States: The American arts scene is facing a shift in funding but does that affect its purpose? Libraries are an excellent place to give patrons a sense of the national front in the arts by offering educational and inspiring programming. The national ambiance is full of an appreciation for the American arts by reflecting its unique perspective from its diverse creators. American composers, visual artists and creators in other mediums continue to be a part of the fabric of the arts world from the summer to the fall.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

“Art that makes you unknowingly taste…”

“I believe very much in the tradition that art comes from art and nothing else” —Wayne Thiebaud

Wayne Thiebaud (1920–2021) became famous for his colorful paintings of American confections and buffets. He was also a self-described art “thief,” who openly drew ideas from and reinterpreted old and new European and American artworks. An influential teacher at Sacramento Junior College and the University of California, Davis, Thiebaud never stopped learning -famsf.org

 Exhibition:

Wayne Thiebaud: Art Comes from Art

March 22 – August 17, 2025

Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco

NEW YORK CITY, NY

“An indelible expression of everyday black life…”

Amy Sherald: American Sublime brings together some fifty paintings by one of the foremost artists of our time. In her first major museum survey, Amy Sherald (b. 1973, Columbus, Georgia; lives and works in the New York City area) presents work from 2007 to the present, from her poetic early portraits to the incisive and moving figure paintings for which she is best known. Iconic portraits of First Lady Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor—two of the most recognizable and significant paintings made by an American artist in recent years—are joined by early works, never or rarely seen by the public, and new work created specifically for this presentation.

-whitney.org

Exhibition:

American Sublime by Amy Sherald

April 9–August 10, 2025

Whitney Museum

MIAMI, FL

“Technology, landscape and feminism collide to make an intriguing show…”

“Miriam Schapiro: 1967–1972” features a concise selection of Schapiro’s monumental paintings, examining a crucial period of development in the work of the legendary feminist artist. The works on view from this time see Schapiro’s hard-edge geometric abstraction evolve into her gendered, anthropomorphic “central core imagery” and lay the groundwork for her explorations of collage and craft within the Pattern and Decoration movement."    -icamiami.org

Exhibition:

Miriam Schapiro:

1967–1972

April 17- October 26, 2025

Institute of

Contemporary Art Miami

NEW YORK CITY, NY

“Rich stories through quilts and vivid imagination…”

"Explore Woman on a Bridge #1 of 5: Tar Beach (1988), one of the most important works by Faith Ringgold, a renowned artist, writer, and activist. This monumental quilt, the first in a series of five, tells the story of a young girl who dreams of flying from her Harlem rooftop to celebrate her own freedom and self-possession.

This exhibition dives into Ringgold’s artistic influences and the lasting impact she has had on later generations of artists. Alongside Tar Beach, visitors will see works from the Guggenheim New York collection by European modernists such as Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso, who inspired Ringgold, and contemporary American artists such as Tschabalala Self and Sanford Biggers, whose work reflects her legacy." -guggenheim.org

 
Exhibition:

Collection in Focus: The Reach of Faith Ringgold

May 9–September 14, 2025

Guggenheim Museum

PHILADELPHIA, PA

“A major orchestra captures American stories through classical music…”

"The Philadelphia Orchestra’s story began in 1900, when a group of visionary musicians and civic leaders came together with a dream: to share the power of music with their city.
From those first concerts in the Academy of Music to groundbreaking moments that changed the course of orchestral history, the Orchestra has always been defined by bold ideas, a pioneering spirit, and a love of music that transcends borders. Today, under the leadership of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, that same spirit lives on as the Orchestra celebrates 125 years of inspiring audiences around the world. We invite you to explore some of the milestones that shaped the Orchestra’s journey, and discover how our history continues to guide the music we make today." -philorch.org

Concerts:

Philadelphia Orchestra: 125th Anniversary

Season

September 25, 2025–May 16, 2026

Marian Anderson Hall

HOUSTON, TX

“A great American composer creates a famous folk opera from black life in South Carolina…”

"It’s been 50 years since HGO first presented the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, restoring the “folk opera” to its creators’ full original vision in a landmark production that earned HGO both a Tony and a Grammy. Now, audiences have the chance to again experience the cherished American classic that set HGO on its path as a trailblazer, presented in an acclaimed production from director Francesca Zambello." 

-houstongrandopera.org

Opera:

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess

Oct. 24 - Nov. 15, 2025

Houston Grand Opera