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2026 Exhibition Schedule
Support YOUR Museum
Serving the community through the many educational, cultural, and fulfilling opportunities requires assistance from a range of resources. To maintain free admission to our museums, we need your support! Thoughtful donations by members and patrons help us keep our five museums in Altoona, Bedford, Johnstown, Ligonier, and Loretto open to the public free of charge.
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Read about the upcoming exhibitions at each SAMA site and donate to help support an exhibition that interests you! Please contact the SAMA site of your choosing if you would like help or more information about sponsoring an exhibition.
Altoona
Artists of the 21st Century
artwork by grade-school students in the six counties SAMA serves
in the Wolf and Pechter Galleries and Detwiler Education Center
January 30, 2026 – April 2, 2026
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The Museum’s twenty-eighth annual student art exhibition will be displayed at Altoona, Ligonier, Bedford, and Johnstown. Held in conjunction with National Youth Art Month, the exhibition is open to schools that participate in SAMA’s Arts-in-Education or Artist-in-Residence program. These programs serve six counties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland. Through the programs, SAMA educators and professional artists travel to public and parochial schools to provide lessons designed to enhance students’ understanding of art creation, technique, history, critique, and aesthetics. SAMA’s award-winning education initiative is the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth.
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50 Years of American Art
staff selections from the Permanent Collection
in the Shirley and Fred A. Pechter Gallery
April 17, 2026 – July 5, 2026
This special exhibition will feature a curated selection of works from SAMA’s permanent collection, celebrating five decades of art and culture. Visitors will view iconic works including Andy Warhol and selections by local metal sculptor, Kurt Bonello. The display reflects five decades of collecting and preserving American art, showcasing the museum’s growth from 47 works in 1976 to more than 7,500 pieces today. Visitors will experience highlights of SAMA’s artistic legacy and learn about the cultural impact of these works on the region.
Bedford
​Artists of the 21st Century
artwork by grade-school students in the six counties SAMA serves
in the Titelman Galleries
February 13, 2026 – April 26, 2026
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The Museum’s twenty-eighth annual student art exhibition will be displayed at Altoona, Ligonier, Bedford, and Johnstown. Held in conjunction with National Youth Art Month, the exhibition is open to schools that participate in SAMA’s Arts-in-Education or Artist-in-Residence program. These programs serve six counties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland. Through the programs, SAMA educators and professional artists travel to public and parochial schools to provide lessons designed to enhance students’ understanding of art creation, technique, history, critique, and aesthetics. SAMA’s award-winning education initiative is the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth.
50 Years of American Art
staff selections from the Permanent Collection
in the Donald M. Robinson, Ashe, Jerry & Joan Hawk, and Paula and Dean Lemley Galleries
February 13, 2026 – April 12, 2026
The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, established in 1976, has a permanent collection of over 7,500 pieces. This collection curated by SAMA staff celebrates the 50th anniversary by highlighting key acquisitions and milestones over the decades. This exhibition will be on display at each satellite museum within the year of our anniversary.
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The Space Between
artwork by Robin Grass
in the Titelman Galleries
May 8, 2026 – July 12, 2026
In this exhibition, Robin Grass challenges you to reject the search for hidden meaning or tidy explanations. Robin Grass embraces the idea that images can be mysterious without being solved. Each painting offers an open ended encounter, asking nothing more of the viewer than presence and curiosity.
Truth, Beauty, and Goodness
artwork by Lawrice "Recie" Dolan
in the Donald M. Robinson, Ashe, Jerry & Joan Hawk, and Paula and Dean Lemley Galleries
May 8, 2026 – July 12, 2026
Lawrice "Recie" Dolan believes that art is my joyful mission, a path to aliveness and a way to reconnect with the wild, intuitive, and spiritual part of us that is often silenced. Though she loved art since childhood, it became essential after the birth of her son in 1984, renewing her passion as a life-giving force. Her work spans diverse styles and media, yet it is unified by a commitment to illuminate the connection between Art and Spirit, bringing beauty and inspiration to a world hungry for both. Guided by prayer and intuition, her paintings often emerge from spontaneous layers of color and texture, revealing recurring symbols like paths, moons, birds, and angels.
Biennial 2026 Juried Art Exhibition
in seven galleries of the museum
July 24, 2026 – October 18, 2026
Biennial is the Museum’s juried exhibition occurring every two years that highlights the very best in regional artistic talent typically displaying work by more than 50 artists. SAMA’s Biennial is considered to be one of Pennsylvania’s top exhibitions for contemporary local artists, and this installment features works in photography, watercolor, wood, oil, clay, bronze, pastel, pencil, acrylic, and mixed media, among others. The exhibition and events are sponsored by Benzel’s Bretzel Bakery Inc., Barry H Newborn, Chantel Ventura, Jana Sidler, Scott Riner, and Barbara O'Brien.
The Roads That Lead to Wonder
selections from the Donald M. Robinson Permanent Collection
in the Donald M. Robinson Gallery
July 24, 2026 – October 18, 2026
Johnstown
Artists of the 21st Century
artwork by grade-school students in the six counties SAMA serves
January 17, 2026 – March 22, 2026
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The Museum’s twenty-eighth annual student art exhibition will be displayed at Altoona, Ligonier, Bedford, and Johnstown. Held in conjunction with National Youth Art Month, the exhibition is open to schools that participate in SAMA’s Arts-in-Education or Artist-in-Residence program. These programs serve six counties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland. Through the programs, SAMA educators and professional artists travel to public and parochial schools to provide lessons designed to enhance students’ understanding of art creation, technique, history, critique, and aesthetics. SAMA’s award-winning education initiative is the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth.
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Inspiration: Music
selections from the Permanent Collection
March 27, 2026 – August 2, 2026
Inspiration: Life
selections from the Permanent Collection
August 14, 2026 – January 10, 2027
Ligonier
Exhibitions in The Elizabeth Shaw Gamble Gallery
Southwestern Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
artwork by artists from the 19 southwestern counties of Pennsylvania
November 14, 2025 – February 1, 2026
The 30th annual SPCARTS exhibition features work by artists from the 19 southwestern counties of Pennsylvania. Featured works will span a variety of media, including acrylic, oil, photography, pastel, watercolor, wood, masonry, and many others. Since its inception, the exhibition has become known for its freshness and energy in the art of emerging young artists and for the dazzling presentations of established artists who are developing a new direction with their art.
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Artists of the 21st Century
artwork by grade-school students in the six counties SAMA serves
February 13, 2026 – April 19, 2026
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The Museum’s twenty-eighth annual student art exhibition will be displayed at Altoona, Ligonier, Bedford, and Johnstown. Held in conjunction with National Youth Art Month, the exhibition is open to schools that participate in SAMA’s Arts-in-Education or Artist-in-Residence program. These programs serve six counties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland. Through the programs, SAMA educators and professional artists travel to public and parochial schools to provide lessons designed to enhance students’ understanding of art creation, technique, history, critique, and aesthetics. SAMA’s award-winning education initiative is the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth.