WEM is a cataylst for creative action
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A Musical Solstice Celebration
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Current Exhibition
Pennsylvania Modern: Regionalism and the Wharton Esherick Studio
March 1, 2026 – June 7, 2026
In 1926, Wharton Esherick broke ground on a new studio, a building that is now an icon of handcrafted modern design. The site Esherick chose was on a slope of Valley Forge Mountain, amidst sandstone outcroppings and young forests that were overgrowing old farms. There, he and a crew of tradesmen raised a stone structure with a profound sense of rootedness in local geography and architecture.
Pennsylvania Modern celebrates one-hundred years of the Esherick Studio. Drawn from the WEM collections, the exhibition presents drawings, photographs, and archives bearing witness to Esherick’s eye to the local as he began one of his most magnetic creations. With the Studio construction, Esherick participated in broad currents of regionalism that coursed through American modernism.
Upcoming Exhibition
Breaking Ground: WEM’s 32nd Annual Juried Woodworking Exhibition
June 18, 2026 – September 20, 2026
For Breaking Ground, WEM’s Thirty-Second Annual Juried Woodworking Exhibition, we invited contemporary artists to take inspiration from what they consider groundbreaking, defined by any of the term’s multiple meanings. How does Wharton Esherick’s life and work seem groundbreaking in 2026 and how might this be interpreted through their practice? Whether public or personal, what ideas or shifts feel groundbreaking in this complex moment in history?
The artworks in this exhibition encourage us to consider what becomes possible when we embrace acts of breaking ground in our own lives. How might we loosen what feels settled, disrupt familiar patterns, act boldly in a world that seems to have seen everything, or imagine what might take shape once the soil has been turned? Both Wharton Esherick and the artists featured here remind us that knowing when and how to break ground requires attentiveness to the world around us, as well as to the internal impulses that signal it is time to begin building something new.
2026 WEM Artist-in-Residence
Jennifer Johnson
We are delighted to welcome Philadelphia-based artist Jennifer Johnson as the 2026 WEM Artist-in-Residence. A sculptor who works primarily in clay, Johnson creates installations about the production of history, focusing on how architecture reveals lived experience. Using ceramics, she makes models and pictures. The work, both realistic and abstract, is preoccupied with geometry, color, and metaphysics.
Johnson will spend her time exploring WEM’s architectural site and the unique geometry that is the product of a single creator’s highly idiosyncratic artistic practice. Her research process includes drawing, photography, architectural study and modeling, and other forms of close observation.
Off the Shelf: The Wharton Esherick Museum Book Club
Calling all Esherick fans and readers! Off the Shelf is an Esherick-like twist on the classic book club! It provides the opportunity for bookworms, Esherick fans, and local community members alike to explore Wharton Esherick’s legacy through the artist’s own richly stocked bookshelves, as well as recently published books that illuminate Esherick’s artistic networks and enduring legacy.
Meetings are held every six weeks and take place in Esherick’s 1956 Workshop and feature an exclusive look into WEM’s special collections and archives to explore materials related to the month’s book. Discussions will be moderated by friend of the museum, WEM board member, and Director of West Chester University Special Collections, Ron McColl, and will feature occasional guest specialists.
“If it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing” – Wharton Esherick
The Wharton Esherick Museum celebrates and preserves the legacy of American artist Wharton Esherick, whose iconic creations changed the landscape of art, craft, architecture and design.
A National Historic Landmark for Architecture, Esherick’s hilltop studio/residence is preserved and shared much as it was when the artist lived and worked there.
We invite you to make your reservation to visit the Museum today!
Explore the Museum Digitally
Check out the Wharton Esherick Museum in our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.
The digital guide features a tour of the grounds with a variety of insights shared by WEM staff as well as audio clips of Wharton himself. Whether you are on our campus, or exploring from afar, take the digital tour to learn more about Wharton’s life and the structures he built or designed that make this site a National Historic Landmark for Architecture. Additionally, our guide has information on exhibitions, upcoming programs, highlights from the collection, and more.
WEM is delighted to join the hundreds of institutions–museums, galleries, sculpture parks, gardens, and cultural spaces–available to explore on Bloomberg Connects. All that in one free download from the App Store or Google Play.
Imprint 2026: WEM’s High School Printmaking Exhibition
Theme: Groundbreaking
2026 is a milestone year not only for the Wharton Esherick Museum, but for the country as a whole as we celebrate our 250th anniversary. While we look back to celebrate traditions of making, creativity, and community, we invited students to look forward and explore the theme Groundbreaking. Wharton himself set the standard, breaking ground on bold ideas and new creative directions. Whether reflecting on personal milestones, social movements, or creative breakthroughs, we encouraged young artists to interpret Groundbreaking in ways that speak to their own experience and vision.
Recognizing the pivotal role that printmaking played in Esherick’s life, we are delighted to once again highlight young artists who represent the future of this powerful medium, with Imprint 2026: Groundbreaking.
Ways You Can Connect with the Wharton Esherick Museum
Explore from home
Stay connected to the optimism and warmth of Esherick’s Studio through our online resources.
Come visit the museum
Explore out tour offerings and make your reservation today.
Bring Esherick into Your Classroom
Explore K-12 resources and lesson plans for teachers and families
Support WEM
Join as a member, make a gift today -- or become a volunteer!
Notes From the Studio
Frequently asked questions
Whether you're curious about our hours, ticketing, or special exhibits, this section provides all the essential information to ensure you make the most of your visit. If you have further inquiries, feel free to reach out to our friendly staff.
View all FaqsContact usWhat kind of volunteer opportunities are available at the Museum?
Our greatest volunteer needs are for Museum docents, though we are always eager to put helping hands to work. Please visit our Volunteer page for details or contact [email protected] to see how you can get involved.
Can I take photographs inside the museum?
Yes, casual photography is allowed on our guided tours. Tripods are not allowed on the guided tour. Professional photo shoots, commercial or otherwise, must be scheduled in advance. Videography is not permitted on tour.
I want to support the museum’s work. How do I do that?
Thank you! As a donor-dependent organization, we’re so grateful for your support; it keeps Esherick’s legacy thriving, and preserves his joyful, handcrafted Studio for future generations. Please consider making a donation today, or joining the museum as a member!
Are group tours available?
We are pleased to offer the immersive experience of the general tour to larger groups. Groups must have a minimum of 9 guests to be considered for a group tour. By rotating through the Studio and grounds we can accommodate up to 16 guests on a group tour. All group tours must have advance reservations. We reserve Wednesdays to accommodate group tours, but Thursdays and Fridays may be available on a case-by-case basis. We encourage group tours to contact us at least 6 weeks in advance of when they hope to visit to help us accommodate their preferred date. Learn more and submit a group tour request form here.
I have limited mobility and use a cane, walker, or wheelchair. Can I tour the museum?
Due to the historic, hand-built nature of the building and multiple staircases that connect upper and lower levels, significant portions of the Studio are not accessible for individuals who use wheelchairs, walkers, or have other mobility needs. In lieu of navigating through these spaces physically, we provide printed or digital material as a way of exploring these spaces. A detailed outline of the physical elements of the site terrain, pathways, and buildings can be found HERE. Please email [email protected] if you have questions or to request accommodations for your visit.
How do I purchase tickets?
Tour tickets must be reserved and purchased in advance. Make your reservation here. Walk-in visitors will NOT be accommodated.