Pictured: Ziui Chen, Up Up and Away, 2023, Courtesy of the artist.

Michener Art Museum Presents

Celebrating the Center for Emerging Visual Artists’ invaluable role in the region’s vibrant cultural identity.

February 17, 2024 – May 26, 2024 

The James A. Michener Art Museum is pleased to present CFEVA at 40: Four Decades of Supporting Contemporary Art, on view February 17, 2024 – May 26, 2024. The Michener celebrates the Center for Emerging Visual Artists’ milestone year with an exhibition that symbolically includes the work of 40 contemporary artists affiliated with the center who represent the region’s artistic excellence.

CFEVA felt that a partnership with the James A. Michener Art Museum was particularly significant as the goal of celebrating regional artists remains at the heart of both organizations’ missions. CFEVA board chair and co-curator Maida R. Milone noted, “The Center for Emerging Visual Artists 40th anniversary is a significant milestone for our organization. It’s no mean feat to sustain a regional arts organization dedicated to supporting the careers of visual artists, especially those in the early stages of those careers. When we took stock of the artists who have been affiliated with CFEVA over these four decades, we were so heartened to see that many of them are now in the collection of this important arts institution.”

Ranging from established members of the avant-garde to rising stars, this exhibition features over 70 works that will be new to regular Michener Museum visitors. Gerry and Maguerite Lenfest Chief Curator, Dr. Laura Turner Igoe shared, “I think what is most exciting about the CFEVA at 40 exhibition is that several of these important contemporary artists have never shown their work at the Museum before.” Those selected to represent the over 300 fellows whom CFEVA has mentored over four decades include Vincent Desiderio, Katie Baldwin, Rita Bernstein, Ziui Chen, Ada Trillo, and Tim Portlock. Also represented are established artists who have given their time and talent as advisors, including the late Ray K. Metzker, Will Barnet, Sidney Goodman, and current advisor Donald Camp.

CFEVA was founded in 1983 as a support system for the visual artists of the greater Philadelphia region. Since its inception, the organization has dedicated itself to making art careers viable for those who choose them. To this end, CFEVA strives to help visual artists reach their audiences and grow the interest and understanding of visual art among community members. 2023 marked CFEVA’s 40th year of serving artists through its prestigious fellowship program. The artist fellows, chosen by CFEVA’s artistic advisors, go on to shape the region’s cultural community as leaders in the arts. The center’s mission remains important to maintaining and expanding the creative environment and economy of the Philadelphia region. Though CFEVA artists come from a wide range of backgrounds and work across all mediums, they share one common trait: artistic excellence.

The exhibition is curated by Maida R. Milone and Genevieve Coutroubis.

Media contact: Nina McRobbie | nmcrobbie@michenerartmuseum.org | 215.340.9800 ext 128 

The Museum will host the following events connected to the exhibition. Details can be found at www.michenerartmuseum.org.

Curator Conversation: Maida Milone in Conversation with Artist Chelsey Luster
Wednesday, February 14 | 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST

Workshop: CFEVA at 40: Mixed Media Collage
Thursday, March 7, 2024 | 6–8pm

Panel Discussion: Art After Dark: Meet the Artists from CFEVA at 40
Thursday, April 4, 2024 | 7pm

The James A. Michener Art Museum collects, preserves, interprets, and exhibits American art and promotes the Delaware Valley’s rich artistic and cultural heritage. The Museum presents exhibitions that explore a variety of artistic expressions and offers diverse educational programs that develop a lifelong involvement in the arts.