Reading period access: From May 1 to May 13, access to the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center and the Fisher Fine Arts Library will be limited to PennCard holders and other Penn affiliates. Find more information.

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Event Type: Exhibit

Apr 12 - Feb 01
  • Exhibit
Open to the Public

A Selection of Mexican Ex-Votos

Gain insight into Mexican religious folk practices through ex-votos and devotional paintings on medical subjects.

  • On view through October 2025
  • Holman Biotech Commons (Main level)
A man kneels in prayer at the foot of a bed; a robed figure appears before him as if in a cloud
Aug 28 - Dec 15
  • Exhibit
Open to the Public

Agit-Prop at Common Press

Explore letterpress and screenprint art focused on social justice issues and created at the Penn Libraries’ Common Press.

  • August 28 - December 15, 2023
  • Fisher Fine Arts Library, first floor
A print on handmade paper shows two dark-skinned hands clasping; the arm on the right has a striped sleeve resembling bars. Text running along the top of the image reads: "We the women! We the women are the queen bees. So when you lock us up...you lock up survivors, providers, nurturers, grandmas, mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives."
Dec 05 - Mar 31
  • Exhibit
Open to the Public

Antiquarianism at a Crossroad: David Roberts and the Levant

During his 1838-1839 travels through the Levant and Egypt, Roberts’ sketches captured layers of history and living cultures that inspired him. Looking beyond his artistic legacy, this exhibit explores his influence on archaeology in the region.

  • December 5, 2022 - March 31, 2023 @ Penn Museum Library
  • Penn Museum Library, First Level (Penn Museum Academic Wing Level 3)
Detailed sketch of El-Dier, a major monument at Petra, Jordan
Sep 29 - Dec 16
  • Exhibit
Open to the Public

Arthur Tress and the Japanese Illustrated Book

Displaying a selection of Japanese books from the Arthur Tress collection along with Tress’s own photography, this exhibition engages Tress’s practices as both artist and collector, juxtaposing the two media to present moments of unexpected visual poetry that resonate across place and time.

  • September 29 - December 16, 2022
  • Goldstein Family Gallery, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, sixth floor
Book stand holds two Japanese illustrated books with artwork
Sep 29 - 30
  • Lecture
  • Symposium
  • Exhibit
Open to the Public

Arthur Tress and the Japanese Illustrated Book: A Celebration

In conjunction with the exhibition Arthur Tress and the Japanese Illustrated Book, this symposium will bring together scholars to discuss the world of Japanese books and collecting.

  • September 29 - 30, 2022
  • Hybrid event: Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library, sixth floor; and on Zoom
Print shows two adults and a child crossing a bridge over water, surrounded by hills and a tree. Two additional people are waving on the riverbank.
Mar 18 - May 22
  • Exhibit
Open to the Public

Barbara Earl Thomas: In Process

Presented in concert with Barbara Earl Thomas: The Illuminated Body, this exhibition shares insights into Thomas’ artistic process, featuring photographs and materials from the artist’s studio.

  • March 18 - May 22, 2024
  • Fisher Fine Arts Library, first floor
An artist’s workspace with two vibrant, colorful artworks laid out on a table, surrounded by an assortment of art supplies and additional images and artworks pinned to the wall.
Apr 06 - Jul 21
  • Exhibit
Open to the Public

Beautiful Blackbird: The Creative Spirit of Ashley Bryan

In 2019 the Ashley Bryan Center donated the archive of the renowned artist, author, and humanitarian Ashley Bryan, who died last year at the age of 98, to the Kislak Center at the Penn Libraries. This exhibition explores his century-long story, the story of one man—seeking his place in a world that did not always welcome him, finding himself through observation and expression, and using his creative gifts to make sense of his life and to help others to do the same.

  • April 6 - July 21, 2023
  • Goldstein Family Gallery, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, sixth floor
Ashley Bryan, Village Voices, ca. 1992, painting based on an illustration in Sing to the Sun (1992) (2022 gift of the Ashley Bryan Center)
Aug 25 - Mar 07
  • Exhibit

BOOK.DATA.FILE.

Following one item on its journey, BOOK.DATA.FILE is about diving into the reading room, digitizing collections, and pushing the boundaries of data-driven research and scholarship with library collections.

  • August 25, 2022 - March 7, 2023
  • Kamin Gallery, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, first floor
Two individuals seated in front of a laptop transcribe text from a scanned document. Another individual points to text on the screen.
Aug 20 - Dec 15
  • Exhibit
Open to the Public

Boxing at the Legendary Blue: Photography by Larry Fink

See photographs of the Blue Horizon, Philadelphia’s legendary former boxing venue on North Broad Street, by American photographer and educator Larry Fink (1941–2023).

  • August 20 - December 15, 2024
  • East Elevator Bay, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, fifth floor
Overhead, black and white photo of two boxers and a referee in a ring
Sep 25 - Apr 28
  • Exhibit
Open to the Public

Concrete on Paper

A complement to the conference Cement Age/Concrete Nation, this exhibit examines the architectural, technological, and cultural development of concrete built heritage.

  • September 25, 2024 - April 28, 2025
  • Fisher Fine Arts Library, first floor
Monolith Plastic Waterproof Portland Cement

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