May 11 – June 21, 2025
Davenport Gallery, Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery, Vidinghoff Gallery
The Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival is one of the longest-running and most popular outdoor painting events in the country. Founded in 2008, the Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival has welcomed over 500 artists to paint the splendor of the Philadelphia area and has become one of the most eagerly anticipated cultural events in the region.
The 17th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival kicks off on May 4, 2025, with the arrival of 32 juried, nationally recognized, and emerging artists who have ventured to Wayne, Pennsylvania to capture the exceptional beauty of the Delaware Valley. As one of the premier plein air events in the country, Wayne Art Center offers artists the unique opportunity to showcase over 300 works created during the festival in three spacious, light-filled, and state-of-the-art exhibition galleries. These impressive works, which represent a diverse range of styles and mediums, are on view and sale through June 21, 2025 (6 weeks). A full schedule of events, to include community paint-outs, artist demos, lectures and other programs will be presented during the span of the festival and exhibition to further advance awareness of the plein air movement.
The galleries at Wayne Art Center are enjoyed by more than 30,000 visitors each year and sales during the Wayne Plein Air Exhibition are robust and remain steady throughout the span of the exhibition.
The success of the Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival is made possible through the artists’ enthusiastic participation over the past 16 years, along with the generosity of our many business sponsors, patrons, and volunteers, demonstrating how valued this festival is to our community. Funds raised through this eagerly anticipated event benefit Wayne Art Center’s vast array of educational, outreach, and exhibition programs for individuals of all ages and abilities.
Artist Participants
For artists who previously have participated in Wayne Art Center Plein Air, the festival offers an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and collectors and to compete for $25,000 in cash awards. For emerging artists, acceptance into Wayne Art Center's Plein Air Festival represents an important step in achieving national recognition. As one of the first plein air festivals established in our country, the Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival has attracted some of our nation’s most prestigious outdoor painters working in the field and has served an instrumental role in supporting the vibrant contemporary landscape painting movement.
Hospitality
Artist housing will be graciously provided by welcoming members of the community.
Participating plein air artists are requested to attend a Welcome Breakfast at a local picturesque farm property on Sunday, May 4 to launch the festival week, along with a comprehensive artist orientation and canvas stamping.
Locations
Throughout the festival week, painters work on location throughout the surrounding areas, a locale robust with colorful and varied landscapes. From quaint small towns filled with historic architecture to rolling hills dotted with livestock, to the dynamic skyline views of Center City Philadelphia and its surrounding waterfronts, including the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, there is no lack of inspiration or subject matter. A week of intense work culminates in a dynamic exhibition of over 300 paintings.
Plein Air Festival Exhibition Collectors’ Preview & Awards Ceremony
The 17th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival debuts with a highly charged collectors’ preview party where patrons vie for the first chance to acquire their painting of choice. Participating plein air artists will have the unique opportunity to connect with Wayne Art Center sponsors, patrons and area collectors while establishing important contacts. Over ten major cash awards totaling $25,000 will be presented by Juror Larry Moore, including Best of Show, First Place, Second Place, Third Place, and Special Themed Awards. Industry prizes will also be offered.
In addition to cash, the Best of Show award winner will be invited to participate in the next year’s plein air event.
17th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival Juror:
Wayne Art Center is pleased to welcome Larry Moore as the 2025 Plein Air Juror.
Larry Moore is a fine artist, instructor, illustrator and author. Moore's illustrious career as a visual communicator spans an impressive 50+ years. His journey began in the vibrant world of the surf industry where he honed his skills as a mural and apparel artist. Over the years, he seamlessly transitioned into graphic design, advertising, illustration, and fine art, earning national acclaim in each of these realms of visual communication. Since 1990, he has shared his knowledge as a college and workshop instructor. His contributions to the field extend beyond his teaching, with the publication of his successful workbook on creativity for artists, 'Fishing for Elephants: Insights and Exercises to Inspire Authentic Creativity.'
Moore’s work has been recognized in numerous plein air events around the country with Best of Show Awards, a variety of Best of Category Awards, and Artists and Collectors Choice Awards. Some of his most noted awards include Society of Illustrators, NY 2005 Gold medal; Society of Illustrators, NY annual exhibit 1995, 1997-2005; Luerzers Archive Top 200 illustrators worldwide, 2005; and Art Renewal Center International Competition 2023, 2024.
Moore’s work is represented by galleries in Georgia, South Carolina, Wyoming, Florida and New Mexico and has been included in a number of museum exhibitions including Huntsville Museum of Art in Alabama, Society of Illustrators Museum in New York, Orlando Museum of Art in Florida, Laguna Museum of Art in California, Tallahassee Museum in Florida, and The Museum of Wildlife Art in Wyoming. His work can be found in public and private collections across the United States, including Central Florida Historical Museum, Cape Canaveral Port Authority, Jacksonville Baptist Children’s Hospital, and The Kessler Collection, Grand Bohemian Hotel.
PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL NEWS
This year commemorates the 17th anniversary of the Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival, recognized as one of the longest-standing and most cherished outdoor painting events in the nation. On Sunday, May 4, an exciting multi-day competition will kick off with 32 talented nationally renowned artists, who will find inspiration from the nearby charming towns, beautiful pastoral farms, rich historic architecture, and verdant landscapes that truly showcase the spirit of our region. Juror Larry Moore from Charleston, South Carolina will have the thrilling opportunity to choose the standout winning paintings and celebrate the artists by presenting an impressive $25,000 in awards at the much anticipated Collectors’ Preview & Sale on Saturday, May 10, from 6-9pm at Wayne Art Center.
The artists will commence painting on Sunday, May 4, alongside fellow community painters, capturing the quintessential images on their canvases. The following six days, these accomplished artists may paint anywhere within a 25-mile radius of Wayne. In less than a day, plein air artists are adept at capturing the structure of the landscape and architecture in a particular light. These stunning works of art will be on display in the Davenport, Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith and Vindinghoff Lobby Galleries and available for sale at the ticketed Preview Party and from Sunday, May 11 through Saturday, June 21, 2025. For more information, visit waynepleinair.org.
Collector’s Preview & Sale
Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 6-9pm
Experience the exclusive opportunity to view and purchase over 300 original paintings featuring local scenes. Revel in an evening filled with fine art, delectable hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, and live music before the exhibition opens to the public. Tickets are on sale at waynepleinair.org or by calling 610-688-3553.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
17th Annual
Wayne Plein Air Festival
May 4–May 10
Qiang Huang Color of Science Lecture
May 5 | 6–7pm
Easels to Entrees
May 6–May 7
Collectors’ Preview & Sale
May 10 | 6–9pm
Minis and Mimosas for Mom
May 11 | 11–1pm
Juror’s Lecture & Demo with Larry Moore
May 11 | 1pm
Larry Moore Abstraction From Nature Workshop
May 12–May 15
9:30am–4:30pm
Qiang Huang Still Life Workshop
May 13–May 14 | 9:30am–4pm
Pizza Box Plein Air for Kids
May 17 | 11am–12:30pm
David Wren Looking at Ardrossan Through the Archives Lecture, Book Signing/Reception
May 21 | 5:30–7:30pm
Plein Air Lecture with William Perthes
June 4 | 5–6pm
French Provencal Dinner with Chef Gauthron and Sommelier Walsh
June 12 | 6:30–9pm
Plein Air Artist Demos Artists and Dates
Coming Soon
Closing Reception
Saturday, June 21 | 2–4pm
Support Wayne Art Center and Plein Air
Local businesses and patrons demonstrate remarkable generosity in supporting our annual event, for which we are immensely thankful. Last year, our dedicated sponsors helped the Wayne Art Center’s Plein Air Festival raise over $150,000, directly contributing to our mission of providing students, artists and the community with enriching arts education and appreciation experiences. This Festival significantly benefits our region’s hotels, restaurants and retailers by attracting thousands of visitors who eagerly anticipate the event and the following six-week exhibition. If you’re interested in sponsorship opportunities or wish to participate in the Plein Air Festival as a committee member, volunteer, housing host for visiting artists, or in any other capacity, please reach out to Nancy Campbell, Executive Director at nancy@wayneart.org, 610-688-3553, #204 or Karen Louise Fay, Director of Marketing and Events at karenlouise@wayneart.org, 610-688-3553, #214.
