Warren artist Thomas Paquette’s GH Old Growth Forest is part of the Art of the State display.

Highly acclaimed Warren artist Thomas Paquette is one of 96 artists whose works will be displayed in a coming exhibit in Harrisburg.

This week, State Museum of Pennsylvania Director Angelica Docog is pleased to announce the finalists for Art of the State 2024. This prestigious annual juried competition showcases the exceptional talent of Pennsylvania’s artists.

Now in its 57th year, Art of the State has become a cornerstone in the Pennsylvania art scene. The exhibition offers a captivating glimpse into the Commonwealth’s rich artistic heritage, featuring works that span painting, photography/digital media, craft, sculpture, and works on paper.

The exhibit includes 96 works of art by 96 artists from 28 counties of Pennsylvania. Finalists were selected from 2,200 entries submitted by more than 600 artists.

Paquette’s “GH Old Growth Forest” will be featured.

The public is invited to experience the finalists’ creations at The State Museum of Pennsylvania starting Sunday, Sept. 8, coinciding with Harrisburg’s Gallery Walk. Admission is free on opening day. The exhibition will remain on display through Jan. 5, 2025.

Award winners will be posted on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). An exhibition catalog and programming announcements can be accessed on Art of the State 2024 after the opening.

A panel of expert selection jurors carefully reviewed and scored all submitted artworks. The highest-rated pieces in each category will be featured in the exhibition. An esteemed awards juror will select the first, second, and third place winners from among these finalists.

Cash awards totaling $5,300 will be bestowed. In each of the five categories, a first prize of $500, a second prize of $300, and a third prize of $200 will be presented. Additionally, the Art Docents’ Choice Award will be honored with $300.

Art of the State is presented by The State Museum of Pennsylvania in partnership with the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation.

The Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation (PHF) is the nonprofit partner of the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC), dedicated to preserving and sharing the Commonwealth’s rich history. Through generous donations, PHF supports PHMC in caring for 23 historic sites and museums, an extensive collection of artifacts, and invaluable archival materials.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, is one of 23 historic sites and museums administered by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission as part of the Pennsylvania Trails of History.

As one of PHMC’s premier cultural institutions, The State Museum of Pennsylvania offers visitors a captivating journey through time. Located adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, the museum houses expansive collections that illuminate Pennsylvania’s pivotal role in American history, from the dawn of geologic time, the Native American experience, the Colonial and Revolutionary eras, a pivotal Civil War battleground, and the Commonwealth’s vast industrial age. The State Museum demonstrates that Pennsylvania’s story is America’s story.