Wayne Art Center Hosting Plein Air Festival Preview Party Saturday

WAYNE, PA — Wayne Art Center this weekend is hosting a Collectors’ Preview & Sale for the 17th Annual Plein Air Festival.

The Collectors’ Preview & Sale will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Wayne Art Center in the Davenport, Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith and Vidinghoff Galleries. Those with early viewing tickets will be granted entry at 6 p.m.

The night offers a chance to meet the artists in a festive and elegant setting with an open bar and savory hors d’oeuvres by Catering by Design. Martinis will be served from a hand-sculpted ice luge created by Peter Slavin of Ice Sculpture Philly.

Attendees will be treated to live jazz from Phyllis Chapell and Dave Postmontier, as well.

More than 150 nationally ranked artists from 29 states joined Wayne Art Center's festival, with Juror Larry Moore of South Carolina selecting 32 painters to compete for over $25,000 in cash prizes which will be awarded at Saturday's event.

The Wayne Art Center Plein Art Festival Exhibition will be on display from Sunday through June 21.

The multi-day began on May 4, and over six days at numerous locations within 30 miles of Wayne, artists created roughly 300 original works, drawing inspiration from the nearby historical architecture and landscapes found throughout the region.

All paintings were completed on site and from direct observation, which is what it means to paint "en plein air."

"I am always impressed with the caliber of these paintings," Wayne Art Center Plein Air
Founder and Executive Director, Nancy Campbell, said. "We are thrilled to have new artists join us
while welcoming back several participants of earlier festivals. The artists’ enthusiasm, along with
the generosity of our many business sponsors, patrons and volunteers, shows how valued this
festival is to our community."

A juror’s Talk with Larry Moore will be held on Sunday, along with Minis and Mimosas for Mom, offering miniature paintings for sale in honor of Mother’s Day.

Other events include a four-day Workshop with Larry Moore from Monday to Thursday; Qiang Huang Still Life Workshop on Tuesday and Wednesday; Floral Design & Painting Workshop with Jennifer Reed & Jan Wier on Friday, May 16; Plein Air Landscape Painting at Ardrossan with Valerie Craig on Friday; Pizza Box Plein Air for Kids on Saturday, May 17; David Wren Looking at Ardrossan Through the Archives Lecture, Book Signing and Reception on May 21; Plein Air Lecture with William Perthes on June 4; and a French Provencal Dinner with Chef Gauthron and Sommelier Walsh on June 12.

Additionally, several Plein Air artists will conduct Plein Air Painting Demos throughout the Festival Exhibition. A Closing Reception will be held on June 21 at Wayne Art Center. Go online here to register for these events.

Wayne Art Center 2025 Plein Air Festival Juror

Juror Larry Moore of Charleston, South Carolina is a fine artist, instructor, illustrator and author Moore’s illustrious career as a visual communicator spans an impressive 50+ years. Some of his most noted Plein Air Awards include Society of Illustrators, NY 2005 Gold Medal; Luerzers Archive Top 200 Illustrators 2005; and Art Renewal Center International Competition 2023- 2024. Moore’s work is represented by galleries and in public and private collections throughout the country.

Wayne Art Center 2025 Plein Air Artists

• Thomas Adkins, CT
• Natalia Andreeva, FL
• Olena Babak, ME
• Beth Bathe, PA
• Barbara Berry, PA
• Lon Brauer, IL
• Thomas Bucci, ME
• John Caggiano, MA
• Henry Coe, MD
• Beth Cole, NE
• Joshua Cunningham, MN
• John Eiseman, MD
• Tracy Everly, PA
• Martin Geiger, VA
• Hai-Ou Hou, MD
• Jacob Houghton, MA
• Debra Howard, MD
• Qiang Huang, TX
• Neal Hughes, NJ
• Fred Jackson, PA
• Brian Keeler, NY
• Farley Lewis, MO
• Mick McAndrews, PA
• Jonathan McPhillips, RI
• Abby Ober, MD
• Elise Phillips, PA
• Crista Pisano, NY
• Jennifer Sampson, NY
• Richard Sneary, MO
• Caleb Stoltzfus, PA
• Mark Vander Vinne, IN
• Durre Waseem, CA

Wayne Art Center is located at 413 Maplewood Ave. in Wayne.